13135: Simidor responds to Joseph Allen

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Daniel Simidor <karioka9@mail.arczip.com>

Joseph Allen is shooting at straws or selling wolf tickets.  There
is no venom or hate in my discussion of the role of the elite in
Haitian society.  Nor have I ever advocated a "tabula rasa"
solution for any group of people.  And please, stop waving Pol Pot
in my face: for every atrocity committed in the name of socialism,
I can name 10, 20, 100 atrocities associated with "free trade."

A more benign reading of what I wrote on the subject would be:
even the Haitian elite (wasteful, spiteful, parasitic and
predatory though it is) can be good for something.  But first, the
elite must change its ways.  In this age of global communications,
you can’t go on treating the people in your country like shit
("moun sa yo se bèt") and expect the rest of the world not to
notice.

The last resort I mentioned is not going to materialize out of
my "Stalinist dreams" but out of the inability (inconscience) of
the "upper class" to even acknowledge the humanity of the broad
masses who "have nothing to lose but their chains."  When that day
done come, as it will, the Haitian elite will have a hard time
explaining why the people should not shoo them into the ocean
(like it was done in Cuba 40 years ago).

The elite as boat people, jou sa a, aah!

In a further reply to Martha O’Brien, Allen wrote:

> Bob:
> I think that you may reject this post on the basis that it does
not
> concern Haiti directly.  However, it speaks to a common
misconception
> that Marxist nostalgics have promoted. There was no other way
for me
> to attack the link Mrs. O'Brien established between Simidor's
> political concept and the Scandinavian Societies. In Haiti this
notion
> that these societies are socialist recurs very often.  [...]
> Simidor's political model for Haiti (Democratic Socialism) is
pure
> utopia; it is devoid of any sense of geopolitical realism.  This
is
> indeed a frivolous intellectual exercise.

I hope this particular confrontation explodes the myth that all
Lavalas critics belong in the same boat.  But come now, Joseph
Allen, stop hiding behind Bob Corbett’s rules to get out of a
fight.  There is nothing "abstract" in discussing democratic
socialism and Haiti.  But first you should learn what the term
means . . .

[Corbett interjects:  Daniel, I don't want Joseph Allen to get blamed for
my list restrictions.  I, too, would welcome a discussion of socialism
and Haiti, but, you own claim here "...first you should learn what the
term means..." invites discussion that has nothing to do with Haiti and
that, indeed I won't post.  This is not a list to discuss socialism
"in general."  That would be a mailing list bigger than this one just for
that one issue.  But, soicalism, however one uses the term, as operating
in Haiti or not operating, or potentially operating, whatever, is a
welcome topic to the list for you, Josephy Allen or others.  But not
the general non-Haiti issue.    Bob ]

Daniel continues:

 Better yet, you submitted earlier to the list "that
blaming only the upper class for our colossal failure is an
intellectually lazy argument" (ti nèg kap di tenten).  I beg you
to tell us, my good Sir, for I would like to know, who else you
hold responsible for that "colossal failure?"

P.S.  September 11 is the anniversary of Antoine Izmery’s death.
The people still mourn his killing.

P.P.S.  A further note to Kathy Dorcé: I am grateful for your kind
note.  I assure you I thoroughly enjoy criticizing our lumpen
bourgeoisie.  Whatever tenuous link I had with our elite ("moun sa
yo"), I severed long ago.  Like you, I have no class!

I have no enemies but those who oppress the people.

Daniel Simidor