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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

de-lurk for haiti

I haven’t been watching much of the news coverage of the devastation in Haiti—I just can’t do it. But this doesn’t mean that I’m not thinking about the people in Haiti. On the contrary, I can’t stop thinking about them. The image that comes to me again and again is that of a mother, walking down a broken street, searching for her child, desperately calling his name, knowing on some level that it’s too late, that he’s dead, but unable to stop calling for him. I imagine what this would be like—this hopelessness and not-knowing—and it breaks my heart over and over again.

For a long time now I have been planning to ask you lurkers to de-lurk for a charity, but I hadn’t decided on a cause. Now I have one.

(I don’t actually like the term “lurker” because it sounds so sinister, as if you are crouching outside my window, peering in. And of course there is nothing wrong with reading a blog anonymously. But as a blogger, it is nice to know who and where my readers are. It’s nice to put names to the hits on my StatCounter.)

So join me in Mother Words’ first de-lurking for charity. For every comment left by a reader who has never commented here before, I will donate one dollar to Partners in Health. You must post your comment by Friday, January 22nd. If you are willing, please also state your location.

Money is tight for us now—still—but I have to do something to help the people in Haiti. You can help me.

13 comments:

Ines said...

I can help, Kate. Does it work even if I already know you?

Andrea said...

So scary and awful, isn't it? Partners in Health seems like a wonderful organization.

Kaethe said...

I definitely de-lurk for the sake of natural disasters.

(I also de-lurk for chocolate torte, Arabic coffee, and cerulean scarves.)

I live in Northfield but my thoughts are definitely tending toward Haiti. Thanks for doing this!

kate hopper said...

I can't count you, Ines, or Andrea, because you are regular commenters, but I still appreciate your words here, so thank you!

Kaethe, thank you for de-lurking and for reading Mother Words. I look forward to keeping up with your wonderful blog, as well!

cath c said...

excellent idea, kate! sorry i am not a lurker.

The Blue Suitcase said...

Hey, great idea! Since I'm not a lurker I'll go ahead and make my own donation to the efforts. I know what you mean about the pain of watching. For me, the helplessness is what makes it even worse...so this helps.

Elizabeth said...

I don't ever lurk here but wanted to commend you for doing this! And, if you don't mind, I might do the same on my blog!

Thanks!

BLOOM - Parenting Kids With Disabilities said...

Rats -- i guess this means I don't count either! )

My two adopted children -- Renise and Kenold -- are from Haiti. We visited 3 times while we were waiting to adopt them.

Have you read Mountains beyond Mountains about Paul Farmer? It's fabulous.

The degree of suffering there was unimaginable BEFORE the earthquake. Thanks for getting involved!

babyknitcrochet said...

While I was one of your students, I don't think I have ever commented on your blog.

It is hard watching the news these days.

tekeal said...

i've never been so happy to be a lurker! (don't appreciate the word much, either.) thank you for your words and your heart.

Anonymous said...

I'm a lurker! I love any good creative nonfiction I can get my hands on, and yours is wonderful. And I'm willing to help haiti through "good" orgs, too.

Melissa said...

What a great idea! I probably don't count as a lurker, but still.

Kim said...

I'm a little late, but now officially de-lurked!!