To Prance Or Not To Prance?

With the aim of making the BBC's news and current affair shows more accountable to the viewer, NewsWatch is designed to connect programme editors with viewer questions of all kinds.

One item I found interesting from this week's show was the issue posed regarding the pronunciation of Port-au-Prince. In light of the devastating earthquake there, the place name has been said many times. But, is it Port au Prance, or Port au Prinss?

Well, it seems the BBC has a BBC Pronunciation Research Unit, and according to their website,

"Our aim is to ensure that pronunciations used on the BBC are accurate and consistent, and our advice is free of charge to independent programme makers producing BBC programmes as well as BBC staff."
So, here is their answer on How to Say: Haiti and Port-au-Prince

"In the case of Haiti and Port-au-Prince, we recommend the established anglicisations HAY-ti (-ay as in say, stressed syllables in upper case) and PORT-oh-PRINSS (-i as in pin)."
So, there you have it! I don't really know why that interests me, but it just does.

A Poem For A Haitian Child

I have agonized over whether to hit 'Publish' on this, partly as I know it does not do justice to the complete horror people in Haiti are experiencing, and partly because I never know whether those not directly involved in the actual disaster (victim and responder) should do any more than make their donation and keep out of it.

My simple aim is just to publish some of the feelings that I've had on my personal space. Thoughts in particular for the children who can unlikely make sense of it, may even now be orphaned.

Seriously, people should not be made to suffer like this and if you have chosen to read this, I hope you will forgive my hitting publish. I hope I have done the right thing.

A Poem For A Haitian Child

One magnitude for each year of your life,
Your look of the world rearranged in a moment,

The night sky is filled with stars,
But to you, like your heart looks empty,
As tears speed down your face like racing cars,
Your grief is all too a plenty,

You didn't ask for this,
Nor did you deserve this,
Your face now filled with sorrow,
Showing a heart feeling hollow,

Beyond the fences you see the military might,
Stocking supplies, one mile high,
Yet why is the only water you see in sight,
The mist of the tears filling your eyes?,

Right now explanations are bare,
What are we supposed to tell you child?,
If only you knew how much we care,

I hope one day you can laugh and smile,
If you can, then our effort will be all worthwhile,

Sleep tight dear child.
Support Disaster Relief in Haiti

UK Disasters Emergency Committee

Bay Piti Pa Chich

"Bay Piti Pa Chich" - To give only a little is not being cheap
- Haitian proverb

(I saw this on @qikipedia.)