Those who have any concern for Haiti will naturally want to understand how its most recent tragedy has beenunfolding. And for those who have had the privilege of any contact with the people of this tortured land, itis not just natural but inescapable. Nevertheless, we make a serious error if we focus too narrowly on theevents of the recent past, or even on Haiti alone. The crucial issue for us is what we should be doing aboutwhat is taking place. That would be true even if our options and our responsibility were limited; far more sowhen they are immense and decisive, as in the case of Haiti. And even more so because the course of theterrible story was predictable years ago -- if we failed to act to prevent it. And fail we did. The lessonsare clear, and so important that they would be the topic of daily front-page articles in a free press.