Religion in the Congo
Christianity is the largest religious demographic for the Democratic Republic of Congo with 80% of the people following. Most of the Christians are Roman Catholic with 50% of the Christian population. Protestantism follows with 20% and the smallest portion is Kimbanguist. The remaining 20% are either Muslims or follow traditional beliefs.
Religion plays an important role in the health of the Congo. There is an organization called HEAL Africa, a Christian sponsored group based in Goma, which uses donations and gives help and knowledge to those in need.
On HEAL Africa’s philosophy:
Whether it is women learning to do pelvic floor exercises in order to speed their recovery from fistula repair, women who’re learning new ways to prepare for their own safe motherhood, or displaced women learning to live in different circumstances with dignity, part of healing means taking ownership for our own situation. It is a huge part of solving our own problems.
The Congo actually has the most number of Catholics than any other African country and also has the highest proportions of Catholics. Catholicism has played a major role in the help that the Congo receives. North of Goma, the vast majority of help comes through the faith of the Catholic Church.
Kimbanguism is a lesser known of the religions. It was founded by Simon Kimbangu in what was then the Belgian Congo. It embraces a puritan ethic, rejecting the use of violence, polygamy, magic and witchcraft, alcohol, tobacco, and dancing. Its worship is Baptist in form.
The Kimbanguism homepage.
An example of the Kimbaguism praise:
In January of 2002, freedom of religion is officially protected and discrimination of religious affiliation is forbidden.
For hire
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123126080&ft=1&f=1001
So this Oxfam group is giving jobs to the people of Haiti so that they have money to pay for food and water when there just isn’t enough donations to go around, a cash-for-work program. They pay people willing to sweep the streets and clean up rubble and garbage minimum wage, about $3-$5 an hour. That’s nice for the poor to make a few extra dollars to pocket here and there. Just kind of odd to be paid for something that should already be done anyways by everybody. I never got paid for cleaning up debris from 2 hurricanes and 3 houses.
Lending a hand
Ten Americans were arrested for trying to take 33 children from Haiti into the Dominican Republic. They were arrested when they didn’t have the correct paperwork to take them across the border.
If they were taking them against their will, then yes that is wrong. But if the parents willingly give them up for adoption somewhere else for a better life, it’s a hardship, but they just want the best for their children. The Americans are only trying to help out in a time of a great catastrophe.
We don’t know all of the facts yet but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Maybe there is still some good left in people.
The Haiti Occupation
In order to understand and help a country, you must first understand where they come from.
Help given to Haiti started back in 1915 with the occupation of the U.S. military. The US sent troops down to Haiti to rule as a military government during a time of an unstable government and civil disobediences. During this time of U.S. occupation, Haiti flourished with new schools, improved healthcare, better road systems and infrastructure and communications. When the U.S. left, a Haitian military elite was left in charge.
A treaty was made between the U.S. and Haiti that granted the U.S. control over Haiti’s finances, the appointment of advisers and receivers, and establishing programs and governmental affairs. In a nutshell, the U.S. was controlling Haiti at the time. The treaty also established the Gendarmerie d’Haïti (Haitian Constabulary), this was Haiti’s first professional military force.
A Haitian rebellion occurred in 1918, with 40,000 people rebellion against the U.S. occupation. The extreme number of the rebels outnumbered the Gendarmerie, but with the help of the U.S. marines, only 2,000 Haitians lost their lives. Order was again restored for the most part.
In July of 1934, Roosevelt took the troops out of Haiti. The country then became a dictatorship.
It wasn’t until 1994 that Haiti was occupied again. The UN authorized member states to reinstate peace and put Aristide back as president after he was forced out of office by the Haitian military. The U.S. sent 4,000 paratroopers to Haiti. This was known as Operation Uphold Democracy.
But even with Haitian support for democracy, a coup d’état occured after the flawed election of Aristide in 2000.
By February 2004, rebel groups seized Haiti’s 4th largest city, Gonaives. Before that, atrocities were committed by opposition groups. Again the UN allowed for a force to enter Haiti. President Bush sent U.S. marines under Operation Secure Tomorrow.
In 2005, Operation New Horizons was there to help Haiti with roads, school and health care just like the first occupation in 1915.
Let’s not forget about the tropical storms that devastated Haiti in 2008. The U.S. aided the people with food, water and shelter.
Now Haiti has the earthquake under their belt and help is still pouring in from everywhere.
Haiti has received so much help over the years and is still in need.
Are we doing something wrong? Or should the ties be cut after they get on their feet and have had some help rebuilding?
Instead of continually handing them new schools and new roads, teach them how to build and create jobs to do these things. The earthquake is a way the people can start anew from the ashes and rebuild into a prosperous city. Teach them to become self-sufficient. Give the knowledge needed to initiate projects. Inform them of a true democracy.
Hopefully the help they receive this time can go further.
Haitian Donations
What happened in Haiti was something that no country should ever have to go through, impoverished or not. More than 150,000 people have had their lives taken from them not including the thousands of lives that were permanently altered.
It’s always that case that the worst brings out the best in us. Why can’t people be as giving all the time though? There was a Haiti telethon that received61 million dollars. That was 21 million more than the Katrina fundraising. All of that money was given by willing people to help as much as they can.
In this current economy, charities have not received as much as in recent years due to the recent job losses and pay cuts. Yet people still managed to give for Haiti. But what if tomorrow, a Tsunami were to hit Tokyo? Would people be just as willing to give for a more developed rich country? Or would it be too close between paychecks to help out a country in need?
Always giving just a little is enough at any time of the year or current situation. Devastations shouldn’t be the only factor in giving to those in need.
Who I Am
Welcome to my blog. The name is Erika.
This blog was started because of my Opinion Writing class at University of Houston. My professor Michael Berryhill wants us to implement WordPress to our advantage with our opinions and thoughts, and that is precisely what I will do. I might add a little extra every now and then. I’m also in the Social Issues in Journalism class with the same professor which means two blogs for me.
I am currently a senior at UH, though I might be graduating next spring of ’11. Switching majors and minors really mess things up. I am a communications major in print journalism with a German minor. What I will do after I graduate will be up to whatever comes my way.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading historical fiction and fantasy novels. If I’m not reading, I play online games; yes, I play WoW. When I get the chance, I love to travel and explore new places. I am also an avid postcard collector. My collection consists of around 2,000 postcards from around the world and different ages.
Did I mention I love my 2 cats?
And Pandora radio is awesome.
