#104: A reply to Driver

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:TKVENEMAN@aol.com


<< Such generalizations about Haitians seem to me nothing but prejudicial.
 Some Haitians may think democracy means doing whatever you please, just
 as some North American individualists do.  But to say this is
 characteristic of the entire people is baseless and injurious.
  >>
Dear Mr. Driver, 
I believe you are saying that I was making a statement about the intrinsic 
character of the Haitian people.  I assure you that you have misinterpreted 
my statement.  The point was being made that Haitians believe democracy means 
they can do whatever they want to do because they have never been informed or 
educated about the flip side of democracy.  Under the ton ton macoutes, life 
was simple.  You step out of line and you receive a visit from the local 
enforcers.  They could make life very unpleasant for you in a very physical 
way.  That system has long been dismantled and nothing has really ever taken 
its place.  In order for democracy to function, a relatively high degree of 
education must exist so that citizens can understand that what injures their 
neighbor, injures themselves.  The second thing that must exist to make it 
work is a strong system of justice so that wayward citizens can quickly 
understand that it really is to their benefit to treat their neighbor as they 
would like to be treated.   This flies in the face of every tenet of Voodou 
theology.  Haitians have had neither the benefit of civic responsibility 
education nor have they the privilege of living under an efficient justice 
system.  Instead, they have been abused by a system that says with strength 
and possessions come inalienable rights to do as you please to whom you 
please.  They see judges who receive their positions based upon family ties 
or strength and possessions.  They see the new police force as the latest 
reincarnation of the macoutes.  If there is something more basic against the 
development of democracy in Haiti, then I have missed it.  To discuss the 
Haitian condition without discussing theology is like describing rain to 
someone who has never been wet.  Haitians are perhaps the most religious 
people that one can meet.  Everything is significant in a spiritual way.  We 
have lost our way in the US spiritually, because we want to isolate our 
spiritual natures and make everything fact and science.  Not only that, but 
man must be in control and be the center of everything.  "Don't talk to me 
about God".   We have much to learn from our Haitian brothers and sisters and 
we have so much to offer them.  They are generous to a fault, giving what 
they do not have to give to the visitor or the stranger.  We have lost the 
sense of community that they have.  However, we have something that they have 
never had.  We have a society that was founded on biblical values.  If you 
doubt that, look at a coin sometime.  The Haitians are not debating whether 
the ten commandments should go back in the school room.  They never had them! 
 Without basing their society on biblical values, there will be no democracy 
as we know it. We only need look at the Haitian political system to see the 
future for America.  They are way ahead of us in that respect.  Just a few 
more special interest groups and we will attain critical mass, politically.  
Mr. Driver, nature will not permit a vacuum, and you can't argue with 
gravity.  Everything in this universe is winding down.  God wrote the Bible 
to tell us about His Son, Jesus Christ.  The rest is all details