16666: Racine125 re 16629: Arthur Re: 16585: Why Haiti is stuck (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Racine125@aol.com

Charles Arthur writes:

"I wonder if we can apply Mambo Racines' analogy of individual Haitian behaviour to the country's political leaders too."

Of course we can, that is precisely my point!

"I am thinking here of the Democratic Convergence. Let's see:

If one Haitian political party has won an election, and the others have lost, the ones which did not win the election do not say to themselves, 'We will work hard just like the victorious party did, and convince a majority of voters to give us a chance, and in four years we will present our programmes to the electorate and if we really have something to offer and have convinced enough voters of our competence, then we can win the election and hold power too.'

Instead they hate the party that won the election and go to the US and French Embassies and say the victorious party cheated, let's cut off aid, and undermine the legitimacy of the winning party!  THAT kind of behavior is what makes Haitians poor - I think in the USA it's been referred to as the 'democracy
enhancement' syndrome."

(giggle)

That's perfect.  That is exactly what I have been trying to say, that these cultural characteristics inevitably determine how Haitians approach the issues of their society, and that until Haitians make a conscious effort to change these cultural characteristics, Haitian society will not change.

Peace and love,

Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen

"Se bon ki ra" - Good is rare
     Haitian Proverb

The VODOU Page - http://members.aol.com/racine125/index.html

(Posting from Jacmel, Haiti)