6572: Re: 6563: Re: 6538 & 6527: "Haiti now" (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Martine Jean <alix3@hotmail.com>

Again I'm posting about a topic that seems to be very controversial on the 
list: To what "extent" is the US responsible for what is happening in Haiti.

In my response to Knowles I hope I did not imply that illiteracy, lack of 
electricity and other problems were caused by the US. I don't think that's 
what Henrius meant either.

Many people have replied to my post on this list. SOme agreed with me. Some 
did not. Both sides had interesting arguments.

J-R. Auguste in particular wrote about the Dominican Republic:"let me just 
say that the Dominicans sure
>look good doing just what you wrote. And, Haitians of all ages and 
>background
>emigrate/commute en masse there to find work, health care, food products" 
>there.

This is a good point. Haitians do emigrate en masse to the Dominican 
Republic to find what they can't get in their own country. Haitians emigrate 
to other countries as well. Haitians are all over the world now; that's why 
it's so common that the word Diaspora is so common in our vocabulary. Many 
Haitians on this list are not in Haiti.

However, Dominicans emigrate just as Haitians do. In 1997, (if I'm quite 
sure) the US reported that nineteen thousands Dominicans had immigrated in 
the United States (these are the legal ones). And they also emigrate to 
Puerto Rico, this "avant-gout" of the United States. How do we explain that?

Finally, like I said before, this seems to be a very controversial issue, 
discussing to what "extent" the US is responsible to what is going on in 
Haiti. I don't want to pursue it because it's full of emotions both from the 
part of Haitians and non-Haitians. I don't think that we would "save" Haiti 
from her "pitiful" state despite our "magnanimous" intentions by elaborating 
theses about her situation. THe people in Haiti, those that have no 
electricity, no food and no health care don't care. All they want is to have 
a voice in the running of their country. THey want their vote to be 
recognized. THey want to define their own democracy not one imported from 
the "democratic world" of the north.




SOme people have agreed with my answer to Knowles. Some have not. I 
appreciate all response.
>From: Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>
>To: Haiti mailing list <haiti@lists.webster.edu>
>Subject: 6563:  Re: 6538 & 6527: "Haiti now"  (fwd)
>Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 19:41:11 -0600 (CST)
>
>
>From: JRAuguste1@aol.com
>
>Key words: Dominican Republic, Haiti, latitude, longitude, J. Helms, 
>revolt,
>opportunity.
>
>
>Dear Martine Jean:
>
>At the risk of simplifying history, let me just say that the Dominicans 
>sure
>look good doing just what you wrote. And, Haitians of all ages and 
>background
>emigrate/commute en masse there to find work, health care, food products 
>they
>do not find in Haiti.
>
>Should Haitians spend less time revolting? Or should they fine tune their
>constant revolts? What a people should do!
>
>And on top of all that, Haitians have to worry about longitude and 
>latitude!
>
>I have no doubt that J. Helms must also be thinking that Haiti's proximity 
>to
>the US is a problem.
>
>It is a case of "les grands esprits se rencontrent toujours!"
>
>J-R. B. Auguste
>
>-----------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>  I understand you qualifying Henrius's statement as simple. You are an
>  american and if I were one  I would not like to think that my country's
>  policy has had such a negative impact on another country. However, 
>Henrius's
>  statement is not a simplification of US/Haiti relations as you would like 
>to
>  see it. Yes, Haiti has many problems but its proximity to the US is her
>  biggest problem.
>
>  The Dominican Republic may be moving up. But guess what, big US 
>businesses
>  are allowed to do whatever they want to do there as long as they throw 
>some
>  crumbs at the people and pay the ruling minority big money. The Dominican
>  Republic will be okay as long as they don't revolt against US abuse and
>  hidden control of their country.
>
>  Martine
>

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