22237: Senou: The Call (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Senou <senou@yahoo.com>

The Call

Today my friends, we are seeking ways to get our
community together.  Your first question would be, I’m
not familiar with this new environment, and I just
moved or relocated. The person you are communicating
with via email is the answer to your question.

Today some of you are meeting people with skills and
abilities that you were not aware of but living
peacefully in this virtual community. Whether you were
born in or outside of Haiti, there are similarities
and differences among us. It is impossible for
everyone to think and react the same.  There is
something of values that link us: common language and
culture, we just have to adjust ourselves to live up
and to meet the challenge of our new environment.
Clearly, Metro Atlanta, California, New Orleans,
Jacksonville, Denver are new environment for most of
us except for the young generation. We are all
familiar with Miami, Montreal and NY, our presence in
Atlanta, California, Denver, New Orleans, Jacksonville
is expected to increase tremendously, we shall take
notes about all good things and bad things that had
taken place in those areas and create the first
structural Haitian Link in the world.

Can we do it? Without a doubt, we all have our
personal agenda and we are seeking tied or get
involved in areas where one can accomplish that goal.
There is nothing wrong with that and that’s the way it
should be. Yes, we can. By now, you shall know that
nobody had ever succeeded alone; somebody somewhere
did help you out.

	Our national heroes: Dessalines, Capois, Christophe,
Petion, Charlemagne Peralte, … and our super HERO
Toussaint Louverture, could not accomplish what they
have done without others involvement. In life, learn
to play by the rules, remember, idea never died,
something may be presented ahead of its time but in
due time it will comeback again. Remember, a famous
Education Minister in Haiti, Joseph C. Bernard, he had
proposed for the Haitian Students to learn Creole in
school, his idea was backfire, he had lost his Cabinet
post, today everywhere Creole our national language is
taught in every single school in the nation.

My friends in the coming months, some of you will take
part to create that Link. Everything you see anywhere
in the world comes from an idea; it takes dedicated
people who believe in the cause to make it happen.  A
former US president, Mr. John F. Kennedy, after seeing
the Sputnik, a soviet space craft cruising the space,
had challenged the US scientists in saying “Before the
end of this decade, American will send a man in the
moon and return safely in earth” my friends, he did
not take long for Neil Armstrong to set his foot on
the moon.

Ogé et Chavanne said: “ the Human rights shall be for
all” and revolted against slavery in Haiti, they were
killed but the idea for our sweet home to become a
free country had never stopped since.

My friends, Human being cannot prosper without
challenge. Today, I challenge each and everyone to
create the first Haitian Link in the world. If you are
those who believe in change, you will support it.
My friends, we are an ethnic group living in the
United States of America, like the Jamaicans, the
Jews, the Spanish, the Italians, the Irish, the Cubans
and so on. I believe they are proud of their heritage,
it is impossible to find a Cuban born anywhere in the
world and does not speak Spanish; Jamaicans everywhere
they go, they bring with them their beautiful Jamaican
Culture, the Jews under persecution never denied their
identity, when these folks have some opportunities:
Guess where they go for their first trip: destination:
Israel. And when their country faces financial
difficulties, they team up together and bail it out.

Over half million of Haitians are living currently in
the U.S. and Canada, over 400 thousands are in the
workforce more than the population of many small
countries in the Caribbean, and why they cannot really
assist Haiti?

Why? There is no structure. Some of you are bragging
yourselves and saying that Haitians succeed in the
U.S., Canada and many other countries. Now, try to put
all these successful Haitians together. You can
speculate of the expected result. Why?

The structure that you see in the U.S. and many other
countries, some folks have to work hard for it. For
instance, you can see two people who may have a total
distaste toward each other work well in the same
company: school system for example where the Principal
and the Assistant Principal may be arch enemies but
they work well. Why? Because, there is a structure in
place.

My friends, we can work together without being friend
and if you are going to work only with your friend for
a community issue, a state issue or a country, Good
Luck.

Again, I believe from the bottom of my heart that we
Haitians won’t go anywhere today, tomorrow and forever
if we do not organize ourselves and respect the
democratic principles. We must be tolerant; we must
accept each other and respect each other. We must
treat everyone with the ultimate respect. Selective
respect is no respect at all.

It is about time for Haitians to put aside their
indifferences, it is about time for Haitians to put
aside  “le moi” and join hands together to put some
structures in place and ipso facto pave the way for a
flourished Haitian Community in their respective area.
We need to put an end of that sigma to be the last and
poorest everywhere we are.

Today, you receive this call, the Jews have received a
call similar to that one in the 1960’s, they work on
it and today they are the most organized ethnic group
in the U.S. The Nigerians received a call similar to
this one 15 years ago and today their presence is
strong in the U.S.

A Link is necessary and you are called to be among the
pioneers to make it become a reality.  The Ball is in
your court and it is up to you to make a move. Are you
going to shoot or are you going to drop it. If you try
at least you have a chance to make a basket and if you
drop it, you have zero chance. A wise person will take
a chance.

A basketball in the hand of Michael Jordan may worth a
million and the same ball in the hand of Sami Sosa may
worth nothing. However a baseball bat in the hand of
Sami Sosa may worth millions and the same bat in the
Hand of Michael Jordan may worth nothing. He was
trying baseball and he was doing very poorly and this
is something that you have to look into.

May all of you have a Haiti and the Haitian Community
in your heart? We Haitians need to answer to assist
our brothers and sisters who are living in the
affected area.

Make plan to attend the Atlanta Convention on June 25
>From 6PM to 9PM and June 26 From Noon to 9 PM in
Atlanta for more info send an Email to Alfred at
hcrinfor@hcronline.org
-------
The Haitian Community Relations, Inc.
and the
Auburn Avenue Research Library
On African American Culture and History
Present
“Voices of Haiti and the Diaspora:
Celebrating Its Culture, History and Bicentennial”

A Two-Day Convention

A Two-day Humanities Forum focusing on the
achievements and contributions of Haitians and the
bicentennial of Haiti’s Independence.  The Forum will
include a cross-section of educators, historians and
civic leaders who will participate in panel
discussions; dramatic presentations; and a showcase of
local, regional and national cultural organizations.

Friday, June 25, 2004 &#9642; 6:00 p.m. to 9:00  p. m.
Saturday, June 26, 2004 &#9642; Noon to 9:00  p. m.



Heritage Education Center – 4th Floor
Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American
Culture and History
101 Auburn Avenue, N. E. &#9642; Atlanta, Georgia
30303-2503



All Programs Free and Open to the Public
The Auburn Avenue Research Library is a Special
Library of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System
and is located on the corners of Courtland Street and
Auburn Avenue with limited parking available in the
rear of the facility.  For Additional Information Call
404-730-4001, ext. 302





Joseph Alfred
Founder/CEO
of
Haitian Community Relations, Inc
P.O. BOX 334
Smyrna, GA 30081
Tel 770-438-9796
Fax 770-438-9178
Email: hcrinfor@hcronline.org
URL: http://www.hcronline.org





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