21800: Dorce: Re: 21780: Kathleen: Re: 21768: Hess: Re: 21765: (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: LAKAT47@aol.com

In a message dated 5/10/04 6:13:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Kathleen
<kathleenmb@adelphia.net> writes:

<< "The very old and unoriginal idea that the poor are responsible for their
 situation" has been replaced by many (well-off) demagogues with the idea
 that the poor are somehow morally superior to those who, no matter how they
 started out, are no longer poor.

 A far more accurate position, brought out by studies on backgrounds of
 criminals and sadists, is that the bad and the good are pretty evenly
 distributed among the classes; i.e., you can't judge a person's morals by
 how much money or property he or she has.  To suggest otherwise is simply
 using the poor in yet another distasteful way, to fulfill one's one ego and
 agenda.  kb >>
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
This is a lovely, egalitarian way of looking at human beings.  While in a
general, moralistic fashion, this may be accurate.  Criminal and anti-social
behavior may be seen at the same rate in any class although the type of crimes
commited are probably different in nature.  But this theory does not allow for
the way Haitians are socialized.  From birth, those lucky enough to be born in
well off families are taught that they are not like the other Haitians, in fact
they are much superior in every way.  Even in the families who were kind in
their treatment of the poor class, there was a line drawn and everyone always
knew who was on top.  This insidious behavior is not unique to Haiti but the
dramatic dichotomy of Haiti's class system makes it all the more visible and in
fact, disgusting.  Haiti's upper classes, including the small but intensely
ambitious middle class, is so ingrained in this doctrine of superiority that
they can't even see that how they treat the majority class is in the least bit
wrong or harmful in any way.

Discussing a protest in Palm Beach (in another post) by describing the
Haitians waving placards and flags and chanting and then describing the Haitians
attending the affair to hear Latortue speak as chatting while nibbling on shrimp
and cheese is in that vein.  It's a "Let them eat cake" attitude.  They don't
even know they are doing it.

In a country as wonderful, spiritual and unique as Haiti, the upper classes
still exist to destroy all that makes Haiti special.  Their disdain and disgust
for the masses will preclude them from making Haiti a great country, as it
could be.  They live to celebrate themselves.  I can't for the life of me see
how anyone could go to Haiti and choose to affiliate with those classes and
share their disdain of the majority.

Kathy Dorce~