26111: Fouche (comment) Re: 26100 [Sajousp (reply)] (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "[ISO-8859-1] Rachel Fouché" <rfouche@verizon.net>

Rene Preval, in conjunction with the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad, had 
really worked to open the channel of communications between Haitian-Americans, 
Haitian-French, and Haitian-Canadians in my opinion.  In 1997, I spent a 
wonderful six weeks in Haiti exploring the country and its industries from 
Cap-Haitien to Jacmel with other young people of Haitian descent who had not 
been back to Haiti for a decade or longer (I think there were only 2-4 of us 
who were of Haitian descent, but had never been to Haiti).

There were many discussions on extending Haitian citizenship to the diaspora on 
this trip, but I have to honestly admit that some of my trip mates would assert 
the development of multiple citizenship not out of a sense of working *with* 
the people who remain in Haiti, but a sense that they could work *on* them and 
their "backward, banana republic" governance -- to the point of blatant 
disrespect of Mr. Preval at a assembly in the group's honor.  Disrespect, that 
I might add, would most assuredly (in my mind) been absent had these people 
been meeting with Bill Clinton or Francois Mitterand...

At this point, I have to disclose that my career at that time was heavily 
engaged in community development and non-profit work.  In fact, I had only 
brought one dress on the trip on my mistaken presumption that we would be 
directly engaged in doing volunteer work at various NGOs -- which made for 
awkward dressing choices at the many evening soirees held in our honor.  I had 
also become a convert of John McKnight, a well known community development 
activist who had caused a minor furor in the non-profit practitioner world over 
his book called "The Uncaring Society."  Add to that my maternal grandparents, 
who are the most intelligent people I know despite being the least 
school-educated in our clan, and you have a person that doesn't put up with the 
"Tarzan and Jane" philosophies of the "uber-Haitian" emigre clan (I'm sure I 
would have gotten in a lot more trouble on the trip if I had a better speaking 
command of Kreyol and French).

But despite the "intriguing" political philosophies of  some of the people on 
the trip (is the desire to achieve the role of  lifetime dictator of Haiti a 
genetic trait?) , I know for myself that trip really sparked a real, visceral 
commitment to engage myself in the development of "my homeland."  A meeting 
with the CEO of JMB Imports led me to writing a letter to the president of 
Whole Foods/Bread & Circus encouraging them to develop an informational display 
on the mangoes they carried, which included the best mango in the world (do I 
need to spell it out for you?) -- because Haitian mangoes are smaller, the US 
consumer would easily pass over the Francique for the larger Atkins, although 
Franciques have a richer flavor.  I've become a  more committed advocate of 
renewable energy sources and organic ecology  thinking about Haiti's 
environmental problems.  A lovely night at the Olaffson viewing the lobby art 
created by Haitian artists has encouraged me to be an active consumer of 
Haitian home-grown art and services.  And there is one marriage that I know of 
which was a direct result of the trip!

A middle ground for the desire of Haitian emigrants (and those descended from 
Haitian emigrants) to hold dual citizenship would be some type legislation 
where those who were interested in obtaining/renewing Haitian citizenship had 
to provide evidence of philanthropic and/or volunteer support towards the 
positive development of Haitian infrastructure on a yearly basis.  For the 
appearance of neutrality -- and to uphold the sanctity of civicus -- activity 
in any political party could not be counted towards this requirement.  Full 
dual citizenship could be extended to those who have relatives remaining in 
Haiti, and provisional dual citizenship would be given to those who have at 
least one first degree relative who was born and raised in Haiti.  To further 
prevent the possibility of this program becoming a kickback scam for government 
officials, the senate would have to designate NGOs that people could donate 
and/or volunteer at, as well as public hospitals, department of works,  and 
schools supported by the government, which could add both  financial and 
professional growth in these essential public institutions.  In  addition, I 
would require a residency requirement of say, four weeks for every two years of 
holding dual citizenship -- something achievable for emigres of all economic 
backgrounds.  And American Airlines could get favorable publicity by offering 
discounted flights for those in economic need to maintain their dual 
citizenship (although I have to say that AA's commitment to Haiti really 
supersedes any profit margin they may be able to obtain from that route, given 
the amount of stuff that gets loaded on that plane on a regular basis).

Haiti needs our two hands -- not our two cents -- and if this is the carrot to 
encourage social and structural development, then I'm all for dual citizenship. 
But if it's just a carte blanche for a bunch of intellectual verbal diarrhea 
and bourgeois back-seat driving, then please let well enough alone -- Haiti has 
enough problems without having people who have no interest in getting their 
hands in the soil adding to them.

Rachel Fouché