King would have wanted us to aid the people of Haiti

More than a week has passed since an earthquake destroyed an already unstable Haiti.

Though the earth shook for only a few minutes, the people of Haiti will feel the effects of this tragedy for years to come.

But it did not stop people from commemorating the late Martin Luther King Jr.

The programs and events on campus during the past week were for the most part either honoring King or regarding Haiti's urgent need for relief.

The connection between the holiday and the tragedy at hand is crystal clear.

King's name has become synonymous with all things altruistic.

But many people aren't often aware that he initiated something known as the "Poor People's Campaign."

He was an advocate for all who were denied civil rights due to race or ethnicity.

He was especially concerned with the underprivileged living below the poverty line without basic human necessities like food, water, clothing and adequate shelter.

During the later portion of his life, Dr. King focused his efforts on aiding poor people, and fighting alongside them for equity and justice.

When I think of places where the majority of inhabitants are suffering or living in extreme poverty, I think Haiti.

Even before the earthquake, Haiti was one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
Therefore, we can find no better way to honor King than to get involved in some form of relief or emergency aid for the people of Haiti.

I recently attended several programs to honor King's life and some to coordinate relief efforts for the earthquake victims.

I found myself thinking about the people in Haiti during the King events and thinking about King during the meetings about Haiti.

If King were alive, what would he do to aid in the relief, and what would he expect of his supporters and followers?

Without a doubt, Dr. King would want us to come together and give.

Even though King would have been 81 years old, I am certain he would have been on the first plane to Haiti as soon as it was safe for flights to land in Port-au-Prince.

People from all over the world are sending aid to Haiti. Care packages, monetary donations and comforting words and prayers are being sent to the island nation in abundance.

However, King would be disappointed in the fact that there are many people who are trying to use this disaster to aid themselves.

There have been accusations and accounts of people misappropriating funds that are intended for the Haitian people.

It's sad that even in the most horrific of times people would try to find ways to serve themselves instead of those who are really in need.

That kind of selfish disregard for others is the kind of thing King diligently fought against.

He understood if he ever wanted his dream to become a reality, it was imperative he lead by example.

When people are fighting and working toward a common goal, individual motives will do nothing but stifle their efforts and turn a dream into nothing more than a pleasant yet unattainable fantasy.

King made the kind of impression on the world only the greatest people can make.

His vision: charisma, love and compassion for all human beings transcended race and touched people of all backgrounds.

There is no better way to pay homage to him than to do our very best to aid the people of Haiti.

The principles he preached are not only necessary in times like these but are always necessary to be decent human beings.

Even though King was in the forefront of the civil rights movement, there were hundreds of thousands of unknown people who were never recognized for their contributions.

They knew there is no act of kindness too small.

Here at West Virginia University, there are many initiatives going on to raise money, necessities and support for the nation of Haiti.

Whatever your affiliation and regardless of your personal feelings, realize the people of Haiti are human beings.

If a tragedy destroyed the entire infrastructure of this country in the way that the earthquake did on the island of Haiti, we would want others to help in return.

King taught and lived by the moral that we are to treat our neighbors as our brothers, and we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

This time of strife will reinforce the need to remember King's legacy not only once a year but everyday.

We will not be able to save the whole of Haiti, and we will not be able to single-handedly rescue what was already a dying nation.

What we can do is let them know that we have not forgotten.

They will know, without a doubt, Americans are doing their best to help them.

Showing compassion in the midst of tragedy and despair is something King always tried to do, and we must do the same.