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The Marshall Plan
After World War II, the American Marshall Plan provided many times more
than the typically minimal amount of foreign aid to the war-torn
regions of Europe and Japan.
Beyond altruism, the reason was
self-interest. It was understood that America and the world would gain
by helping these nations become economic partners contributing to world
peace and prosperity – and would lose by leaving those territories
vulnerable to instability wreaked by poverty and destruction.
For
a brief moment, the light of the world is shining on Haiti, and what is
revealed is too heartrending to comprehend.
Let us ensure that the lost
life and wellbeing in Haiti is not in vain.
Let this represent a moment
to begin a new chapter – a chapter for building the infrastructure
necessary for true democracy and economic growth. Haiti is right in our
backyard.
Let’s go beyond disaster relief – let’s lend a real hand up
to our neighbor. We’ll be helping ourselves too.
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