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WHY HAITI MATTERS AND WILL NOT FAIL
Teledjol.com - Friday February 19, 2010
How the island nation has been the backbone of modern liberty and freedom.
Why HAITI Matters By Ralph Figaro HAITI Or The Psychology of Black Spring '61 (Judi Bertoia, Charles Boer, et al.) "Haiti, or the psychology of black, ventures into the heart of darkness itself, to the most polytheistic (yet Catholic) place on earth today, Haiti, for a look at psychological territory that no Jungians ever dared to set foot in before (with the exception of Joseph Campbell's academic introduction to Maya Deren's Divine Horsemen). But our Haiti is not just the literal island of Vaudun gods and spirits of the night, our Haiti is a vibrant state of mind that includes the only nation in the Western hemisphere where the dead still speak (and sometimes work), the wonderful source of the Blues in America, the strange African-Portuguese spirit rituals of Brazil, and indeed the entire range of pathological terror that stalks the White world whenever it sees "Black." "Remember how 19th-century colonials feared going black,” James Hillman writes in The Seduction of Black, "how Joseph Conrad perceived a madness and a horror in the heart of darkness, how the black plague, the black knight, the black shirt and the black inquisitor haunt European history as the black-clothed puritan haunts America, and that many of the scariest images of childhood, from chimney sweep, witch, magician and batman, the rottweiler and the Doberman, to skeletons in the danse macabre and the grim reaper himself, stalk the hall of fantasy--all in black!" _____________________________________________________________________________ While filming a project for 3 consecutive days after the earthquake rocked the capital city of Port-au-Prince, I was not able to get the devastating reports from the "Live" news channels. My first accounts of the devastation was via the internet where Youtube was my first source of information. But it didn't take long to see all of the incredible racism and misguided stereotypical and ignorant comments left by subscribers. With that said, it is obvious why I have used the above excerpts as an intro to my note. As a Historian, and more importantly, as a Haitian, it is my duty to shed light on these incriminating misconceptions; allegations, and illusions about my country. Against all odds, Haiti remains the most beautiful country in the world. This statement I will continue to back and stand by every time, because of my country's cultural; geographical; historical, and religious richness! Socially, and politically, we suck--yes! However, all intelligent and conscious-minded people know, there has always been an unseen "hand" rocking and cunningly maneuvering in Haitian affairs, refusing to allow her to move forward and progress her future...This we have seen many times before, and we are seeing now, even after the earthquake. Big businesses and Political interests have already positioned themselves to gain and capitalize on what will surely be a new occasion to rip off the unfortunate people of Haiti, yet again. We've seen how a democratically elected leader of the people and by the people snatched out of office, put on a plane and taken away to a remote country. We've witnessed mass genocides and injustices by so-called "world organizations" sent on the pretense of "Peace keeping" while committing atrocities to the people they've pledged to protect. Puppet governments have been placed time and time again, to destabilize and manipulate an already impoverished people. No one has talked about how Roman Catholicism at the term of the 19th century came in and placed their rule on a country by telling the people they couldn’t practice a religion which followed them long before boarding slave ships out of West Africa. "You're uncivilized, and we don't like your God, so here, serve ours--" But even that couldn’t stop the faithful and resilient people of Haiti, as they integrated the new religion with the use of Creole and drum music while praying to the “Black” virgin Mary in Roman Catholic services; Incorporating folk elements into the liturgy. This is the price Haiti has had to pay the past couple of centuries for her audacity of proclaiming independence from imperialism when the entire world was still in darkness under Europe’s colonial rule. This is where irony takes a twisted turn, when Pat Robertson makes a statement regarding Haiti having sold its soul, or "Made a pact with the devil to secure its freedom." How wrong; how perverse, and how hypocritical of Pat Robertson to make such a deceitful statement? To call himself a "Man of God," and yet claim that an entire people have chosen to make a pact with the devil for freedom. "It's a true story, Christie," Robertson continues. "...We need to pray for them--A great turning to God." Perhaps it is the other way around...perhaps it was the God of Pat Robertson who enslaves people, and still does to this day! It may as well have been true that the Haitian slaves turned to some other God(s), some god who grants liberty and freedom. Tired, and having had enough, the slaves went to the God of their ancestors, and said, "Hey what the heck?! We will serve you as long as you free and rid us of Pat Robertson's god!" Pat Robertson goes on to even suggest that the earthquake which have taken tens of thousands of lives, “A blessing in disguise.” Unfortunately, in this day and age, highly recognizable people can come out and say all sorts of nonsense and it will surely get airtime and printed in the newspapers, without anyone being held accountable. What Pat Robertson and everyone else, including some confused Haitians in the Diaspora fails to realize that Haiti, since the 18th century knew that liberty and freedom was a God-given right. If any man should ever take away that right, it was their duty to band together, and in the words of Minister Malcolm, takes it back “by any means necessary.” God heard the cries of his children, all the way from the island of Hispaniola, and granted them their rightful freedom! In Haiti, we call God "Bondye" meaning: "Good God" Not simply God, but Good God...That is a direct indication of how grateful Haitians are to their god! As poor, and as socially and politically scarred as we are, we still call to Bondye and sing songs of praise at every turn and chance we get. Haitians are always ready to call on to God. In the midst of disaster and chaos, you can see those singing praises of Halleluiahs, and, Merci Bondye! In the words of Anderson Cooper, "Even after all of this, these people still find their voices in praising God by singing and chanting religious songs." The same people always accused of being deeply indoctrinated in voodoo and black magic. The stigma has always been this: If you are Haitian, you are always somehow associated with Voodoo. What most people do not understand is the fact that Voodoo is an expression of celebration, whether coming together to praise their bondye and giving thanks for their good fortunes, or simply to ask their saints for protection and guidance. Another irony is, Christians, especially from the Haitian community who have distanced themselves from the practices of voodoo, do not realize that their new Christian God that they give praise to, is the same “Bondye” of old their ancestors gave thanks and praise to, while using the same exact name, and is described to be the supreme God in Haitian voodoo. Christians who attend church every Sunday morning will open their hymn book and begin singing and giving praise to the same supreme God (Bondye), also known as the God of Abraham; Jacob, David, all the way down to the line of Jesus and his disciples. With all the confusion surrounding Haiti, its religions and practices, and how they were able to defeat the military might of Europe with just machetes and sticks. Haiti remains to be a place of fascination and great wonder. Once dubbed “The pearl of the Islands,” by Columbus, the sailor, and the most prosperous colony of France, Haiti is once again under the watchful eye of the entire world. This time, in ruins, as the world asks will she once again rise. When African slaves became revolutionaries and fought for their independence. Haitians not only set the stage for freedom, but also fought side by side in Savannah to help the American colonies rid itself of British rule. Without Haiti, the United States would not have purchased the State of Louisiana from The French. Though it is not usually credited, Haiti also took a major step by marching for a successful campaign throughout Central and South America and became a beacon of hope for countries all over the world yet to taste freedom even in the 20th century. This is the reason why I strongly believe that Haiti matters and will once again rise, as it has so many times in her troubled past. This time, I believe it is going to take Haitians living outside of Haiti, a “Retour au becail” where all Haitians will return home and begin to repair and heal the country which has given so much to them. Haiti Matters because even to this day, Haiti has never forgotten where it comes from and what she means to the world. Now it is the world’s turn and everyone who has benefited from her to express what she means to them. From the little girl stuck underneath the rubble for 15 days, to the little boy who’s lost all members of his family and is now an orphan. If we do not learn from history, we tend to repeat it. If we can look back and trace our steps, it is easy to realize that the world has had its back turned on Haiti too many times. We can’t afford to turn our backs this time; because if Haiti fails, we’ll all fail.
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