C: Is for Cartagena or the little house that needs our help

We hear about the ir-responsible and
ir-reprehensible things countries, companies and people do in the name of God, yet why is it we never hear the good? President Bush is supposedly a Christian yet his policies belay that. Today’s column was meant to be frivolous and about how to improve oneself, however yesterday afternoon a story came to my attention that warrants pushing aside self for the greater good. I urge you to read this column because help is needed and we have the ability to make a difference. There are a lot of F.A.C.T.S. here and I even left some out in order to make it easier to read. There is a saying that says it takes a community to raise a child. I think that it takes people coming together in a unit to get things accomplished especially if you are going against a government. America has spent since 2002 an excess of over $2 Billion (and that is a low estimate) to Columbia to stop the drug wars.
There are as in most wars those lives that are caught in between. They became apart of the system and government that finds them indisposable. In Cartagena, Columbia there exists such a tragedy. The largest city is called Villa Hermosa. This city which in all respects is more of a squatter village exists because of the effects of the on going drug wars. These people flee for their lives and arrive with only the clothes on their backs in need of food, shelter, education and medical care. The things we take for granted such as a birthing center, emergency room and a clinic to get medical care are denied because these people are not considered important enough. It was not their country but ours who stepped in. In 1970 a group called Christians in Action (C in A), a Californian 501C3 non-profit agency saw a need and in 2004 raised and built a clinic and sent two containers with equipment for a clinic and a school. These containers arrived at The Department of Emergency Services under Juan J Yacaman Torres who took responsibility and released them. In fact Torres even had the military come and unload the containers for them. Well received and moving forward in 2006 C in A raised over $300,000 and the clinic was ready to become a hospital, with the encouragement of the Colombian Government. On December 10, 2006 C in A sent another container full of equipment for an emergency room, a birthing room and an ambulatory unit. This equipment was for the
most part donated or bought with money donated from those who care about others. Arriving in the port of Cartagena on January 14, 2007. The federal customs office of Colombia took possession of the container. After 5 weeks of trying to identify the problem, custom officials stated that that the container didn’t have the proper licensing and that it would take a minimum of 25 additional days to get the licensing. The fact is it could take much longer. Since it was deemed that there was no “emergency need” for the equipment, the container would not be released to the Department of Emergency Services. A C in A staff member confirmed someone opened the container, which causes concern about the safety of the contents. This concern is reinforced by the fact that C in A discovered that two other ministries have never been able to secure possession of their containers and no explanations have been given. To add insult to injury the contents of their containers were auctioned off by the government. This is a group of human beings who put other human beings 1st regardless of race, religion, color or origin. They don’t expect praise or commendations they do it out of unconditional love, but because they are a Christian organization they are being shaken down and put up against the wall and need our help to help others. Those who originally helped and the Colombian government state that it will cost an undisclosed amount to release the containers. Though they cannot come out and state this I can. This is a shake down by a government that feeds off the weakness and the kindness of others. Senator Hatch and Boxer have been informed of this injustice lets see if they will put their Republican and Democratic values where they belong. Where is the Ambassador to Columbia when his people need care? Where are all the major news channels when something as heinous as this occurs? And more importunately what will you do after you read this? Lets bond together, send others to read this article and maybe somebody who reads this will be able to correct this error and make a reality out of a F.A.C.T.