My faith in the essential goodness of the American people and our government has been strengthened this past week as I have witnessed the extraordinary mobilization of relief efforts on behalf of the nation of Haiti following the devastating earthquake that has taken the lives of perhaps as many as 100,000 or more of its citizens. As I watch the screaming, tear-stained scenes of death and anguish unfolding on the nightly news, I cannot help but recall that only five years ago, my own hometown of New Orleans might have disappeared into the abyss of forgotten history were it not for the compassionate outreach of millions of people in this country and around the world. As President Obama said, it is times like these that remind us of our common humanity.