While we all have hope that things will be better in Haiti after the devastating earthquake, the arrest of the “missionaries” accused of human trafficking and attempted kidnapping of Haitian kids has put a shadow on the Haitian tragedy. It is sad.

While my heart swings everyday about the intentions of the American missionaries, it is difficult to say that ten citizens of the United States can break the law of a foreign nation in a time of tragedy to take away their kids. Maybe the intentions are good but the way of achieving their goals was bad. Maybe the intentions were good in a racist colonial mentality kind of way.

American behavior is seen by many as arrogant. Being a citizen of the US does not allow Americans to ignore the law of foreign countries. This sad episode puts the good organizations with good intentions in a very complex position. Unfortunately, as the Dinka of Sudan say, “Not all the trees in the forest make good firewood.”