20333: (Hermantin) Palm Beach Post- Good news! A guy from Boca Raton is going to straighten out Haiti

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Haitian leader from Boca leaps cultural chasm

By Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post Staff Columnist
Friday, March 12, 2004



Good news! A guy from Boca Raton is going to straighten out Haiti.


Gerard Latortue has spent the past 10 years living in a gated community in
suburban Boca Raton. This week, he returned to his native Haiti to restore
order to the chaotic island nation.

It won't be easy. Latortue will have to use many of the survival skills he
learned in Boca to help guide Haiti through this difficult transition
period.

I know what you're thinking. Can there be two worlds more culturally distant
than Boca Raton and Haiti?

But this is just the kind of cross-cultural influence that might be
necessary: Linking a community with conspicuous consumption with an economy
that's the poorest in the Western Hemisphere.

So, it would be wise to reflect on the differences and similarities between
Boca Raton and Haiti to gauge the chasm Latortue must face:


Traffic calming measures

Haiti: U.S. Marines, curfews

Boca: speed humps, decorative planters

Economy...

Haiti: ruined by politicians' destruction of natural resources

Boca: boosted by surgeons' creation of unnatural resources

Baby...

Haiti: Doc

Boca: Gap

The operable French phrase...

Haiti: coup d'état

Boca: haute couture

Unacceptable public behavior...

Haiti: thugs with guns roaming the streets

Boca: teenagers with cellphones roaming the Muvico

Control vs. chaos...

Haiti: disorganized living

Boca: Organized Living

Transportation issues...

Haiti: difficulty in reaching Gonaives in the north

Boca: difficulty in reaching U.S. 441 during rush hour

Wanted: Four-star...

Haiti: general

Boca: hotel

Goats with...

Haiti: rice

Boca: rights

The custom of "necklacing" involves...

Haiti: car tire, gasoline and a political enemy

Boca: Mizner Park, credit card and a mistress

Military...

Haiti: trial

Boca: Trail

Acceptable social norm...

Haiti: voodoo

Boca: voodoo economics

Men who take your car are...

Haiti: thieves

Boca: valet parkers

Breakdown of law and order...

Haiti: all over

Boca: in the parking lot at King's Italian Market

Renourishment crisis for...

Haiti: people

Boca: beach

Refugee problem created by people who...

Haiti: leave on boats from Cap Haitien

Boca: leave on planes from New York

frank_cerabino@pbpost.com

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