Becoming more of a Cynic

There is a heartwarming.. really quite breathtaking story here of a group of 260 Irish volunteers who came down to work in the dust and dreariness of the border town of Ouanminthe to build 200 homes for.. well... 200 families of the perhaps 60/80,000 people who live there.

In order to do this, they had to pay their own way, and sleep on the construction site, the way the Haitian construction workers here sleep inside the building lots of the high rises in Santo Domingo, or the resort hotels. Each volunteer had to raise $5,000 which is no small piece of change.. and amounts to a total of $1,300,000.. bringing the cost per home.. with land to $6,500, which is certainly modest in anyone's book.

So who could object to this act of generosity?

Let me be the first to cast the stone... forgive me, for I am certainly not without sin... it reminds me of the time an old high school friend and I met after college and she asked "do you ever find yourself having a not so liberal thought?"

If you read the article, you will see that first, of course, this is Digicell, which is the number one provider of cell phones in Haiti, so there is a publicity aspect to be gained here. Now they have done a great job of providing phones in Haiti. Prior to their arrival the phone service was abysmal. The Irish guys are a living legend in Haiti because they came down and camped out! No one does that. All the foreigners always stay at the best hotels. Now there are cell phone towers all around Haiti and communication is vastly improved. It has been an enormous service to the country. As long as a person can charge their phone. But electricity is very scare in Haiti.

And what they have not done so far is gotten charging stations in the country side.

So what would have been a really great project, for instance, would have been to take that 1.3 million, put it into a micro finance loan fund for folks to get solar panels which can charge the cell phones, as I saw one industrious young teacher had done. The panel could charge ten phones at a time. From the proceeds, he had paid back his loan, paid his cousin a salary, and paid his uncle for the rent on the little mud and wattle house.........Then the recipients would have had an ongoing source of income and enough money to build their own homes.


I would suggest the radical notion that the mud and wattle construction with the thatched roof which can be seen in parts of Haiti and in Africa is fa superior to the baking heat of concrete blocks with the tin roofs that pass as modern. Give me mud and wattle!!! Just work on a good protective varnish to shield it from the rain. Pine trees yield a very good varnish.

The idea that concrete construction is somehow better housing because it is more modern is just cultural bias and comes from some very good marketing from the part of the concrete industry. I stood next to one prominent Haitian from a large diaspora group and had this same argument over this very house. "But it will come down in a hurricane" He said. "I bet it is over fifty years old, ask them" "Who built it?" "My grandfather's father"

There is a composting toilet project now operational a few miles down the road which perhaps can be incorporated in the next phase of the project

But then, of course, those 260 Irish folks would not have had the soul scrubbing experience of living like the poor which had to be life altering. Even an hour in Ouanaminthe is life altering.

They do a lot of this type of tourism here in the DR. Most of the groups charge about $1000 per person per week to have you go up and build a school or a house or something for the poor. We joke that the poor are sitting under a palm tree playing dominoes and drinking beer while you are doing it. It has led to what we refer to here in the DR as the "da me" culture, the "give me" something.... oh, you poor child who is somehow less than because you are poor, let me the rich white foreigner just give you something. here is a peso, here is a book, here is a xxxxxxxxx. Now the streets of both Santo Domingo and Santiago are filling up with young Haitian children sent to beg. Many of them are trafficked just for that purpose.

Note please that in the article they went to find the poorest of the poor to give the houses to... NOT the ones who had done the most for the community, not the ones who had perhaps struggled and scrimped to send one kid to college in the Capital, not the ones on the top of the heap, but the bottom of the heap.

What lesson does that teach?

Note also in the article that they could not even get the government of Haiti to build an access road. Nor could they evidently get the town of Ouanaminthe to lobby to get an access road. Most likely because they were giving the homes not to the Most deserving, but to the least.

I suggest that they watch a few episodes of the US program of Extreme Makeover where the families are chosen because they are the most deserving, not for their neediness, but for the greatness of their generosity. By the choice of the recipients, the Haven could muster the community heart, their wish to honor their own community leaders, and then the community will see to it that the access road is built and take pride in their community accomplishment.

Now I applaud this effort. And I do not in any way want to discourage this form of radical generosity.. this amazing and impressive hands on effort. Because it really is very, very impressive. And I tip my Obama baseball cap to each and every one of you.

But it has to be more thought out.. For years people, governments, missionaries, and the Haitian diaspora have just been giving ... and giving... and giving...

Clearly that does not work,has not worked, and only teaches people to be better beggars.

So I weep a bit when I read that this doctor was in Ouanaminthe, where the Red Cross Clinic has no supplies and no doctor, and chose to build a concrete house rather than teach first aid.

The Falling Down of Haiti, Again

It is a sad time for Haiti. The Prime Minister, who in her year-long tenure had garnered the respect and admiration of the international community, was replaced by the vote of small group of Senators,themselves of the President's own party.

Those of us who have watched Haiti with hope in our hearts for the last five years are dismayed and discouraged by this act of the dismissal of an extremely competent public servant by those who are apparently less than that. Those who would lay the blame for all of Haiti's troubles on the external world need only look to this dismissal of Prime Minister Pierre-Louis to more accurately pinpoint the source of Haiti's problems.

I defer to the well crafted words of one of the best observers of Haiti, Michael Deibert, who writes on the subject,here.

Day of the Dead

We enter now deeper into the holy day season, starting with the Jewish high holy days, then coming now into the Pagan one of Shamain , the Celtic new year, which the Christian's then took over as All Hallow's eve.

Nowhere in this hemisphere is this reunion between the dead and the living celebrated quite so deeply as among the descendants of the West African slaves in Haiti. See this interesting first hand account from a foreign perspective here

I first saw a taste of this when I lived in Grenada. On the day of Halloween, the women would assemble in the graveyards, which were mostly above ground mausoleums, whitewashed, with nominal crosses on them. They carried buckets of water, scrub brushes, clorox, and if they could afford it, white wash and brushes. All day they would prepare and clean the graveyard. Because all night that night, most of the adults would gather there, candles lit, rum bottles and drums in hand to dance and sing along with their ancestors who had passed along.

The author in the piece above states that Christianity is monotheistic while Voodoo is polytheistic. One could argue that Christianity is based on some sort of bizarre trinity and every Haitian that I have met worships and acknowledges Bon Dwye, who is merely too busy to come visit, and so daily life is entrusted to a variety of other spirits. And certainly Christianity is all wound up in the issue of a living and dead God - sort of the central theme.

Voodoo, like paganism, does include a wild streak of sexuality in it which sets it apart from most other religions which appear intent in separating spirit from flesh. The entire operation of "possession" is to lend one's body to the spirits so that they can enjoy the senses. To me, that it what makes both of them so very scary and "demonic" to Christians---that ready acceptance of sexuality-- which is just, well. inferior to the virgin birth and all.

Those who have been present at a tent revival meeting of protestants, seen people speaking in tongues, and even taken Quaking by the Spirit at a Quaker Meeting can attest to the power of the Spirit, no matter what the name.

Enjoy the holiday. Do not forget that it is a sacred day. Remember the Dead on their day.

A New Constitution. Waves of Protests

The Dominican Republic passed a new Constitution which has much of the populace protesting in the streets.It is interesting to watch the rise of civil society here, a building of a coalition of feminists, students, environmentalist who are making an effort to take their country away from the political class, which is intent on consolidating power.

Read my article here

Haiti after Donors Conference

A new report has been issued by the USIP working group on Haiti, headed by Robert Maguire. Read the full text here

A new view of Haiti

Why We Shouldn't Stigmatize Haiti
By Jeff Antebi

In April, as part of a series of photo essays I'm doing, I made my way to Haiti for the recent Haitian Senatorial elections.



When I mentioned Haiti to friends, colleagues and travel agents, the universal response was "what?!?!?!" But I completely understood this reaction. I was worried myself. Haiti is thought to be a place where kidnappings are de rigueur. It's widely believed if your ride from the airport didn't show up on time, you might just be 'disappeared'. Given all of the talk of danger, I started to have nightmares of having my throat slit by the flight attendant as I deplaned.

So I made out a will. I took out all sorts of exotic insurance policies that I cannot discuss without risking them being voided. I signed up for a medical evacuation service and got prescriptions for Malarone and Azithromycin.

First, let me get this out of the way. Haiti is sad, yes. Desperate, yes. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and it shows. If you are Haitian and under five years old, you are more likely to die than if you were born anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. If you are a woman, you are more likely to die giving birth here than anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. If you are Haitian, there's a 50/50 chance you can't read or write. If you are Haitian and you die, there's a 50/50 chance what killed you was a water-borne illness. One of the leading causes of death in Haiti is diarrhea. The nation's children have it the worst: 98 percent of Haiti's children don't finish secondary school; thousands of Haitian children become victims of human trafficking every year; and 19,000 children in Haiti currently live with HIV/AIDS.

But that is only one part of the story. The other is that the country is stunning and Haitians are incredible people. It's nowhere near as apocalyptic as people make it out to be. In fact, for experienced travelers who understand the risks, caveats and cautions - it's a great place to see.

Haiti's proximity to the U.S. (only an hour-and-a-half from Miami) provides a compelling case for engaging programs and policies that can make life-saving differences to the men, women and children I met. They are, literally, our neighbors. There are nations everywhere that need help, but compared to a nation across the ocean, the cost of supporting our close neighbors is minimal. Haitians who are lucky enough to have a job earn the equivalent of $600 a year. As you can imagine, it doesn't take much to make a significant impact on the wider community.

Not that there aren't obstacles. Government corruption can prevent real, beneficial change from happening (things such as education, electricity and basic health care). The wrong kinds of "charity" render people apathetic and don't galvanize the population to help themselves. And a lack of long-term stability means a lack of foreign investors.

That's why it's important to at least start neutralizing the stigma and fear. While it's not going to be the most attractive choice for Caribbean tourism, Haiti is also not the abyss. Far from it.

My photos from the Haitian elections can be seen at www.jeffantebi.com but I want to point out that they are not good 'tourism' images. They are dramatic.

I'm currently in Afghanistan photographing the elections here.

Mercedes Sosa

Confined to a clinic in Argentina, this great singer and champion of the people is asking for a miracle in order to stay with us.

It may not be true, this legend I heard of her, that the Argentine government banned her from singing this song by Leon Gieco. She was on stage at the Plaza de Cinco de Mayo in Buenas Aires, which was packed with people. Police snippers were on the rooftops as well as around the srage. She motioned to the band to start up the song and Sosa stood silent before the microphone, listing to the immense crowd sing the lyrics.

I was told this by my Puerto Rican compatriots when we were all in the holding cell in Vieques in 2001, awaiting transport fo the Federal prison in San Juan. Even if was only a legend, the story kept us strong.

Thank you for your courage, hermana, your songs will never die.

Spanish
Sólo le pido a Dos
Sólo le pido a Dios
que el dolor no me sea indiferente,
que la reseca muerte no me encuentre
vacío y solo, sin haber hecho lo suficiente.

Sólo le pido a Dios
que lo injusto no me sea indiferente,
que no me abofeteen la otra mejilla,
después que una garra me arañó esta suerte.

Sólo le pido a Dios
que la guerra no me sea indiferente,
es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.

Sólo le pido a Dios
que el engaño no me sea indiferente,
si un traidor puede más que unos cuantos,
que esos cuantos no lo olviden fácilmente.

Sólo le pido a Dios
que el futuro no me sea indiferente,
desahuciado está el que tiene que marchar
a vivir una cultura diferente.

Sólo le pido a Dios
que la guerra no me sea indiferente,
es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.


English
All I ask of God

All I ask of God

That pain does not leave me indifferent,
And that parched death will not find me
Alone and empty not having done sufficient.

All I ask of God
That I not be indifferent to injustice
That they won’t slap my other cheek,
After their talon has scraped away my luck.

All I ask of God
That I not be indifferent to war,
It’s a big monster which crushes
All the poor innocence of the people.

All I ask of God
That I am be indifferent to deceit,
If a traitor can do more than the masses,
Then let not the masses forget him easily.

All I ask of God
That i am not indifferent to the future,
Hopeless is he who has to go away
To live a different culture.

All I ask of God
That i am not indifferent to war,
It’s a big monster that crushes
All the poor innocence of people.

American Friends Service Committee

First my thanks go out to the Board and staff of the SERO region of AFSC in helping to assemble what I hope will be the first delivery of school kits for Haiti.

The AFSC Florida office now has three boxes, each 22 pounds, ready to ship. We are now working along with the Lambi Fund and members of the Haitian government, to see that the shipment is deliver to Haiti for the least cost, free of duty.

I ask for Friends further attention to Haiti on two matters.

First is to urge the Federal government to grant Temporary Protected Status to Haitians now living illegally in the US. Even the Miami Herald has come out in favor of this. Please call or write the White House on this issue.

The second is to support a bill which has been introduced in Congress to help with the establishment of a new program to bring students from the Haitian Diaspora back to serve as volunteers.

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/ED_16207.html

I would ask that all Meetings in SAYMA take these two issues under consideration and then perhaps minute their support.

From there, such support can be transmitted to FCNL which can really lobby for these two items.

Many many thanks to all of you who have heard my concerns for Haiti.

Elizabeth Roebling,
Asheville Friends Meeting,
Santo Domingo Worship Group
Dominican Republic
www.elizabetheames.blogspot.com

Michael Deibert

Michael Deibert, author of perhaps the best book that I have read on Haiti,Notes from the last Testament, continues his concern for Haiti on his Haiti, continues his concern for here

I would direct those of my readers who have a continuing interest in Haiti to both purchase his book, here

and follow along with his work.

Michael is gifted journalist and a brave war correspondent.

He is currently working on his new book on The Democratic Republic of Congo, where he served for six months.

Dual Citzenship for Haitians

PRESS RELEASE
September 16, 2009

HAITIAN CONGRESS TO FORTIFY HAITI
and
HAITIAN CONGRESS FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (PAC)

SALUTE THE WORK OF THE 48th LEGISLATURE

The Haitian Congress extends its gratitude to the 21 Senators and to the 71
Deputies of the 48th Legislature who, on September 14, 2009, had the vision
and the courage to vote in favor of President Préval's proposal to recommend
to the 49th Legislature that the Constitution of 1987 be amended to, among
other things, grant Dual Citizenship to Haitians who have become naturalized
citizens of other nations as well as to their children. Two-third of the
Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies was needed for the chance to amend the
Constitution of 1987 to survive and the votes were delivered. This is an
extremely important step for our future.

We are thankful to you, our brothers and sisters in Haiti who have
persevered in the face of enormous difficulties both natural and man-made.
The vote that you cast on September 14, 2009 is a tremendous step towards
the reintegration of the Haitian Diaspora. We remain convinced that one of
the key links to sustainable recovery of Haiti is through the fully
integrated partnership of Haitians inside the country with those of us who
live in the Diaspora. We can no longer afford the mistake of excluding and
of stigmatizing Haiti's sons and daughters who have had to leave their
motherland for political or economic reasons. Bravo to the courageous
political leaders who recognize our inalienable rights as Haitians and call
for amending the Constitution of 1987 so that we are no longer considered
"Foreigners".

Haitians in the Diaspora are not and could never be "Foreigners." We are
Haitians in every sense of the word. We have never abandoned home. That is
why we maintain an extraordinary commitment to our families back home by
sending nearly 2 billion dollars in remittance per year. That is why we
re-establish communities wherever we are to celebrate and practice our
culture. That is why we fight to protect the best interest of our people
wherever we are. That is why we follow, astutely, the affairs of our
country. That is why we are disappointed with every setback and elated with
every inch of progress in our nation. That is why we remain passionately
engaged in the search of a path for recovery.

Even those of us who were born outside of Haiti or who were born in Haiti
and grew up abroad, we are not foreigners. We wave our Haitian flag. We
hold on to our history. We yearn for our mothers' and fathers' motherland
because it is part of our proud humanity. We too, are Haitians by our
precious blood! As the children of the Haitian Diaspora, we can and should
play a significant role in the communities in which we live to help shape
the foreign policies of nations such as the United States, Canada, France
and others towards Haiti. As well, we have the potential to make a great
impact on the future of Haiti as direct contributors if we are allowed to
regain our Haitians citizenship.

The Work has just begun. The Haitian Congress calls on its partners such as
Haitian American National Alliance (HANA), Alliance of Haitians Living
Overseas, Haitian-American Leadership Conference (HALEC), Haiti Tourism
Development, The Haitian League (THL), National Organization for the
Advancement of Haitians (NOAH), The National Alliance, Organization
Communautaire pour le Development Rurale (OCODER), Jeunesse en Marche pour
l'Avenir, (JMA), Civil Society and others, to name a few, to intensify the
work to ensure that the 49th Legislature votes the appropriate amendments
into law. We call on all of our Haitian brothers and sisters who agree
that the reintegration of the Haitian Diaspora is strategically
determinative of a brighter future to join us in this important campaign.

The Victory today belongs to all Haitians whether you supported the call or
not because, independent of our will, it is a great step in the right
direction. For more information, please call the Haitian Congress at
847-475-5856. Also visit our website at
www.haitianCongress.organd the
www.haitiancongresspac.org to become familiar with our history and our work
in other areas.

Together, we can win!


Sincerely,

Lionel Jean-Baptiste, Esq.
Chairman, Haitian Congress

About the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti
The Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti is a Not-for-Profit 501c3 umbrella
organization governed by a 13-member Board. The Board is composed of
Haitians working together to put forth programs to help fortify the Haitian
community in the Diaspora which can in turn help fortify Haiti and its
institutions. The Board is led by its executive committee which implements
the Board's decisions and oversees the different areas of work of the
organization.

About the Haitian Congress for Civic Engagement (PAC)
The Haitian Congress for Civic Engagement ("Haitian Congress PAC") is a
Political Action Committee founded by Haitians who have been working on
different fronts over a number of years to empower and educate about their
rights wherever they are.

HAITIAN CONGRESS TO FORTIFY HAITI
and
HAITIAN CONGRESS FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (PAC)
1227 Dodge Avenue .
Evanston, IL 60202
Tel: 847-475-5856 . Fax: 847-424-1049
e:mail: contact@haitiancongress.org
www.haitiancongress.org . www.haitiancongresspac.org