30750: Kriegsman (reply)Re: 30743: Roebling (reply) RE:3027 Kondrat re Lancet (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Elliot Kriegsman <farpacific10282@yahoo.com>

Point well taken, Ms. Roebling;

What's most important is expanding the sphere of knowledge whether it's
about Aristide, the Latortue regime, or the International Republican
Institute so instrumental in Haiti's political chaos.

Bottom line is: Oppression and violence against poor majorities, whether
by status quo seeking elites or by other manipulated poor, is a problem
throughout the world, not just Haiti. Analysts are quick to point fingers
at whom to blame but the victims never change; they are always the poor.

I urge you to read about what's currently happening in Paraguay where a
former Catholic bishop is running for president. Like Aristide, he is
convinced he can be more helpful to his nation's poor through politics
than religion. Meanwhile, the Vatican has rejected his resignation so as
to keep his candidacy illegal. Recall, when Aristide was first deposed in
1991, the Vatican was the only foreign entity that declared support for
the military regime. How many poor people did Cedras and FRAPH kill and
torture?

Politics aside, the Wayne State report was a scientific attempt to measure
rape and murder in Port-au-Prince. Any attempt to expand the spheres of
knowledge about public health and human rights violations should be
encouraged. They give voice to silent, poor majorities.

Kenbe la,

Elliot Kriegsman




--- Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu> wrote:

> Elizabeth Roebling, lizieames@yahoo.com,
>
> I think that the underlying issue behind the Lancet study controversy is
> not
> whether or not the author was an Aristide supporter but rather whether
> or not
> the violence against women erupted under Aristide or later --- the issue
> of the
> violence is the issue and Deibert's point is that the study implies that
> this
> was after Aristide and things were calm under him.
>
> While Aristide certainly spoke to the hearts of many progressives and
> filled
> Haiti and the world with much hope, he certainly armed the young men of
> Cite
> Soleil and told the poor that they had a right to simply go and take
> what the
> more wealthy had. I met a young woman who went to his church who said
> that he
> would walk out with them, the young people in the congregation, after
> the
> service, through the middle class neighborhood and point to the nice
> houses and
> say:"See that. See those fine houses? That is why you are poor."
>
> Non violent, he was not. Ah the lovely smell of "Pere le Brun".
>
> Why the American left is still so enamored of him is a mystery to me.But
>
> perhaps they support revolution by any means. My hope that Aristide may
> have a
> long and happy life in South Africa. As far as I can tell, only a few
> loyal
> Americans and some gang members in Port au Prince long for his
> return.Preval
> seems to be doing a fine job as the duly elected president.