21027: Esser: Re: 20978: Vishnusurf: Re: 20975: Marassa for Esser: troika of credibility (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

You contradict yourself: by writing: "the folks that marassa praises
and esser dismisses are too engaged in the struggle to bother
producing "bodies of writing" in english about Haitian politics for
foreign consumption" and then following up by saying that people such
as Trouillot have had indeed published their pieces in the U.S.
press. Either these people are to involved in a struggle, which one,
if I may ask? Or they have indeed uttered remarks, or even published
them, that can then be criticized. By deconstructing the shallowness
of their arguments I showed, that at least, a lot what comes from
their pens, is to be taken with a grain of salt. If these people, by
the way mentioned by "Marassa" to be prolific commentators, have
actually produced valuable contributions to the discourse on Haitian
politics, as seems to be your contention as well: instead of just
concentrating on a small part of what I have written, disregard me
and simply give us the quotes by these Haitians that are allegedly
such astute commentators in order to let their words stand on their
own merits. Can you do that? If not maybe you are able to show were
those who do not buy into the line of the "aristide as a violent
dictator" (your words), are easily refuted.

The folks mentioned by "Marassa", even so they are so regretfully
busy, have often appeared in public and gave their statements on
politics, it is based on those statements, that I base my conclusion
that neither the lead singer of Boukman Eksperyans nor Wyclef Jean
have shown themselves to be political analysts. I personally like the
music of both of them, have seen them live in concert, but that, even
so you seem to have read over it, I stated before. Mwen gen zòrèy and
I use them to listen... konprann? While I am always willing and eager
to improve my Creole, it does serve me well enough to understand
Boukman et al.

That Laennec Hurbon would be Haiti's "only leading intellectual"
(your words) is an interesting statement. It seems to depend on who
sets the standards. There are many Haitians that could be classified
as intellectuals and surprise surprise: not all will share Mr.
Hurbon's contention that Aristides government was or is illegitimate.
This is simply not borne out by the facts of international or even
Haitian law. At least that's what I have read coming from people that
do have a thorough understanding of legal matters.

That publications such as the 'Black Commentator' should be less
reliable as the "corporate press" is definetly a view not shared by
me. It depends on the editors and writers. One can not simply lump
all papers of one category together. Is the 'New York Post' reliable
when it comes to Haiti, because it is a mainstream publication? Or
are Amy Wilentz and Jean Jean-Pierre to be disbelieved because their
writings on Haiti have appeared in 'The Nation' or the 'Village
Voice'? I am interested on how you would argue that point!

That Marguerite Laurent is a foreign writer in the Haitian context is
news to me. She is?

The "troika" of journalists/writers was not brought up by me, there
are many more great writers about Haitian current politics, yes
Haitians too. AI don't subscribe to a world view were one side of the
political spectrum is necessarily right and the opposite wrong. But
how can I be convinced by arguments that are full of holes? I can
assure you I read papers of the whole political spectrum and I don't
care the least where the writers do come from or what their ethnic
background is. In journalism, as with everything else in live, skin
color and ancestry is not a qualifier. I have yet to see anybody's
credible writing as to why Aristide was a dictator. It would be
rather difficult to argue, because (excuse me here I use reference
books -- English is not my native tongue) in this language of ours
the term dictator has a meaning that is not aligned with the way it
is used by his detractors. Hint: it refers to the way in which power
was gained. Meaning: while Salvador Allende might have been
disagreeable to many, he could never have qualified as a dictator,
because he was elected, but his successor surely did. If you would
start to say that his Excellency from Boca Raton is living up to the
way in which he gained power, by being installed, you safely could
reference him as a dictator.
.