19147: Nlbo: A College student Reflects: Why is Haiti in the News (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Nlbo@aol.com

In recent weeks, Haiti has been all over the news, from our own Daily
Collegian to CNN, with reports of "rebels" and problems surrounding the current
Haitian government. This publicity, as sensationalized and negative as it tends to
be, has raised the concern of my fellow friends, colleagues, and community at
large. Typical of the nature of media, strong images of violence and
controversy are what dominate the picture and story. These reports have led to the
main, frank question, "What the heck is going on in Haiti?"

 I do not make any claim of being an official spokesman or expert on Haitian
politics. However, I do feel as a person of Haitian decent and a leader of a
Haitian-American organization, I have some responsibility in offering some
insight on the whole situation. As we enter the final week of Black History month,
I'd like to address a little of the historical aspect that has led Haiti to
its current condition.

 The overthrow of governments by violent means is common place in the history
of Haiti. The nearly 34 coups d'etat throughout the 200 years of the second
Republic in the Americas can easily attest to this fact. When our ancestors,
former slaves for the most part, fought against their masters to create our
nation, the economic and social structures did not change much.  A new group of
rulers replaced an old one keeping the status quo intact and brutally sustaining
it.

 Colonial Haiti under the French encompassed three social classes: the white
masters, the enfranchised (mulattoes and freed blacks), and the slaves. The
slaves were properties of white masters and the enfranchised. The 13 year
Independence war only got rid of the white masters while creating a new ruling class
made of the already enfranchised, the army generals, and a few lower members
of the army. The masses got nothing and were forced to remain in the
plantations to continue to keep the system alive. Dessalines made some efforts to help
the former slaves, but was killed for that very reason. No comprehensive
official programs have tried to correct this situation; as a result, every 25-35
years masses of people erupt to ask for equitable distributions of the wealth of
the country.

 The rise of Aristide was a symbol of this long pursuit, until he too joined
the political class that has traditionally exploited the masses. Currently, be
it Aristide's Lavalas camp or the so-called Opposition camp, no one has
addressed the real issue of taking the country to the path that will lead to the
distribution of the country's wealth to the masses in the forms of social
justice, education, farming, and housing, etc.

 I encourage everyone to continue to research and educate yourself on these
issues. It's more than a Haitian issue, it's a human issue. Similar situations
have taken place all over the world, including Liberia, Uganda, and Guatemala.
 Thanks for taking the time out to read this.
 Peace,
 Vonel

"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over
their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change. "
 - Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965