The way mainstream media operates, you will usually find that after the “big” story dies down -and after the flaming headlines have simmered- there is little follow up to the initial newsworthy event. So lately, you will hardly find coverage from the aftermath of the latest cataclysm to affect the Caribbean nation of Haiti. And yet for the millions of Haitians affected by the disastrous earthquake 12thJanuary, 2010, life must go on. And life for most Haitians continue to be challenging -even more so than it was before the earthquake hit. For Caribbean-Americans like me, it is really nice to see that many members of the New York city council are still finding ways to help the Haitian community at large.  read more »

Haiti is one of the poorest nations on earth. Yet it has a noble history and could have been part of America. It as founded by a successful slave revolt and was even able to stand up to Napoleon's armies when he tried to retake the nation. Early in its history there was talk of absorbing it as a state in the United States, yet of course the divide over slavery within the United States made it impossible to accept a nation that had been formed by a successful slave revolt. We did not even afford them diplomatic relations for a long time.  read more »

(Note: Cross-posted from my website.)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”
– Matthew, 5:3

An enormous earthquake, followed by a long string of very powerful aftershocks, hit Haiti yesterday. Reports are still just beginning to come out of that bleak country, but it appears that the number of dead will be in the tens, or possibly hundreds, of thousands. In addition, as many as three million people are left without homes, without belongings, and possibly without hope.

Despite the enormous suffering and the hideous, horrifying situation the Haitians are facing, Pat Robertson – televangelist, hypocrite and pathetic excuse for a human being – said that this was the result of a “pact with the devil” made by Haitian slaves who overthrew their French overlords over 200 years ago. I’m not a physically violent person, and I have never truly wished to see someone die slowly and agonizingly, but for Pat Robertson I may be willing to make an exception.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, and has been for two centuries. Even before the earthquake, the country had little hope of ever advancing beyond its pitiable condition. It didn’t have to be – when Christopher Columbus landed on the island now known as Hispaniola, it was a lush, beautiful place. How, then, did the eastern two-thirds, now called the Dominican Republic, become merely poor, while the western third, called Haiti, become so impoverished?  read more »