Helping Hand
On Saturday, Haitian-American musician Wycleff Jean and Oscar-winner Matt Damon arrived in flood-ravaged Haiti to distribute food aid to residents of the city Cabaret.
Damon and Jean organized the food distribution for the city's victims.
In less than one month, four tropical storms have hit this poor island nation. Officials have said Haiti's death toll will never be known.
According to a report, 331 people have been declared dead, but as the floodwaters recede and more bodies surface, Haiti's government has all but given up trying to update the death toll.
A committee that typically keeps track of such things in disasters has disbanded, because its members were among the tens of thousands who lost their homes.
So sad.
As y'all know, weather disaster has hit us hard at home, too, with Ike in Texas.
You can do your part to help too. Get involved or give to a disaster aid organization like the Red Cross.
[Image via Getty Images.]
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first
America-hating, lefty-liberal Damon should be in LOUISIANA or TEXAS helping AMERICANS. Oh yeah… I forgot. He hates America.
thats a strange pair
fourth???
i like matt damon =]
how sad
:D
HMM…its really funny how we have Hurricane Icke and he isn't helping out AMERICAN victims..Piece of shit
All of the Movie Starz in Hollywood should get off of their lazy cheap ass and help people.
Matt Damon is a douche.
fuc*k get over it people, if the man wants to help out another place outside
America LET THE MAN DO THAT. It doesnt mean he doesnt like America!
Isn't Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, on the other side of the island?
to you people bashing Matt Damon for helping! How the F**K do you think you are? Who cares if he is helping Americans or Haitans the point is he is helping while you are typing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just want to say that in addition to Texas being hurt by Ike, Louisiana was also hurt. Also, recently, Gustav ripped through Louisiana. After Gustav, the ENTIRE STATE OF LOUISIANA was deemed in a state of Emergency. I think that we should remember Gustav and Ike, and concentrate on helping out at home before helping other countries. This is always the United States problem: they help other before helping themselves.
whats wrong with you people? matt damon is doing something good in America u guys have no idea how much Haitians suffer how bad it is,u couldn't even imagine it.if he's doing it for publicity or out of his heart it dosnt really matter because he is still helping, i think its very sweet and humane of wycleff and damon to think of others like that.
The gentleman in the red shirt is Frank McKenna, former premier of New Brunswick, Canada and I believe at one time Canadian Embassador in the US.
Isn't it nice when celebrities shut their mouths about politics and just do good deeds?
Okay, just because Matt Damon is over there in Haiti doesn't mean he hates America (typical bullshit republican crap to say), nothing wrong with helping out others . Haiti has been hit harder than Texas and i think it's nice of Matt and Wycleff to help those who been needing help for a while… I mean a lot of people are dead there it's catastrophic and these people are already dirt poor as it is… they need all the help they can get.
I don't understand whats going on here..
A lot of yall are MAD because ONE American is helping an empoverished country?
I don't hear about ANY other celeb helping out ANY country right now..
So..
Is Matt Damon the only person with some type of power in this world?
Wait, there's a town called Cabaret in Haiti as well. What the hell does it matter who they help? A human being is a human being.
I love people who do humanitarian work!
That picture looks like a clip from a bad Disney movie.
Ike is the worst storm to hit Texas in 50 years. The coast line from Beaumont to Houston is destroyed over 4 million are out of electricity. Shouldn't you be taken care of your own first?
HOW ABOUT HELPING HERE IN THE USA MORE…
That sure looks like Tom Berenger standing behind Matt Damon. Anyone know if it is?
Fortunately, the people of Louisiana and Texas are citizens of a nation with the resources to help them. However ineptly that aid is given by the government is another story, but it is there, nonetheless.
Haiti is one of the poorest, most disadvantaged nations in this hemisphere, and if the sight of Americans reaching out to these largely helpless people- I suggest you re-examine your worldview.
It's funny to me that many of the self-proclaimed haters of "lefty, liberal, godless, America haters", can only look with cynical eyes at a man of wealth and notoriety using those advantages to help the weak, and the small. If I'm not mistaken, Charity is in fact one of the many Christian virtues to which you supposedly adhere.
I'm a lefty, and liberal.. and yes a proud American, because of what this means and the leader it can be, and that includes going beyond our front lawns and reaching out to world with grace, compassion, and humility.
Because we can. Because we should.
This election year in many ways has brought out the worst of this country, for all its bigoted, self-righteous indignation– and we, AS A PEOPLE have to see that strength and virtue (supposedly conservative attributes), and compassion and tolerance (supposed liberal attributes) MUST be united…or either is doomed to fail.
Now, I'm sure this post will draw the requisite number of hateful responses, which actually would kind of prove my point.. so in the meantime.
I'll just say to you, my fellow Americans, regardless of political stripe:
Be good to each other. Be kind. We're all in this together
that's all rife, with typos.. but you get the point.
this country needs everything on normal times so under almost 4 hurricanes in less than 3 weeks…I let you guess….
worse, the cyclonic season is not even over last year it spent one alphabet and a halph which is about 37 bad storms-tempest-hurricanes like events….
Damon does not hate his own country, how can anybody reproach any help given to Haiti. I personnaly tried to help both as I could so I bet he did too!
Hey, there is William "Captain Kirk" Shatner giving a bag to Wyclef???????
It makes me SICK that our country hasn't sent Aid to these people. They are poor , dying,. Their own government has screwed them with extra high costs of food. It always the really poor that suffer the most.
He's helping thRe: Smirks –
He's there helping you fucktard because their own government t has screwed them of AID. Besides Texas is being helped by the President .
Is that Frank McKenna in the red shirt??? It's definitely not William Shatner! Frank should be the next prime minister of Canada not that idiot Stephen Harper
Umm, its really bad here in Texas too…kinda disappoints me in matt damon
Re: coco – #30
So write a check and send it to Haiti if you want to help. Problem solved. I have already sent money to the US hurricane relief effort. What have you done lately? Calling me "fucktard" was a stroke of genius… you are so SMART!
our school in canada built a school in haiti for the poor kids and the school we bult there is being used as a shelter from the hurricane
At least they're helping PEOPLE, regardless of whether or not they're American. That's such a shit argument to try and start. More celebrities (and people in general) should get off their asses and help, anywhere, whether it's here or in other countries.
And some of you wonder why other countries have such a poor opinion of Americans… Get the fuck over yourselves.
Re: Smirks – fuck you you fucking cunt.
people are people, american or not, we all belong to the human race, when will americans \learn that this planet is a very small one and that all ppl are equal, no matter what nationality they are.
WAKE THE FUCK UP.
Yay for Damon
He's a good person.
Re: Smirks – I would call you a stupid douche but I see your name is Smirks….
Re: Uker – #37
There are no words…
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Nice avatar.
Re: Honestly – How exactly does caring more about my own countrymen than foreigners make me a douche? lol.
GREAT FOR THEM!!! At least they are trying to help!!
#14 and #32 you are correct. That is former NB premier Frank McKenna hobknobbing with the stars and helping out a good cause. It was on the national news earlier today.
Hot Damen! I wanna marry him!
Putting words into action…LOVE THAT!
That's right…use the ever-expensive resources to fly somewhere and help another country when you could have just gotten into your car and driven to Texas!
Mabey this will force some fu#@$in lazy asses to work for a living or do some fuck32in work to clean up instead of sucking government money and the stiffs like you and me !!!!!!!!!!!!!
there is a lot more stuff going on in this country that both could do to help, before going off to some other country. if he wants to "better" the country instead of bitching about Sarah Pailin he should do something here.
Have the hurricanes going through Louisiana and Texas, the train wreck in California…but whatever he is one of the many of people that piss me off. i could start listing
Hey - that's Frank McKenna in the background next to Matt!! He's the ex-Ambassador to the US for Canada and, more importantly…. the ex-premier of New Brunswick - the province I live in!!! YAY FRANK!!!
This guy is the real deal.
You people who complain about who he helps and where he helps are fools. People are people and Haiti is a poor country without a lot of means or structure for a hurricane. I can't applaud him enough.
What have any of you done to help a victim in a storm, here or in Haiti, other than sit and your fat asses and complain.
He's the real deal and puts his money where his mouth is!
Re: KOOL KID – my family is from Houston. They are staying here (Dallas) until they get their electricity back, which could be WEEKS from now. i myself helped at local shelters yesterday as well.
Looks like Louis Gosset Jr. is there too. On the top right side in the white cap. Behind the Canadian Premier. Is that him? Sure looks like him.
Ugh! I just vomited in my mouth. So sickening, him, Clooney, Pitt, Jolie-all of them! They disgust me. Why don't they just ship all of their asses to France like that American-hating FUCK Johnny Depp did! They sure love to make their money from these dumbass "fans" here in America, though. Starving, Dying, homeless people right here in every city of the united states! How about the runaways that go straight to Hollywood and work the strip for food, money and their lives are lost. These 3rd world countries need to have the NORPLANT inplanted in all of these procreating "starving" and "underpriveledged" people!
RE: doenut…>>"Okay, just because Matt Damon is over there in Haiti doesn't mean he hates America (typical bullshit republican crap to say)"…and YOUR response is typical LIBERAL/DEMOCRART BULLSHIT to yeat again make excuses for ignoring the need we have right here. Denial, Denial, Denial-typical Democrat stupidity! Damn, I wish the earth would just open up and swallow you all up!!!
they should have their asses in texas. they live in the usa, they should be helping out here. maybe they should just move to haiti since they favor it so much.
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this storm is insane - i live in ky, and the wind currents fucked a ton of shit up here today. last i heard there were thousands without power, and a lot of places are shutting down. we've never had this happen here before, it's not pleasant. i just can't see how those idiots get the warnings down south and stay there through the storm. it's just fucking stupid to hang around something so powerful it's tearing shit up 3 states away.
Everyone saying Matt Damon should be "helping his own" and one went so far as to say she is "DISSAPPOINTED" in Matt Damon!!!! Get off your fat lazy asses and go help the people in the US, the RICHEST country in the world who already have thousands helping them and a government sending them supplies. Haiti has NONE of these things so if a handful of celebs with $$ want to go help these poor people who the FUCK are you to knock them down for doing so!!! Get a life you LOSERS….Matt & Wyclef…you guys are AWESOME!
PunkyPenguin****GROW UP***also…it's past your bedtime
Linda9801…you are without a doubt…the dumbest poster on these boards in the past few months….NO DOUBT THEE DUMBEST…how does that make you feel? Pretty DUMB huh?
I happen to work for my local chapter of the American Red Cross. i read your blog all of the time. I rarely read the comments because of all the snark. (talk about people on high horses)
Anyway Perez, I would like to say thank you for posting a link for donations to the Red Cross. the Red Cross National Disaster Fund is dire need of contributions. Much of the free assistance that is given after a disaster comes from the American Red Cross.
Again, thank you.
Re: madonnajen –
I will also add for your readers and commenter's that: the Red Cross does indeed provide for other countries. The organization is called The International Red Cross and Red crescent Society.
how does helping humans in Haiti = America-hating?
Is starting a war in Iraq (to bring supposed freedom and democracy to Iraqis) mean America hates America?
The current Republican Administration are the ones who privatized and contracted out all your military making it less affective. Maybe if America wasn't dropping bombs everywhere else in the world they'd have more resources to take care of their own citizens in time of need.
I can't get over how ignorant "smirks" logic is.
Re: Linda9801 – Why don't you vote for a government that might contribute to more affordable health care, education, social programs… for Americans who need the assistance.
I hardly see the current government in a position to claim they're helping the plight of impoverished Americans. They too busy ruining the economy and padding their own pockets.
Re: WilAkt4Fud – kudos
Re: Smirks –
please read my statement above - Smirks nothing about Americans helping Haitians means hating Americans.
Americans use Haitians as a cheap labor to make more money and goods for Americans. But we shouldn't help them out in a time of need???
Doesn't the richest most powerful country in the world have the resources and man power to effectively take care of disaster relief and rescue for Americans???
Re: frida – Thoughtfully said, but… Matt Damon being an America-hater lefty-liberal is separate from him being in Haiti helping there. The America-hating comment was in reference to his video about Palin. I didn't mean that since he is helping in Haiti it MEANS he hates America. He convinced me of that BEFORE he went there.
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Yes, the Haitians do need help, but so do a helluva lot of people in LA and TX right now. You must not know anyone there. I have already sent money to the hurricane Ike relief effort. Have you?
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Also, I find it cynical and convenient that Matt has a new theater project just coming out that he obviously wants to plug.
Re: Smirks – If it bothers you so much, then get off your flabby ass and go to Texas to help… if you used your head for something more than a hat rack, it would occur to you that Haiti has absolutely zilch compared to the American resources for rescues.
You ought to get out of your trailer and visit Haiti sometime. It might wedge some light into that narrow mind of yours.
Re: Smirks – What did you know about palin three weeks ago?… D'oh right. Now, suddenly it's America-hating to oppose this right-wing extremeist McShame picked for cynical political purpose?? Hahahaha what an idiot you are, alleged "Libertarian" (yeah right).
When are they going to come and help my family rebuild our house that we lost on Crystal Beach due to Hurricane Ike? Just because we lived in a town of middle class citizens does not mean we can shell out tons of money upfront to start over and we don't need resources. Maybe they should bring electricity to the 4million people that are without it right now, and some clean clothes. Doubt that is going to happen.
Re: Circe's sister – It seems to be an incredibly unpopular opinion that I think there are plenty of Americans in need and we should begin with charity at home. The Texas Gulf Coast has just experienced a disaster the like of which they haven't seen in 100 years. When we have our shit straightened out, then let's go help others. I am not going to be an apologist for wanting to help Americans first. I couldn't care less if that bothers you. Really intelligent post, btw.
Let me know when he is bring my family a fresh pair of clothes, or electrity here on Crystal Beach, TX. Or better a new home since ours had a boat blown through the north side of it.. I won't hold my breath
Re: seamus – I knew nothing about Palin three weeks ago, other than that she was the Governor of Alaska. I have bothered to find out since then by doing research instead of making uninformed videos grossly misstating and misrepresenting her views.
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Good thing I don't need you to validate my politics. I believe in the smallest possible federal government and I believe in the Constitution and in the original intent of our founding fathers which can be ascertained further by reading the Federalist Papers. I have researched Obama's and McCain's positions and have decided I don't want the huge increases in federal spending and federal programs of which Obama is in favor. Not interested in living in a welfare state. Apparently you are.
cool how everytime a star does something a little unselfish there are "randomly" cameras there to take their pictures and post them everywhere to show how good they are. NOT!
Smirk Skank. While Matt Damon has donated lots of money to Katrina and helped his friends Brad pitt and Jolies foundation for Katrina rebuilding,you choose to diss him on helping others, I forgot you're more christian,sitting all day and all night hooked up to your vibrator spouting your rightwing nazi crap,you disgust me lowlife, but you can't help it you've always been a narrow minded uneducated rightwing fascist fundie and you dont know any better. You just dont know any better.
Dear Hollywood-
Charity starts at home. Thank you.
Really good to see them giving aid to people who are so terribly disadvantaged. I saw a photo of a group of Haitian women fighting over a bag of rice the other day, was truly heart wrenching and sad. Kind of like what the liberal population will be doing if Palin and Mcsame have thier way.
Yeah Matt Damon is saving the world…again. To quote a great movie. Dirka dirka. Matt Damon. He should get an award from FAG (Film Actors Guild). Hopefully Alec Baldwin will give it to him.
Matt Damond
Yea Team America.
You guys don't understand. Haiti is not America, they don't have a FEMA to help them around. Unfortunately Haitians need all the help they can have, they need more help than Americans right now because unlike yhis country they don't have a rich gobernment to back them up.
Re: NB Girl – It sure is…That is so surreal, Go Frank McKenna!!
To all the MD bashers…you know, not EVERYTHING is about America…FFS! Americans do not have the market cornered on pain and suffering from tropical storms and weather events, and good on MD for helping people instead of being a freaking keyboard warrior, railing on about "Americans helping Americans." If you are so concerned about the people in Texas, get off your f***ing computer and go help!
I am surprised moron Damon has not blamed the hurricanes on Bush. After hsi STUPID comments last week about Palin he proves what low life's the demoncRATS are!
It really doesn't matter wether its a celebrity to a regular person giving aid to people in need(within the United States or internationally). I also agree that charity begins at home but people the people in texas have the goverment and fellow Americans to give them aid. Haiti howver is one of the poorest countries in the world and their goverment doesnt care about them and their contrymen can't even feed themselves muchless feed their neighbor. This country got hit by four storms in less than a month, so many people are dying that the officials have given up on keeping count. Do the people who are bashing Matt for helping have no sympathy for other human beings or are you guys to busy disliking him to see that he's helping. I commend Matt and Wycleff for giving a helping hand to the hatians.
The people of Haiti are poor, they have nothing compared to the Americans, they need our help. Help them directly through Wyclef's charity "Yele Haiti"
Have some humanity people