ever since the US invaded and occupied the country in 1915, every serious political attempt to allow haiti's people to move "from absolute misery to a dignified poverty" (to borrow former president jean-bertrand aristide's phrase) has been violently and deliberately blocked by the US government and some of its allies. today, however, things are different. “i want to speak directly to the people of haiti,” president obama said. he paused for a moment. “you will not be forsaken, you will not be forgotten,” he said. “in this, your hour of greatest need, america stands with you.” to this i say, thanks america, for picking up haiti after so swiftly and repeatedly kicking it down. and might i add, when's your next kick?
as peter hallward has pointed out: along with sending emergency relief, we should ask what we can do to facilitate the self-empowerment of haiti's people and public institutions. if we are serious about helping we need to stop trying to control haiti's government, to pacify its citizens, and to exploit its economy. and then we need to start paying for at least some of the damage we've already done//
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