got haiti?
I read last Friday in the paper that there was another revolution going on in Haiti.
I must say, that as much as the idea of revolution is a good thing. I can't help but feel that America has a social responsibility to Haiti.
There was a revolution in Haiti in the late 1700's. It wasn't like the American Revolution where we were fighting to get out from underneath a figurehead that lived in an entirely different nation. It was a revolution of slaves that had had enough. They rose up against the French on the strength of their beliefs (there was a huge vodou ritual to invoke a lwa of war). They actually succeeded in pushing the French back to France through their bloody revolution. They petitioned America first to help support them in trade in the early 1800's. Haiti was the only country at that time to be totally governed by an all black government.
They petitioned the U.S. government to help them out with trade. At the time they had asked, it was unthinkable for ex slaves to run their own country. After all, wouldn't it be hypocritical of us to admit they were equal if we were still enslaving them ourselves. America turned them away. Every country in Europe did as well because no one wanted to admit that there could ever be a totally black ran country that could be successful.
Haiti was successful for about 30 years... then it started to slide down hill because it had no allies for trade. And that's why Haiti is where it is today. It’s because every nation, starting with the U.S., turned away Haiti because they couldn't admit that black people were equal.
Haiti, the only countries outside of Africa that has a totally black ran country (and i think it might still be the only one in the world. however, I’m not too certain of that). The only country to have the official religion is vodou. A country that had so much promise, and yet could never successfully get someone to back it. And for the last 30 years or so they've been crying out for a revolution. Radio DJs have been killed by the government because there have been cries for another revolution. There have been thirty years of civil unrest crying for a revolution.
And now they have it. And the U.S. is no supporting them. But instead of aiding the country as a whole... we send in troops. I fail to see how this is going to help the people as a whole.
And as necessary as i might agree the revolution would be, considering Haiti’s government is horribly corrupt... i do not agree that marital action is warranted on the behalf of the u.s. we helped bring Haiti to this standard, the least we could do is offer civil aid, not troops.
However, this is only my humble opinion.