Paul Shirley

Former NBA journeyman Paul Shirley has written a blog entry that has been vilified by most for its rather callous attitude towards the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010.  The point I think Mr. Shirley was trying to make was that no government around the world should be donating money to disaster relief for a country that has, apparently, singlehandedly run itself into the ground.  And neither will he.  While I personally disagree with 99.9% of what he wrote, not so much for his opinion, but for his attitude in writing, i.e. this specific excerpt.

Dear Haitians –

First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.

As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation offlimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

Sincerely,

The Rest of the World

Maybe I used the wrong word earlier - it's more obdurate.  But he does make a point about our own nation that I think I agree with, regarding Hurricane Katrina and the rebuilding of New Orleans.  Is it smart to rebuild a top 60 city in terms of population in an area that is, as Shirley puts it - below sea level and a target zone for hurricanes.  Some would say it's a risk inherent in living in that area.  House insurance companies must hate it.  But I checked - New Orleans is the 59th biggest city in terms of population, home to 336,000+ people.  Less than 10% of the population size of the whole state of Louisiana. 

I realize the city has culture and history, memories of generations of people who have lived there for years and years.  But why should we rebuild a city where there is a danger from a natural formation that could and probably will occur again?  Isn't the safer thing to do to protect our people and put them in a place where they can recover?  Start new lives, earn new livings?  Couldn't the funds used for rebuilding the city be used to help them?