15077: Arthur on 15034: Toussaint Louverture and the United States (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

In a message dated 3/7/2003 2:42:02 PM W. Europe Standard Time, Gerard
Alphonse Ferere writes:

<< The acquisition of
 Louisiana's  825,000 square miles, more than doubled the territory of the
 country, accounting for what are parts or the entirety of the States
 of Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,
 Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming.  In addition it
 opened the Western frontiers.

 Thirteen States and the conquest of the West! Toussaint is the real hero of
the
 Louisiana Purchase!  In this year 2003, when we commemorate the 200th
 anniversary of the death of the Greatest Emancipator of all times, "the
 greatest man of the millennium just past", would it not be justice if
Toussaint
 Louverture, who has added so many stars to the Star-Spangled Banner were to
be
 recognized, at least symbolically, as one of the Founding Fathers of the
United
 States of America? >>

Charles Arthur replies:

What an obscenity it  is to try to link Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian
Revolution to the genocide of the Native American population of North
America.

Neither should it be forgotten that the United States of America did not
formally recognise the Republic of Haiti - brought into existence by the
valiant struggle of Toussaint and hundreds of thousands of other slaves -
until 1863, when slavery still existed under the flag of the Star Spangled
Banner!