17639: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Speaker's spat with listener bares friction (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sun, Jan. 04, 2004

HAITI'S INDEPENDENCE
Speaker's spat with listener bares friction
Former Haitian President Leslie Manigat and others address a crowd
celebrating independence, but tensions soar between an audience member and
one speaker.
BY KEVIN DEUTSCH
kdeutsch@herald.com

MICHEL SANOU, Fort Lauderdale

More than 300 people came to the African-American Research Library and
Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday to celebrate the 200th
anniversary of Haiti's independence.

The keynote speaker for the event was former Haitian President Leslie
Manigat, who was introduced to a standing ovation.

Manigat, State Rep. Phillip J. Brutus of Miami Shores and several other
speakers discussed Haiti's current political state, telling the audience
that lessons of the past must be remembered if Haiti is to prosper in the
future.

''The people we're hearing tonight all want peace, all want Haiti to move
forward, out of the shadows,'' said the Haitian-born Michel Sanou, 42, who
now lives in Fort Lauderdale. ``Everyone here tonight is passionate about
Haiti and the Haitian people.''

Haiti in recent months has been wracked by political division, with one side
demanding that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resign and the other telling
him to stay the course.

It was opinions about political figures of the past, however, that stirred
emotions during Saturday's celebration.

At one point, a man in the audience shouted at Brutus as he spoke about
controversial past leaders.

''You do not know anything about the Haitians,'' the man said. ``You don't
know what you're talking about.''

Brutus, visibly angered by the remarks, shouted back from the stage: ``Go
back to school.''

After the heated exchange, things settled down, as speakers focused on what
all Haitians have in common.

''We are all celebrating a very historic moment,'' said Patrick Jabouin, a
member of Haiti's Bicentennial Independence Committee.

Saturday's event was part of a yearlong celebration organized by the Broward
County Libraries Division called ``The Universal Echoes of 1804: A
Celebration of the Bicentennial of Haiti's Independence.''

The programs in the series are designed to inform the Broward community
about Haitian history, culture, literature, and Haitian contributions to the
world.

For more information about the series, call Broward County Library at
954-357-7444.

_________________________________________________________________
Get reliable dial-up Internet access now with our limited-time introductory
offer.  http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup