Finding Ms O'Brien....and Myself

Christine and Edward Faircloth at home

This is a period of refocusing for me, refocusing on being a more giving person.

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to be given the chance to help an elderly lady in danger.It began at 8am with a phone call, a recorded message from the Hallandale Beach Police Department. The recording described an Augusta O'Brien, an elderly lady, mentally challenged, missing in my area of the beach.

Though I thought little more about it, there was something strangely poignant about the situation.

Seeing helicopters circling and plenty of police in the area while driving to work, I came to a very busy intersection. Preparing to turn right, I looked over to the right and there standing on the corner obviously thinking of crossing the street was Ms O'Brien. I pulled over, got out and approached her in a friendly manner only to have her scream that she didn't want me to hurt her.

With a few kind words and warm smiles I calmed her down and within 5 minutes I flagged down a policeman who immediately knew who she was. Assuring Ms O'Brien that Officer Fowler was kind and helpful, I handed the officer one of my business cards, advising him I had just been named to one of the city commission's boards and that I was considering a run for the Hallandale City Commission.

He smiled and winked, responding "We'll meet again, then. I head up the political screening committee for the city.

The more you give....the more you get.

Human Dignity in Haiti

I am 56 years old and about to die.

That is what I WOULD say IF I was a Haitian living in Haiti. Life expectancy is only 57.

My purpose is to remind you of Haiti's terrible poverty. You and I would be sickened by seeing how hundreds of thousands of Haitians live, especially in the Port au Prince suburb of City Soleil. Children swim in sewage and drink that water because there is nothing else to drink. There is no sewage system in Haiti. As a result, massive numbers of children die, their little bodies, hundreds of them, literally stacked up like firewood in the morgues.

Simon Bustante and 100 other Haitians ended up at my front door recently. Simon is a soft spoken dignified 11 year old boy whose father had coaxed him into making the sailboat trip to America by showing him the Statue of Liberty's "Give Us Your Poor".

For 20 frightening days with 100 other Haitians, Simon didn't eat, didn't drink, didn't walk, stayed sick. It was a horrible and dangerous trip, but not so bad compared to general life in Haiti.

After 20 days at sea, Simon and the others finally saw the golden glow of Miami / Ft Lauderdale city lights and then the flashing of police car lights.

In Haiti you learn to fear the police. Simon was, at 11, scared to death. But soon after he walked onto the beach he realized our authorities were there to help him. They medically treated him, gave him food and water and a blanket. Then they took him into custody and into detention.

Simon's father watched the whole thing on CNN. He saw his son in the group of Haitians who landed in Hallandale and was encouraged until an American Congressman from Miami Beach went on Haitian television to advise no one else attempt the trip because those who landed in Hallandale would be returned to Haiti. Simon's father then realized the trip was fruitless. Simon will be send back to the squalor of City Soliel and Port au Prince.

Simon's father understood the peril of the trip and why others shouldn't try it but his desparation to feed his family made it worth the try. He thought ' Simon will probably die young in Haiti anyway.'

I wonder if your experience with Haitians here in South Florida has been as positive as mine.

I have consistently found them to be warm, friendly, happy and gentle. I've always seen them as a very dignified people and it's disheartening to see the indignities they're forced to endure in Haiti because of a long list of economic, social, political misfortunes.

I attended the Presbyterian Church here in Hollywood on Easter. That particular church has a joint outreach program is a local synagogue. Together they support several orphanages. There is no shortage of those since 75 % of the population of Haitian are children. There are tons of them abandoned, diseased, soon to be dead.

A few years ago a friend taught me the phrase " Sak Passe"...it means 'what's happening'. The normal response is " nap boule ". I can't tell you how pleased they are to hear this...an American who knows " sak passe" represents a sign of respect for them.

They beam with a huge smile when they hear this.

My goal is to remind you that there is massive poverty in Haiti. These are wonderful people who need our help. If you can give through your charity of choice, please do. Haiti is the poorest country in the entire western hemisphere.

My goal is also to remind you how very fortunate you and I are to live among the bounty of America.

If nothing else, learn the phrase ' Sac Passe' and the next time you're around a Haitian say Sac Pasa and watch a gentle kind dignified smile fill their face.

Haiti desparately needs our help.

Simon Bustante and his family desparately need us to come to their rescue, to help give them the basics of clean water, safety, education, health, simple human dignity.

Simon Bustante and his fellow Haitians deserve human dignity. Please remind our government of this.

Las Vegas and NAB with ScheduALL

20 of us are packing and preparing for another National Association of Broadcasters.

For those who've never been, it is the largest television related convention in the world with over 100,000 people gathered in 4 huge buildings.

ScheduALL is a production facility management system utilized by 1,500 companies worldwide. http://www.scheduall.com

This week's Broadcast Engineering spotlights my buddy Mitchell Brill and Screen Gems EUE's new studio facility for Rachel Ray and how complex that production process is. Not mentioned is the ScheduALL system which EUE uses to manage the production. Hey, who needs cold Frajitas?

By this time next week I will have 2 sore feet and a back ready for a few days by my Florida pool. But, I will also have had the pleasure of meeting 700 industry colleagues in one spot over a few days.

If you're in LV, drop by and say hello.

Edward Faircloth
954-536-1942

An April Wednesday in South Florida

What a wonderful day which started with lightning and thunder finally bringing much needed rain to the Ft Lauderdale area. Everything was clean and green by the time I left for work this morning.

ScheduALL was, as usual, a pleasure with a number of interesting conversations, most notably with my friend Greg Larvenz who has taken over as head of engineering for the National Geographic Channel.

Lunch was spent with my fellow Rotarians. I've been asked to fill the role of VP Membership for next year. The organization's new president wants help reinvigorating the club.

After work, I attended the Hallandale Chamber of Commerce party at Gulfstream Racetrack's fabulous Chase Restaurant. I had interesting conversations with Commissioner Julian, Julie Hamlin and Fran Maskowitz.

The Hollywood Democratic Club Board of Directors met to install new directors tonight and make plans for next year. I've agreed to help with the club's newsletter and public relations needs with Hillary.

Following the meeting I picked up Ally on Las Olas, after buying chocolate for Janet Miller.

My Haiti speech for Saturday is late. I'll work on it tomorrow morning. I'm supposed to meet with Bruno after the Ft Lauderdale Democratic Club meeting.

Good night.

Greg has just left for Las Vegas and yet another NAB. Can it be true that this is truly happening again?