6722: Re: 6709: Re: 6708: re 6706 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: SBrown8670@aol.com

In a message dated 1/21/01 5:18:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Otello writes:

<< As a long time reader of Corbett and the posts on Haiti, I'd like to take 
my 
 first opportunity to recommend to all Corbetteers an excellent book 
entitled, 
 The Military and Society in Haiti by Michel Laguerre.  It does not paint the 
 rosy picture of the Haitian military throughout Haitian history that Mr 
Young 
 seems to have accepted.   >>

Clearly there is little about Haitian socio-political realities for which a 
rosy picture is appropriate.  Both David Young and Dorce (in particular) are 
guilty of cognitive consistency when it comes their favorites--finding each 
blameless by dint of faith in their own favorites and casting aspersions on 
their favorite targets.
Nevertheless, Otello breathes a welcome tone of rationality into the 
discussion by referring list members to one of the outstanding works on 
Haiti.  Laguerre 's portrait of the military is not roseate, but it certainly 
fails to confirm Dorce's tendency at demonization of that institution. 
Laguerre bases his conclusions on sound research not ideological 
predilections.  He also leads the reader to conclude that the Haitian 
military was a byproduct of and an integral part of Haitian society, 
concerned with and (like Aristide), at times consumed by the winner-take-all 
attitude toward political power.

Dr. Stephen D. Brown     sbrown8670@aol.com