13063: Lavaud posts: A Haitian-American viewpoint of Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Lesly Lavaud <llavaud13@yahoo.com>

My fellow Corbetts,


A Haitian-American Viewpoint on Haiti
By Lesly Lavaud
llavaud13@yahoo.com

Thursday, September 5, 2002

Over the past four weeks I have embark on a journey to
learn the history of my beloved land, Haiti (Ayiti).
As familiar to most, Haiti is on the verge to a
violent Civil War.  A country so rich in history
making. Perhaps, as I write this essay she’s evolving
into history. No Haitian born in Haiti (motherland)
can disagree that Haiti is heading to chaotic state. A
country of no national leader ( a leader with  the
best interest of his/her nation and people first). No
more heroes to guide her through her next milestones.
In the preceding text I will express my personal
viewpoint of my beloved Ayiti.

For the past twenty years I have been living, raise
and educated in the US-Diaspora.  The educational
system in the US-Diaspora (US-D) does not tailor to
Haitian history or to its current events. The closest
I came across to Haitian history is on the
breaking/nightly news of the day with Tom Brokaw, Dan
Rather or even the McNeil news hour. This exposure is
credited to my dad.. No US school or classes
(Public/Private) I have attended ever teach me about
Haiti.

Recently, I decided to venture in educating myself on
the History of my beloved Ayiti. Thanks to the
Corbett’s writings and reviews I was able to learn
more about Haiti than perhaps I ever wanted to know.
As I read, I found Haiti’s history to be inspiring.
Haiti today is not the Haiti of yesterday. Yes, each
season brings new grow and circumstances.  Haiti
formerly known as the pearl of the Antilles.  Today
she is known as the dump of imperialist trash. To the
French, Haiti was the Golden state. To the US, Haiti
was a profitable-Prey commerce partner. The
colonization of Haiti may have helped the grand et
petite Blancs (white) and perhaps les gens de couleurs
(mulatto), but it did not help the mass of Haiti (les
marrons) yesterday, today or tomorrow.  In fact, as I
digest the Haitian crisis, I realize much has not
changed from the 1800’s, 1900’s and even today in the
21st century.

Haiti crisis is at the root of its beginning. A slave
country overthrow its master. A price Haiti will never
finish pay to the imperialist states and nations.
Sometime I ask if Haiti had waited, would she had
endure less trauma or be better off today. I am not
making a case for keeping people in bondage (slavery).
History shows that black Americans and others who
later acquired freedom are not so far better off. The
only difference for the Afro-Americans is that black
Americans live in a constitutional mankind state (at
least now), and if used wisely can benefit
Afro-Americans mass.

The Lack of patriotic leaders

Haiti major disappointment is that she’s lack of
national leaders and heroes. Today I asked. Where is?
the Toussaint, Desallines, Christophe, Boiron Tonerre,
Capois la mort and others.  Yesterday leaders were
oriented leaders of national interest. Today’s leaders
are national thieves who are power hungry for self
fulfillments. Leaders who grabs power to manage and to
steal from the less- fortunate. Until Haitian leaders
convert themselves to national/people interests, Haiti
will continue to head to doom’s day. National /people
leaders must arise within the ten departments. This
leader must be able to see the country visions and act
upon it. A nationalistic leader must be able to make
though and hard decision or make choices that will
empower Haiti. Decisions must not be in the
self-interest of a particular group or organization.
Decisions must not necessarily be popular or unpopular
with the mass. The decision must be made in the best
interest of the nation and decisively will be the
interest of the people. Leaders must be able to hear,
listen and understand the concerns of all citizens,
may it be the marrons or les gens de couleurs. Haiti
cannot move forward with a divided race or gender. All
Haiti citizens are Haiti children, whether rich or
poor.  Leaders must mentor others and prepare the
young generation to be the leaders of tomorrow. It is
often said that great leaders, are not leaders that
only governs, but are leaders that serve. Leadership
must not be micro-managed, rather macro-manage. The
mass must be empowered to participate in the national
agenda. Encourage participation and responsibility
from all and of all. Examined how a corporation
functions. Its leaders (CEO, Chairman, Presidents and
others...) do not get involved in daily activities of
the company. Leaders of corporation are strategic
rather than be details minded. They focus on the
overall picture of the company, rather of a section.
They analyzed, planed, forecasted and integrated
ideas. National leaders must learn from corporate
leader structure. A leader is one that empower and
inspirer others to lead.


The Imperialist factor

Another important factor that handicapped Haiti is its
friends and neighbors. No one can say that a
successful Haiti is a laisser-faire Haiti. To say that
is to be absent minded and perhaps even foolish. Haiti
does needs friends and neighbors that abuse and take
advantage of her. Her friends and neighbors must be
balance. Haitian leaders have the patriotic
responsibility to protect Haiti from abuses arise from
its friends, neighbors and enemies. Again, I refer
back to colonial period in which Haiti was a mighty.
The French interest was not in the best interest of
Haiti, rather in the best interest of the republic of
France. France used Haiti to nourish and strength its
kingdom. The US, Spaniards and Britain vital interest
of Haiti were political and economical. The island was
a jewel to be acquire by any means necessary. Since,
Haiti is closer to the US than it is to Europe; the US
therefore had the advantage of acquiring Haiti vital
resources. The success of external kingdom rest on the
back of Haiti and its slave. Today, Haiti does not
have friends and neighbors, rather it has
imperialists. Imperialist ideas are never in the
interest of Haiti. Too often the imperialist used its
means and resources to change the dynamic of Haiti.
Yes, Haiti cannot be isolated from its friends and
neighbors. On the other hand Haiti friends and
neighbors must be civilized and help her by candid
gesture. An interest of one does not calculate to the
interest of all. What is good for you, may not be good
for me. No disease are alike, No disease use the same
treatment.





Haitian Unity

No one and no states can survive if it is divided.
Division is a formula for destructions. Simple
arithmetic, when one is divided it takes a whole and
tear it to many smaller parts, those parts become a
piece of one. A piece of one is less than one. On
9/11, I witnessed before my very eye destruction in
the making. Terrorists set out to demolish America and
Americans. An American movement unifies America to
fight international terrorists. Unity is a key to
success without unity one is set to DOOM. Haitian
unity is not only important but it is the key to
deliver Haiti from its suffering. Haitian must be
united. United does not necessarily implied that all
must agree. Within unity there are differences and it
is within those differences that we must unite. United
to accept and respect that I am different. I may not
agree with you, but I agree to disagree. Haitian must
not let pity divide them. Haitian must understand that
all Haitian are brother and sisters and share common
mother with common problem and cause.  We are all from
Haiti. Geography does not make me less of a Haitian.
Haitian must eliminate Hate among each other.  Haitian
must love and love unconditionally. Stop all sorts of
prejudice, hates, envy and false Judgments. Don’t
discriminate among brothers and sisters because he/she
is rich or poor. We are all made in the image of God,
despite are differences. God made differences because
it is within those differences that we found beauty.
We are all here for the fulfillment of God’s purpose.

Haiti is a beautiful country with many positive
attributes. Unfortunately, these attributes are
neglected or abandoned by even Haitian. My dearest
Haitian brothers and sisters it is time to realize
that Haiti will not change by itself nor will change
by external forces. Haiti will not change until all
Haitians; Blacks, Mulattos, White and Petit blancs,
Rich, Poor or be a member of an Elite or bourgoise
group. United in one cause “the welfare of Haiti and
its people”. If I had to choose one of Haiti greatest
challenges, I would without a doubt, choose unity. I
believe if there are unities all other problems and
challenges would come to pass. Going back to
Desallines and others it was unity among the marrons
(blacks) that brought Haiti its freedom. There will
always be adversaries and challenges in life. With
unity all can be overcome.  It is time to put our
personal interests second and put our country and its
people first. We will never satisfy everyone, but we
must strive to satisfy most. The goal is not to
satisfy all, but rather to act in the best interest of
all. Majority and Minority must all work together to
accomplish common good and protect from common evils.
Today, I feel deeply moved by all that is happening in
the motherland. Haitians are good and hardworking
people. Give a Haitian the tools he/she needs and they
will conquer the world. A powerful people even dated
back to history. It is ashamed to see such an
important state go to waste. I do not know if I will
live long enough to see Haiti nurtured. If I don’t,
may these words serve as self evident that in a small
way I was part of a big thing?