16580: Laleau: Reply to Kathleen

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

[Note for Corbett:  Folks, this discussion is moving beyond Haiti and to a
general discussion of world politics.  A very interesting issue, but not
what this list is about.  I would recommend those interested in that
discussion just write the others who seem interested.  After this note
I'll drop the general discussion from this Haiti-centered list.   Bob]


 From: NLaleau@aol.com
----------------------------------------

Dear Kathleen--The "petty corruption" isn't "equal" to overarching
socioeconomic oppression by large countries. But if you're one of the
small
people in the pettily corrupted country, it matters a whole lot to you,
and
it's a  more directly perceived problem than the foreign oppressor.
Ethically,
it may amount to equal responsibility. "Petty corrupters" aren't that
petty if
you're a little person, and they may know more precisely what they're
doing
than the "big oppressors" do, as they are face to face with their thefts
and
murders, and know the names of their victims. US pilots are guilty of
bombing
Iraq, and the World Bank is guilty of starving Haitians. But both are
effectively buffered from their guilt by culturally accepted
rationalizations,
and aren't on a first-name basis with their victims. --nancy laleau