Opinion: In response to “Why Haiti?” Executive Director asks “Why not?”
JORDAN PLACE, CEO & PRESIDENT “Why Haiti?” This is a question I often hear. There are countless homeless veterans, for example, and other groups of individuals in need right here in the United States. It is natural to believe that we must take care of our own people before assisting others. From a certain perspective, this argument makes sense. It can seem wasteful and as if our priorities are out of line if we are leaving the country to help others without helping "our own”. However, I've often found these questioners to be more interested in critiquing my desire to serve than in actually helping homeless veterans or others in need. This is how I have generally responded. First, I explain that understand where they are coming from, but because…