12947: RE: 12923: The "Elite" of Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Joel Dreyfuss <jdreyfuss@attglobal.net>

One of the memorable insights from the anti-Aristide coup of 1991 was
the phrase "the stupidest élite in the world", used to refer to those
who financed the overthrow. Haiti's élite is one of the few in the world
(maybe some in Arab countries like Kuwait are in this group) that does
not aspire to intellectual or cultural achievement. It is devoted to
maintaiing the status quo. Its kids go to Florida International or the
University of Miami so they can come home on weekends for the parties.
Most of the Haitians in the Ivy schools are children of the working
class who have managed to escape to NY or Florida.
The European and American élites send their kids to the best schools;
acquire advanced degrees, devote themselves to serving in the corridors
of power: economic, academic and political. Some even do philantrophic
work.

Someone said to me once, "The Haitian elite is the only one in the world
that doesn't read." I suspect some do read and have some awareness of
what is going on in the rest of the world, but they make Haiti an
exception; so while they may know about democratization, they don't
think any of it applies to their own country. And the idea that the
maids can chose the president of their country is a fearful thing
indeed.

Joel Dreyfuss
jdreyfuss@attglobal.net