Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haiti like most nations has endured its fair share of tragedies. The U.S. was also discovered by Christopher Columbus (supposedly), Europeans came and wiped out our Natives as well. This country has dealt with Slavery, civil rights and present day racism. In spite of all that I feel so lucky today to be in the USA. Can you imagine a natural disaster occurring in your hometown and not seeing police, ambulance or state vehicles driving around seeking to assist? Yes, Katrina happened and the way it was handled was not the best and we all know of the horror stories. But at least there were hospitals open and staff available to assist the injured and try to save lives that day. You had people letting them know to go to the Dome for shelter, acts were taken to try and control the situation. You had officials driving around in boats rescuing people off of rooftops and looking for survivors. The Haitians have no one. There government was basically non- existent before this happened. All they have is themselves armed with shovels digging through rumble trying to find survivors and save lives. I can’t even watch these events unfold on TV. My heart is too heavy.
I’m thinking about the aftermath. First it’s going to take them a lot longer to rebuild due to the extreme poverty there (unless other countries really step up to the plate). Even if they rebuild what are they re-building too? Will there environment, economy or situation improve? Will there no longer be child slaves sold into servitude from one poor family to another for hard labor and sexual favors? Haiti like other unfortunate and extremely poor or violent regions (like in some parts of Africa) endures so much hardship. We complain if our cable goes out or the internet is running slow. We lash out at each other over material things; we hate for no reason, don’t love out of fear and take way too much for granted. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Be grateful for what you have even if you don’t think its enough. It’s far better than traveling 100’s of miles to reach a refugee camp that has no clean water but maybe a few huts you could sleep under with dozens of others, or walking past your 6 year old daughter pan handling to foreigners hopefully to bring home $2. Many people think their life belongs to them. I beg to differ; your life belongs to everyone; from the stranger you meet on the corner, family, neighbors and friends. God put us on earth to serve one another not to live for ourselves. We all will die. I would at least like to say before I take my last breathe that I actually lived and was good to somebody; not just myself.
Feel free to read me again. Please read below if you would like to learn a brief history of Haiti.
In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered Haiti. The Spaniards came in, took over and basically annihilated the Taino Amerindians, the natives of Haiti within 25 years. Later, in 1697 after Spain fought with France the French conquered and took possession of Haiti.
Haiti thrived economically and became the wealthiest in the Caribbean but only through the heavy importation of African slaves. In the late 18th century, Haiti’s nearly ½ million slaves revolted under Toussaint L’overture becoming the first black republic to declare independence in 1804. The only black led nation in the world whose independence was won through a successful slave rebellion.
Haiti is a largely Christian country, with Roman Catholicism professed by 80% of Haitians. One of Haiti’s two official languages is French, the principal written, spoken and administratively authorized language. The Second is the recent Haitian Creole spoken by the entire Haitian population. Haitian Creole is a French based language with African, Spanish and the native, Taino influences. A huge portion of the population also speaks Spanish.
Present day Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line. Of Haiti's 8.7 million inhabitants, the literacy rate of 65.9% is the lowest in the region. Haiti counts 15,200 primary schools, of which 90% are non-public and managed by the communities, religious organizations or NGOs. Haiti has dealt with 32 coups and a tragic political system built on corruption, racism and greed that have not improved since its discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
I’m thinking about the aftermath. First it’s going to take them a lot longer to rebuild due to the extreme poverty there (unless other countries really step up to the plate). Even if they rebuild what are they re-building too? Will there environment, economy or situation improve? Will there no longer be child slaves sold into servitude from one poor family to another for hard labor and sexual favors? Haiti like other unfortunate and extremely poor or violent regions (like in some parts of Africa) endures so much hardship. We complain if our cable goes out or the internet is running slow. We lash out at each other over material things; we hate for no reason, don’t love out of fear and take way too much for granted. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Be grateful for what you have even if you don’t think its enough. It’s far better than traveling 100’s of miles to reach a refugee camp that has no clean water but maybe a few huts you could sleep under with dozens of others, or walking past your 6 year old daughter pan handling to foreigners hopefully to bring home $2. Many people think their life belongs to them. I beg to differ; your life belongs to everyone; from the stranger you meet on the corner, family, neighbors and friends. God put us on earth to serve one another not to live for ourselves. We all will die. I would at least like to say before I take my last breathe that I actually lived and was good to somebody; not just myself.
Feel free to read me again. Please read below if you would like to learn a brief history of Haiti.
In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered Haiti. The Spaniards came in, took over and basically annihilated the Taino Amerindians, the natives of Haiti within 25 years. Later, in 1697 after Spain fought with France the French conquered and took possession of Haiti.
Haiti thrived economically and became the wealthiest in the Caribbean but only through the heavy importation of African slaves. In the late 18th century, Haiti’s nearly ½ million slaves revolted under Toussaint L’overture becoming the first black republic to declare independence in 1804. The only black led nation in the world whose independence was won through a successful slave rebellion.
Haiti is a largely Christian country, with Roman Catholicism professed by 80% of Haitians. One of Haiti’s two official languages is French, the principal written, spoken and administratively authorized language. The Second is the recent Haitian Creole spoken by the entire Haitian population. Haitian Creole is a French based language with African, Spanish and the native, Taino influences. A huge portion of the population also speaks Spanish.
Present day Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line. Of Haiti's 8.7 million inhabitants, the literacy rate of 65.9% is the lowest in the region. Haiti counts 15,200 primary schools, of which 90% are non-public and managed by the communities, religious organizations or NGOs. Haiti has dealt with 32 coups and a tragic political system built on corruption, racism and greed that have not improved since its discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
Just in the 21st century Haiti has endured natural catastrophes' to include this week's 7.0 earthquake four
tropical hurricanes in 2008, killer storms in 2004 and 2005, floods in 2002, 2003, 206 and 2007.
Angie's signing off for now...feel free to read me again!
No comments:
Post a Comment