Erin Bailie
Erin Bailie saw the video images from Haiti in a personal way and realizes how grateful she is for many things.
My friend’s father is a cameraman for a cable news channel. He was sent to Haiti almost immediately after the earthquake hit there. My friend was worried for her father’s safety, knowing how bad things were for everyone there.
Within days, the footage he shot was on a special news program. I decided to watch it partly to support my friend. They say “seeing is believing” — and I wholeheartedly agree. The images were powerful, and the fact I knew the person behind the camera made it even more real for me.
It changed me. When I first heard about the earthquake, I wasn’t too concerned. I donated some babysitting money to the Red Cross and I skimmed the headlines in the paper. But for the most part, I didn’t think about it. I know terrible natural disasters happen, like Hurricane Katrina, the Indonesian tsunami and global warming. I figured the hype would soon pass.
But those video images my friend’s father captured have really stuck with me. Suddenly, I get it. And I’m grateful for so many things: the home I live in, the shower I use every morning, the public transportation I take to school, and yes, even my school itself.
I doubt I’ll ever go to Haiti or many of the places where my friend’s dad goes on assignment. But through him and his work, I feel connected to the world.
