Haiti!
The fact that most Haitians live well below the poverty level should baffle us all. It should make us sit up and wonder how it is that such a proud nation, with such a revolutionary history, that started off as such a leader in the African Diaspora has fallen to this level. An article I read last week reminded me that today, there are many Haitians that are so poor and hungry that they make cookies out of dirt, salt, and a little oil.
This is tragic. My focus is not really on how Haiti has reached this stage. Of course, there are all sorts of theories about how US foreign policy and old French powers have interfered with the democracy that has limped along in Haiti. There are other theories about corrupt leadership. There are elements of truth in all of these ideas. My real focus is the present. How is it that the most powerful countries in the world have allowed this to happen? If the powers can spend billions of dollars removing a tyrant in the middle east, surely these billions of dollars could have been employed to help get rid of the tyrant of poverty in a small country like Haiti. I’m not talking about the World Bank or IMF. The debilitating effects of their “help” on the people of a country in need is legendary.
So now, more and more, I am coming to the realization that we cannot keep looking to the outside for salvation. Those we think should help have other priorities. So the real solution for countries like Haiti must come from within. Last week hungry Haitians, finally frustrated and fed up, stormed the palace and rioted. Today, the senate voted to dismiss the prime minister. I’m anxious to see what happens next. I’m eager to see if Haitians will finally succeed in pulling themselves up, regardless of what their wealthy neighbors do (or do not do) for them.
I certainly agree with your post. I always find it intriguing that prosperous nations such as the one we reside only take up causes and contribute when something disastrous happens.
The media plays this game of reporting on certain issues and neglecting others. I never really hear much about Haiti in the news so from there I will assume that the general public doesn’t either, which leads to neglect.
It seems as if Haitians has reached their breaking point, so as you said hopefully they will begin to pull themselves up and restore their great nation
I agree with the comments above. It does often seem that we as a country only involve ourselves if something disastrous happens. Such as the war we are in now.
I am interested to see what happens in the news with the country of Hati after reading this post. Hopefully, with Haitians reaching their breaking point, some relief and good will come to this country.
I can’t believe kids make cookies out of salt, dirt and oil. That is unfathomable. It makes me remember that what I may think is a big issue that’s going on in my life, isn’t big at all, and in fact is irrelevant to what is going on in particular parts of the world. It’s hard to understand how all this as happened and how Haiti has been unable to get outside help from not only the U.S. but ANY major country or continent. I am pleased to see the people have decided to dismiss the prime minister, hopefully this will be the start of an overhaul that is long overdue to the people in Haiti so they can eventually live as regular of a life as the rest of us.
We have a history of only helping when something bad and disastrous happens. I wonder if it will always be that way. Do we as a country feel we should only help when the level of a problem is disastrous. Im proud of the Haitians though. It takes a lot of courage to do what they are doing but when no one helps you, you must help yourself if nothing else because in the end you are always left with self.