tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post8191423636085436622..comments2023-10-09T08:41:52.719-04:00Comments on Billy Shore, bearing witness: powerful guest post from Timberland CEO Jeff Swartz Upon Return From HaitiBilly Shore, Bearing Witnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731959779123510152noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-70927331836661433202010-07-28T12:46:25.027-04:002010-07-28T12:46:25.027-04:00SAM
Jeff this a life changing experience for you, ...SAM<br />Jeff this a life changing experience for you, think about living it day in day out with kids to care for. For years Haiti has been neglected by its people and abused by so call NGO's, so mother nature took action this is the result of deforestation. Eight members of my family lost their life they were hard working individual who spend years providing employment to men and women in Haiti. I can remember as a young boy, bearing witness of my uncle long years fight against deforestation and the Duvalier regime, now 82 years old, he survived the earthquake, he always said, we need a young Haitian with independent vision to help Haiti, rebuild Haiti image across the world, not the Haitian politician, those already sold us out, they can support the dream, he continue to said he or she has to be educated from the States and create a movement of reforestation and farming that we will create million of employment and provided food that will buy us time so we don't have a civil war, that was 10 years ago. Toussaint Louverture once said "The roots of our Nation is deep it can never be destroy" with the right men and women at the helm we can do it, let's remember power is a "WE" movement "NOU" not I "MOIN". It take 5 years minimum for a tree to mature and bear fruits let,s work toward beautification of Haiti, be patient. One Love.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14343579198639836611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-64535960425231246612010-02-08T09:25:49.407-05:002010-02-08T09:25:49.407-05:00So, as I read the moving and thoughtful words that...So, as I read the moving and thoughtful words that you have written here on Billy's Bearing Witness Blog, I have spent some quiet time reflecting on the question of Bearing Witness itself.<br /><br />When we were younger men, Billy and I spent a day in Immokalee, Florida, at the jumping off point of a migrant farm worker "stream." We did a day of community service there, but around the "doing," Billy modeled for me "being." Quietly, but powerfully, I saw Billy in the cramped trailers where migrant families were being disgracefully "housed;" in the battered women's shelter which Share Our Strength was supporting, I saw Billy with the staff who feeds those without a voice...and I began to experience "bearing witness."<br /><br />A short while ago, I went with Billy to Haiti--and watched and learned from him, again. I watched him "talking" with Haitian brothers and sisters as we fed a hot lunch--although Billy doesn't speak a word of Creole. I watched him conversing with amputees in the "hospital," using language above words. And in watching, I was reinforced in the challenge of and the purpose of...bearing witness.<br /><br />I am changed by my Haitian voyage-a voyage which continues in my heart, and in this "conversation" with you all. I am so used to "doing," to "problem solving," as opposed to "being," and "bearing witness." Is it too late for a middle aged boot maker to learn a new way? Your notes encourage me to believe...maybe not.<br /><br />The voyage of Haiti, the journey of bearing witness...continues.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone for their words of challenge and comfort.<br />Sincerely<br /><br />Jeff SwartzJeff Swartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03643171168251994566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-38609319196062466082010-02-06T13:56:03.740-05:002010-02-06T13:56:03.740-05:00Jeff,
I'm glad you wrote what you saw and und...Jeff, <br />I'm glad you wrote what you saw and understood your purpose for being there. Haven't read a better visual account of what's going on there in Haiti yet, not until I read this. I admire people who see what needs to be done and do all they can to do it. Thank you! <br />www.undergroundtreelive.com, We've written a few blogs myself on the top. Definitely not a first hand view like yourself but indeed opinions. -Dawn J.Dawn J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01713765692025599165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-27519516173547532432010-02-05T12:27:51.876-05:002010-02-05T12:27:51.876-05:00Dear Jeff,
Your words brought back decades old me...Dear Jeff,<br /><br />Your words brought back decades old memories of horrific experiences as a Peace Corp Volunteer in India and scenes of unimaginable poverty in Nicaragua, Jamaica and Mexico – personal long-depressed pictures in my mind of suffering that just shouldn’t happen – but it does. In the short term we are moved to do something about it, and we respond with great caring and philanthropy. Then time passes and life moves on for us and our focus is distracted and the helpless are ignored again.<br /><br />Your words do not surprise me for you have had a life-changing experience. You have gone where few will ever go and seen what few will ever see and you are able to talk about it and how it moved you. Now it becomes our job to echo your words, and transform those words and your vision to action.<br /><br />In recent days the generosity of people around the world has yielded significant funds for Haiti relief efforts. The George Clooney and Wyclef telethon, nearly unprecedented television coverage, and celebrity pleas by Larry King and others have raised millions for Red Cross, UNICEF, and other large disaster relief organizations. But, alas the media coverage is beginning to thin out, the “Impact your World” logo moves from the top of the CNN web page to the bottom and now several clicks back, our focus is redirected, our memories fade and donations are slowing down as the whole mess slips from the American consciousness.<br /><br />The donations really add up – possibly more than $200 million in just a few days if we could sum it all up, but the math reveals a stark reality. Divide $200 million by Five Million Haitians that need help daily (a bit over half of all Haitians) and wow $40/ person – great – enough for ONE DOLLAR PER DAY PER PERSON FOR LESS THAN SIX WEEKS. Wyclef said we need a million dollars a day. Even that staggering amount would need to be sustained for many years to begin to meet the extraordinary need.<br /><br />In the weeks to come as the sustenance and medical needs of Haitians are better met, the possibly even greater needs for housing and infrastructure redevelopment remain a challenge that will undoubtedly take many years and require dedicated funds far into the future. My Florida Auctioneer colleagues and I want to get involved in developing a long-term strategy for fund-raising to help rebuild Haiti. With the help and support of corporations, individuals, partners like you and other professional benefit auctioneers across America we can create a means to raise significant funding while simultaneously maintaining an acute sustained awareness of the enormous need this tragic event has spawned.<br /><br />Your words inspire us, “What my eyes have seen, my heart has felt. And so this voyage is just beginning. The good that comes from this journey lies rather in what happens next.”<br /><br />A nation-wide strategy is demanded - leadership will be a necessity – unique strategies are required. Will you let us join you in making it happen?<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Leonard FreemanLenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01701649856200689421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-59212192627747510502010-02-04T11:45:44.130-05:002010-02-04T11:45:44.130-05:00I read this with tears in my eyes. I keep telling ...I read this with tears in my eyes. I keep telling myself to stop reading about it, stop watching the news, looking at the pics and just continue to pray and give the little I can while inspiring my friends and others to do the same. But I keep drawing back to it. Mostly because I don't want Haiti to fall back as it seems it is recently. People are not talking about it as much. <br /><br />God Bless you. No you don't deserve any special award or praises. But even you - the CEO - needs encouragement, your spirits lifted, and gratitude for even caring. Even in this devastation some still don't even care enough to pray.<br /><br />May God continue to use you, Wyclef, your company, and associates to work His miracles through.<br /><br />Signed,<br />Still a believerUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11962518369019654425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-18445302062035664902010-02-03T20:14:52.457-05:002010-02-03T20:14:52.457-05:00I as a Haitian appreciate your honest and warm op...I as a Haitian appreciate your honest and warm opinions and it feels good to know that there are people such as yourself that are willing to travel abroad to make a difference. As you (Timberland CEO) stated the little girl was relieved when she received her food and went off into her haven/world again. I just hope this is not just something that is done in one day and forgotten, this is a country that has been decimated with catastrophe after catastrophe with 4 hurricanes less that one year and a half ago. Just when you think your going to survive something such as this happens. All in all this was a noble attempt on Timberland as a global company to recognize and prioritize and to also attempt to make a differenceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-26238615171326128922010-02-03T18:41:52.767-05:002010-02-03T18:41:52.767-05:00"Dr Dave said, “We’ve really got to find a ca..."Dr Dave said, “We’ve really got to find a cast saw,” and I said, what do you mean, find? And he said, “Well, we know they have cast saws at the airport, we’ve been sending SOS messages for 4 days and we can’t get them here.” Not 5 miles away. So now I’m all ready to go storm the airport and thankfully Billy Shore said he had a better idea … whipped out his iPhone – can you see the irony of standing in this place and Billy’s on his iPhone? And he sent a note on Twitter that said, “Anybody got a surgical cast saw I could use?” and the network goes whacko and an hour later there are 3 of them being Fed Exed to Yele Haiti people because they’ll do whatever they have to to get aid to those who need it."<br /> THis is why i donated to Yele and why i continue to donate with a recurring donation.kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01088807623622312195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-32929644048465709242010-02-03T15:25:52.795-05:002010-02-03T15:25:52.795-05:00God Bless You for your compassion and "love i...God Bless You for your compassion and "love in action." You have made a difference, even in the two meals you gave to the children, and I know much more to come. One person DOES make a difference. Thank you for caring and doing something with those feelings. We all have a chance to be angels in human form by DOING someting to help, big or small. Thank you for your example of courage and selfless service.<br />AmyUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03399732859450746541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-41503803064004778352010-02-03T12:18:44.045-05:002010-02-03T12:18:44.045-05:00Thank you for this post. As a Peace Corps voluntee...Thank you for this post. As a Peace Corps volunteer who served in Haiti almost 10 years ago, I am deeply saddened, as is the rest of the world, by the death, destruction, and suffering that has been heaved yet again on the Haitian people. While I would never have wished for this to happen, I believe strongly now that this may be a way out of constant misery for a country. It means a lot that so many people with access to mass resources and the ability to invest in a country that is one of our closest neighbors have had the chance to see and feel Haiti for the first time. Please do everything you can to keep your commitment to Haiti alive and spread the message to others in your network who can help. Together, we can find a better place for the beatiful country so many of us have come to love.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02630821925740066985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-47237820569585630692010-02-03T01:04:25.503-05:002010-02-03T01:04:25.503-05:00I feel the true bittersweetness of the whole situa...I feel the true bittersweetness of the whole situation. You see the kind, the positive aspects admidst all the destruction and chaos. Yet you dont let any one of those souls over there be forgotten, both in words and what aid you could provide to themKat the Leopardesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07261815519734599339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2045822055705191078.post-88667447449877503372010-02-02T20:44:10.492-05:002010-02-02T20:44:10.492-05:00Thank you for your brutal honesty.Thank you for your brutal honesty.Susan57https://www.blogger.com/profile/18123185771161712102noreply@blogger.com