Haiti's earthquake and vulnerable populations

I keep the people of Haiti in my thoughts and prayers.  I pray especially for those with diabetes, hypertension, mental illness and other chronic conditions that require daily medications.  Where are the pharmacies?  Lost in the rubble?  How will these people obtain their medications?  Many will die for certain.

Some people with mental illness will have behavior so deviant and communication so ineffective that they will not be able to describe what they need. These people are vulnerable and members of vulnerable populations.  N.B.: I have not seen descriptions of vulnerable populations that include the mentally ill.

Profiling for Terrorists

If you are Black/ African-American you know that you may look like Africans, Middle Easterners or members of other non-white or non- asian nations. The plan to profile targeted travelers who fit the "look" of a terrorist is disconcerting. Why? I am not a terrorist, but I look Middle Eastern or Ethiopian. My brothers are not terrorists, but they look like they could fit the "look" of the targeted terrorists. Millions of other Americans may fit the "look" of a terrorist.

What does this mean to the average American? It means that at any time an average American can be sitting next to a peron who looks like a terrorist. Is the average American to become paranoid and start to shy away from members of the nation simply because of their appearance? What about the image of businesses? Will businesses not hire someone because he/she looks like a threat? Will banks deny accounts to clients based on appearance?

How far will this go?

Eviction on Cold nights

I recently prepared a petition to evict a man who lives in the room next to the room I live in. He is a nuissance, a threat to others and he is psychologically abusive. He likes to turn the volume of his radio up in the early mornings and to slam the door to the room so hard that the walls shake. He frequently turns the volume up and leaves the building. He has pulled a knife on a neighbor and has threatened a neighbor with a fork.

When the weather became cold, I became concerned. If this man was evicted he would be outside in the cold, the bitter cold. He would not survive in the cold. He is too volatile to stay in a shelter. My conscience nagged me.

It is cold tonight. The man is still in the building-he still turns up the volume of his music, but during the day. He doesn't slam the door anymore and he hasn't yet threatened anyone to my knowledge.

In my heart of hearts, I hope and pray that he remains "quiet" so that he will not be evicted and set out in the bitter cold.