20052: Leiderman: Haitians -- sleeveless in America? (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Stuart M Leiderman <leidermn@cisunix.unh.edu>


dear Readers:

I believe that Jocelyn McCalla's post this morning from the National
Coalition for Haitian Rights is too general and tentative to do much good
in the present crisis.  in my opinion, the word "perhaps" seems to appear
too many times, it is too drooly toward the Bush Administration, and it
offers no incentives for Haitian-Americans to drop what they are doing
and give some undivided attention to Haiti over the next few months.  it
wishes for a miracle.

while it may be laudatory to recommend revising American policy towards
more peace keeping, protecting national assets, sending humanitarian
aid, establishing truth and reconciliation processes, and exhibiting
compassion for boat people, there is no hint of unity and leverage within
the Haitian-American community to turn these recommendations into a
play book of sorts and then implement them, either cooperatively through
the American political system or independently as Haiti's so-called Tenth
Department of millions of people.

and while it is fine to call on Haitian-Americans to roll up their sleeves
and get to work, I think there are many with sleeves (and money and
political influence) who want to stay invisible and untouched by the
crisis, and others who have no shirts (money, political influence) at all
-- thus, no sleeves -- but only their willingness to accept reasonable
assignments from honest leaders.

there needs to be a realistic assessment of Haitian-American unity of
mind, readiness and capability to influence the course of anything in
this crisis.  that assessment could come from a battery of town meetings
in Haitian-American communities this spring; this is an idea already
being worked on by people I know and trust, and it sounds timely and
appropriate.  the meetings would use a standard format where complaints
and suspicions are aired, testimony freely given and received, plans of
action proposed and devised, and actual commitments of time and money
given.  to me, this is what it means to roll up one's sleeves to
demonstrate the Diaspora's willingness, know-how and resources to improve
conditions in Haiti.

I would hold the meetings simultaneously on a chosen weekend throughout
the US, Canada and other countries of Haitian residence, with reports
funneled down to a group of organizational representatives, and compiled
according to a) actions of agreed high priority and readiness, b) actions
tending towards agreement but needing more discussion and/or preparation,
and c) controversial actions lacking general agreement and/or
preparation.  in the US, these town meetings would also be the occasion
for launching voter registration campaigns, with the goal of achieving
the million mark before the national political conventions in Boston and
New York this summer.  then, when Haitian-America speaks, they'll listen.

thank you.

Stuart Leiderman

leidermn@christa.unh.edu

- - - - - - -

Jocelyn McCalla <jmccalla@jmcstrategies.com>
National Coalition for Haitian Rights
275 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 337-0005
Email:  <mailto:makala99@yahoo.com> makala99@yahoo.com
Web site:  <http://www.nchr.org/> www.nchr.org

"For Haiti to Live, the Rule of Law Must be Established Promptly"

<snip> Haitians in the US are ready and willing to roll up their sleeves
and contribute their skills, talents and good will to building a truly
democratic and economically viable Haitian society. <snip>