27896: Goodman (comment) Re: 27845: Poincy: RE: 27795: On the Ayitian mentality (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Wendy Goodman <dygoodman@gmail.com>

Hello Everybody,
Unfortunately, I agree with Poincy.

In my experience in Haiti, the issue that I find blocking progress is a
fundamental lack of trust and the lack of interest/skills in building
trust.  It's not evident on the surface and it took me many years to
identify, but it seems to be a thread throughout the culture, and
understandably so....much of the Ayisyan experience has been one of
exploitation, corruption and/or failure; how do you learn to believe in
trust on that basis?  In addition to a general lack of trust, I have not
seen an orientation or the skills associated with understanding others and
true forgiveness.

 I believe Poincy is right; you can't have a democracy without some element
of trust, not necessarily in all the people, but at least in the process and
governance of those people.

 Unfortunately, I don't know what form of governance would work to turn
around the widespread poverty and desperation that makes it necessary for
one to 'pwotaje tet yo' and sit silently with mistrust waiting for the other
shoe to drop "resigne nou"..  Clearly, successes that affect the daily lives
of the people must be accomplished.  Access to Clean water and lower priced
food are the immediate needs and could be accomplished relatively quickly by
the government. But such change will only contribute to the already existing
foundation of hope (not a bad thing) they will not likely move things
forward.  Access to REAL Jobs, Healthcare, Education and then real
Justice are the more challenging systemic changes that need to follow and
might begin to build an environment where trust could grow.  (RE: education,
I believe we need a focus on quality of education concurrent with a focus of
getting every child in school.) But these systemic changes are very
difficult to accomplish in a system rife with corruption, mistrust and
self-interest and are likely beyond the ability of any one man....such
change necessitates a committed coalition that models what it is creating.
 SO how can this be accomplished?  I wish I knew. But at least for starters,
I know we can work on ourselves, those of us who have the privilege to
approach with an assumption of trust.must begin to do so!  I'd love to hear
other ideas of how these cycles might be broken and changed. PLEASE, lets
start modeling by maintaining a tone of respect and inquiry.  It  saddens me
to see how many posts are belligerent or outright attacking, this doesn't
help build dialogue, trust or a workable democracy, and just seems to
reinforce the status quo that we all know, isn't working!
May Peace Prevail!

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