One et respe to all;
Jaf and especially Guy delineated the issues clearly that we find ourselves facing. Morisseau dramatically added to the urgency of what is at stake for us-Haitians at this dangerous crossroads. A road, which I have become convinced we-Haitians will successfully cross. Once said crossing is behind us, the effort expanded and glory accumulated in starving off, once again, the nations enemies and giving a lessons in civil behavior to our traditional oppressors, will catapult the nation and any Haitain wanting political office towards new levels of democratic conviction, public duty and service.
No doubt this is the time to be in Haiti. As Morrisseau says, there is no nobler a cause than to defend the rights of the people of Haiti to Constitutionally elect and choose their own leader for a term of years.
Dans ce carrefour dangereux,
nous faisons face a la survie d'un principe essentiel en matiere de democratie en Haiti. "Le respect du mandat constitutionnel". Ce principe simple mais sacre peut a lui seul inculquer dans l'haitien la logique du jeu democratique.
The only other cause
nobler is for us-Haitians to legally and through real democratic means influence the mandate of the people given to Aristide towards a more transparent and participatory democracy. One that is geared towards achieving Haitian social and economic justice. All else equals "might makes right" and is unjustifiable, and, an abuse of power.
Guy's post above illustrates clearly and consisely what is wrong with the Aristide leadership that must be rectified: too much emphasis on the IDB loan without an offensive plan or a consistent policy towards globalization, not too mention the Free Zone debacle and Duvalierist's appointments. The Aristide government would do well to take note and make public pled
ges of rectification and to better respect the people's mandate and what it stands for. Notwithstanding US/Euro boycotts, blockages and manufactured conflicts, the People’s Mandate still
must stand for justice, transparency and participatory democracy and freedom from exploitation by the US/Euro privileged economies and their Haitian imperial agents in Haiti.
The Haitian People’s Mandate must stand for Haitian civil and cultural rights and for the development of
a domestic Haitianist economy whose goal is to build more schools, roads, health care and provide innovative job opportunities and access to living wages to Haitians.
It does
not stand and cannot stand for the same-old, same old "globalization" of the privilege few's rights in Haiti at the expense of the development of the Haitian majority's human, cultural, economic and social rights.
Crucial to this mandate is the Haitian desire for self
-reliance, self-reliance, and self-reliance. Anyone who purports to lead Ayiti better have a plan for vaporizing Haitian dependency, pwen. The modern slavery of a world economic system still hostile to Black development in Haiti is a story the Aristide government should have been telling loudly from the rooftops as well as delineating clear alternatives and forging coalitions with those developing nations successfully sidestepping these modern economic chains. (See, Ezili Danto’s post on the media’s role, globalization policies affecting participatory democracy and transparence:
http://haitiforever.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=434#434 where I explore "How do Haitians, the wealthy few, the wannabees, the Diaspora, the simple peasant, how do we Haitians, of all hues and classes, move forward while simultaneously, publically exploring, and addressing our national divisions, weaknesses, pathologies (i.e. corruption in Haiti and our lack of a political history with civic duty) without continuing to make it easier fo
r the powers-that-be to take advantage and exploit our situation?")
Nonetheless, I have faith, despite all this "bri-lari" we have been subjected to these last few weeks in Haiti that there will be no Coup D'etat. No return of the Haitian army, A.K.A.-
the Blan's occupying force in Haiti. NO. Indeed, there won't be any mass violence. We know why the news is all over these student demonstrations. We’ve known for too long that this was coming…..This purposeful disruption of the bi-centennial. What are we doing to change this focus and keep our own agenda? What, my people? Besides, staring. This is a time for faith. A time for action. A time to fight against those wanting to turn back the clock to the Happy old Dixie days!
Jaf, Morrisseau, you two are not alone. Many of us in the Diaspora will be under Haitian sky on January 1, 2004 and throughout the bi-centennial year. This is a PERSONAL pilgrimage, our Haitian journey back to Mecca so-
to-speak. It would be an extroadinary Haitian coup if all Haitians, who are financially and physically able to do so and who have saids they are about wanting change in Haiti, would make 2004, the year to make the return and spend some tourist money in Haiti and fill up their soul with the vibratory energy of Maman Ayiti. It's a milestone that requires extroadinary effort from each of us. But it can be done. It is the focus we need to have right now, not this violence. Our detractors know this and that is why the increase in their program of instability and violence to keep us away. That is why I say again all those Haitians
who are able to make the 2004 pilgrimage to Haiti, must do so. Our focus must not be deterred.
Our presence will be appreciated and will provide moral support to the grass-roots people on the ground and direct tourist support to our people and our Haitian economy in general. Only Haitians will save Haiti! Only Haitians must stop this violence we see escalating.
Change the
focus. Give the students jobs, bring jobs and hope to the people in genral, get them out of this no-win situation. I say, we Haitians must not fear and be stymied into passivity and paralysis. I say, enough. Enough exploitation of the Haitian poor. Enough compromising with the European governments. Enough Haitian fratricide. Enough indirection and chaos. It is our time of Return in these coming 12 months and beyond. Let's spend our dollars in Haiti. Let us be about miracles in this season. Haitians are entitled to miracles. We deserve peace, blessings, joy, health and material prosperity.
But January 1, 2004 is more than symbolic, as I’ve said before, to be truly "Ayisyen" is, by definition, to pledge to continue the pioneering work of the ancestors in this Hemisphere. It is a lifetime commitment. No matter what may happen in this time of danger, we won't go away or become passive with grief and disappointments. Grenadye a la so…
But we commit to live not die for Haiti. To save lives not to ta
ke lives. Universal principles of truth and justice are on the side of the Haitian majority. It time to claim our equitable share in this world's bounties and beauty. It is time the world understands, the Haitian majority’s voice counts more than their Black Overseers’ voice in Haiti.
That is why I was so heartened when I read the many post above. It shows me no matter the anti-Haitian propaganda of the mainstream French, US, or right wing Haitian press, Haitians KNOW what's up. Haitians all over this planet are communicating one to the other. The reign of the undemocratic few, who want their morally repugnant privileges back in Haiti will return ONLY if these retrogrades are willing to commit Haitian genocide and earn the wrath of decent people worldwide.
But there’s lots of work to be done. Haitians everywhere must do more. For, if Haiti is to develop it is up to HAITIANS, no one else.
That is the message Aristide should have been bringing forth, not the one of helplessness and de
pendency on IDB and the International Community and other "etranje." For, as Morrisseau insightfully points out
"....nous sommes tous responsables de cet etat de fait. Vous le president pour n'avoir pas concretise l'unite necessaire des haitiens, vous les dissidents pour cause de jalousie du succes de l'homme qui a initie le mouvement nous donnant l'espace democratique que vous abusez, vous elite pour n'avoir jamais ete compassionant pendant 200 ans, vous les passifs qui ne vous interessez jamais a la cause de ce pays sous quelque soit la forme, vous qui denigrez ce pays a l'etranger consciemment ou non, vous qui n'etes jamais satisfaits si vous n'etes pas le president, vous etudiants qui ne faites pas honneur a votre statut en luttant pour une cause moins noble, vous chimeres qui n'ont rien contribue de positif sinon le deuil et l'horreur, vous pauvres qui vous resignez comme si vous etiez d'une autre planete et nous autres, pour n'avoir rien fait ou n'avoir pas fait assez pour
eviter ce carrefour genocidaire...."
Long ago I wrote "we have the power, but not the psychology." And that, is what we must take heed of today. In 1791 the Haitian people CHOSE a path. In 1991, the Haitian people also chose a path. We fought for and died for a constitutional form of government. We decided not to tolerate any more military regimes or dictators-for-life. Aristide was chosen to lead that government in 1990 and 2000 and is, for the time being, the People’s Choice. His leadership has been fraught with mistakes, but as Jonas writes above:
"Even those of us who are not too enthralled about the way Aristide is leading the country, are afraid that THE CURE MAY BE WORSE THAN THE SICKNESS."
Violence and return of the occupying force, AKA, the "Haitian" Army is not the Haitian People’s answer. The People worked to squash these choices before. They will continue to do so. We want to live free of exploitation, injustice, the meddlesom
e interference of the Kolons and their mentally-enchained-pro-etranje-Haitian sycophants. We want a chance to push Aristide, through democratic means, to be more accountable to the People of Haiti.
And so, for our dignity, for our children's future, we-Haitians shall continue to make this stand:
No more violence. Stop the killings. Enough Haitian blood has been spilled. We shall continue to live for this until these few Haitians and their French/US/Canadian cohorts, who want impasse, chaos, insecurity, instability and Coup D'etat in Haiti, understand that these option are NO LONGER VIABLE in Haiti. In fact, for the record, injustices by ANYONE against
any Haitian person (abroad or at home) or against the Haitian nation will now have
legal and practical consequences, won’t go unpunished, won’t be tolerated. This is our faith, it is just. We shall live for its establishment and maintenance. Our dignity and self-resp
ect demands it.
Guy, Jaf, Morrisseau, Jonas, Zanfanginen, JGPalmis
Kenbe la, pa lage!!!
Respe,
Ezili Danto
"Dje blan-yo mande krim. Bon Dje ki nan nou-an vle byen fe." (Boukmann at Bwa Kayiman, August 14, 1791)