United WE Stand, but for who?

I started my weightloss journey about 1 year ago today. I decided to take my first year to ease into into the journey becasuse in my opinion it is not just weightloss, but a lifestyle change. I am now at the point where I've lost 41 lbs and find myself reevealuating choices I've made and events that are happening around me on a daily baisis. I know this entry seems like a bit of a strange one for the first entry of this blog, but it is a good reflection of where my mind has been lately. Well here it goes. Maybe my next post I'll get a little more personal. :-)

Why is it America is one of the first countries to respond when tragedy strikes? Is it because we are compassionate? Civic minded? Feel an obligation to help out since we are one of the wealthier countries on the planet? Or do we just like the public recognition? I don’t know about the rest of you, but as I’ve observed the efforts put forth towards the Haiti recovery I’ve become a bit disenchanted. Don’t get me wrong I think it is amazing that so many American’s are willing to sacrifice their time, talent and money to help Haiti rebuild during this horrendous time. I feel that it is amazing that so many Americans are willing and able to adopt the orphans of the nation of Haiti that were displaced during this disaster. In no way do I mean to belittle or devalue the events surrounding the earthquakes in Haiti and I am proud of the response of Americans.

However what I don’t get is this… Once Americans have moved on and no longer focus or remember the devastating events that surrounded this sudden surge of support, how do we go back to our everyday lives and not feel the need to continue to help in other ways? Why is it that we only seem to respond when there is devastation? Why does it always seem as though the focus is always aimed away from our home country?

What would happen if we focused the same amount of effort here? It’s like they say on an airplane, “secure your own face mask first before assisting others”. Shouldn’t we take this advice? Shouldn’t we as Americans focus on ourselves first? Wouldn’t this make us a stronger country which is truly united? Again I’m not saying that we shouldn’t help these other countries, but during those times when we are not rallying for others why can’t we rally for ourselves? There are numerous homeless people in our country, numerous children in our foster care systems and orphanages, and numerous families that lack the ability to provide the basics for their children. All I’m saying is that I would like to see a little bit of concerted effort towards our own country for a change. I know there are individuals out there such as myself that volunteer their talents, time and give monetary donations. What I don’t understand is why aren’t we screaming it from the top of the mountains, blaring it over the airwaves, and having major nationwide events to truly put an end to hunger and an end to homelessness? As individuals we have the ability to make a difference, but as a group with a combined mission we could change our world.