5958: Re: 5950: Observations from Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: qret6394 <pharris@ou.edu>

At last, at last some semblance of balance to the otherwise
sensationalized accounts of what's going on in Haiti at the moment I
don't know about anyone else but I've HAD IT with lines like " fear
hangs over Haiti", "an atmosphere of fear and terror as palpable as the
pervasive dust" "Haiti on edge" "violence against foreigners", "warning,
warning, warning". As this report from on the ground suggests things
have gotten a bit (as usual) overinflated. In addition, I just hung up
from talking to a friend of mine in P-a-P and she confirms Melinda's
observations..things are not as bad as they are being made out to be in
the international press.. is this really any surprise???? This is not to
discount the tragedies in recent days as they did on fact occur...yet if
I wanted to hear about senseless acts of violence I could simply read
any US paper on any given day and I promise you won't hear that stuff
shot round and round the world a thousand times over in bold print. This
type of press is counterproductive and divisive. Report the facts and
leave out the generlaizing hyperbole. Its long past due that we keep
things in perspective.
Patti K. Harris
Universty of Oklahoma


Bob Corbett wrote:

> From: "Melinda Miles, Haiti Reborn" <mmiles76@yahoo.com>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I am here in Port-au-Prince with the International
> Coalition of Independent Observers and I just wanted
> to share with you a little of what we have been seeing
> here in Haiti.
>
> First of all, I want to let everyone know that the
> situation being depicted by the international press is
> unique to Port-au-Prince alone. Our observers are in
> the North, Artibonite and Grand Anse and they all
> reported a significant difference as soon as they left
> the capital.
>
> In Cap-Haitien and Jeremie there has been spontaneous
> celebration in the streets. The feeling is much like
> Carnaval and people are dancing and singing lavalas
> songs.
>
> As you could expect, the climate here in PauP is much
> different. After the recent string of explosions many
> people have decided to stay off the streets, avoiding
> crowded market places. I was personally quite close to
> the explosion at the airport on Wednesday and can
> report that it was a very small explosion with only
> one injury. The explosions seem to be intentionally
> random with the result of making everyone feel
> insecure no matter where they are.
>
> There were rumors that people would not leave their
> homes today but we have seen plenty of people on the
> streets, just not as many as usual.
>
> We are optimistic about the voter turn out throughout
> Haiti but have some concern that the recent rise in
> insecurity will affect Port-au-Prince. We look forward
> to sharing more information with you as we receive it.
>
> Melinda Miles
> Coordinator, Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center
> Co-Coordinator, ICIO
>
> __________________________________________________
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