What has happened in Haiti is appalling. The suffering that we are seeing on a minute by minute basis from the rolling news channels makes one realise how fragile the structure of civilisation is, and how quickly it can be removed by a natural tragedy. Haiti is a poor country, the poorest, we are told, in the western hemisphere and over the past fifty years or so its people have suffered as much as or more than most from oppressive regimes and interference from outside. The Island of Hispaniola is divided into two, and by comparison the Dominican Republic are wealthy, as well as having seemed on this occasion to have escaped all effects of the earthquake. How grateful we should all be that the US, suffering their own recession and immersed in two wars abroad, have felt able to step in with huge quantities of troops and money to help ease the situation.

This initiative has been clearly led by President Obama and his new approach to the outside world with firm and concise support from the Clintons, Hilary as Secretary of State and Bill as UN envoy to Haiti. For the moment Haitians enjoy the support of three of the most powerful people in the world. Their efforts have been largely hampered by the collapse of the infrastructure in Haiti but it seems things are moving and slowly, admittedly far too slowly, aid is arriving where it is needed.

Of course there has been the usual huge outcry of protest that the US are intervening. Surprisingly Russia and France have sent aid and no protest. The rest of the world including many poor South American countries are doing what they can. Canada seems to be playing a particularly active role. The enemies of the US, the Taleban and Al Quaeda have been silent. So, where has the criticism come from? From within the US itself and particularly the far right sections of the GOP. The US public has responded with its customary warmth and zeal to the crisis, organising huge amounts of money and aid to be sent when and if they can. But, the far right of the GOP is a very different matter and is using this initiative to once again try and undermine the Presidency of a man they dislike, if not openly despise. Yet many of them profess to have strong Christian Beliefs. Ask them what they think about abortion, voluntary euthanasia and homosexuality and you will be flooded with biblical quotations. Fortunately, President Obama has enough support in his country to carry on doing the right thing and has promised that some good will come out of this catastrophe.

What can we do about the dissenters? Well it would do us all, at least those who profess or acknowledge they come from a broadly Christian background, good to refresh our memory of  the Gospel of Luke 10 25-37, and certainly when we come across opposition to the US initiative in Haiti, point the protesters, firmly in this direction.

With the UN mission in Haiti completely destroyed Haiti doesn’t need just a strong neighbour, it needs a neighbour who can deliver aid in a firm, friendly and compassionate manner. Thank God for President Obama.