#4496: Graves replies to Delatour

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From: archim <archim@globelsud.net>


     Bob, Hope this is not too "heavy" for the list, especially coming from 
     the archimandrite! +AM/FM
                  
                       O-hi-o, Gosayemas; konichi-wa.
     
        That's pretty much the extent of my Japanese, and that's old US 
     military Japanese from long ago when I was there. (Not that long ago, 
     mind you!)
        This is a response to Mario Delatour (#4442) from Tokyo, Japan;the 
     "gros grain" authority. The conclusions reached by Mario in his  
     recent posting were positively accurate, although I can not comment 
     personally on the weight and dimensions of those "heavies" as did 
     Mario; that takes somewhat first-hand experience! I never had the time 
     to go out measuring! (Only kidding, Mario, but you did leave yourself 
     wide-open!)
        Neverthless, Mario did hit the nail on the head (or would "crack 
     the nuts" be a better metaphor?) in describing the named individuals 
     and their maniacal desire for power, control and sadistic posture. 
     These persons, and many others like them are/were responsible for 
     wreaking utter havoc on Haiti, and much of their manner was/is derived 
     from Haitian culture and folk-belief. ("The bigger, the better; the 
     stronger, the more fearsome"). Haitians basically revere "big guys", 
     and that has been the cause of most of Haiti's woes. If one can prove 
     himself to be a big guy (even if he isn't), he can scare others into 
     doing his bidding. Did you know that poor old Jean Claude Duvallier 
     was considered a "gros grain" until someone let the cat out of the bag 
     (metaphorically-speaking) and it was discovered that he was merely a 
     wimp! Soon after that serious discovery, Jean Claude was toppled and 
     some other "gros grains" (bent-over ones, at that!) took over. Then 
     they all tried to prove that one was bigger than the other, and they 
     wound-up "castrating" one another! A real case of "tell and show"...or 
     at least pretend and keep'em guessing!
        And then the world depository of "gros grains" took things into its 
     hands (metaphorically-speaking again!) and sent big planes to fly the 
     "heavies" out. The two ensuing leaders of Haiti...both little guys 
     comparatively-speaking (and I never heard them brag), have been trying 
     to do a good job...and that takes guts and brains, not heavy privates! 
     Let's stick with those who are trying to better Haiti by using their 
     determination and their brains, instead of standing-by and letting the 
     "gros grains" run the show.   
        "Onward and Upward" should be our watchword, and "gros grains" do 
     nothing but pull you down. (Metaphorically-speaking, again!)
     
                                     Archimandrite  (+AM/FM)