WE OFTEN SEE TERRIBLE PICTURES OF HAITI, so impoverished, with pictures of desperate children and jobless men walking aimlessly around the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
The impression is a silhouette to its rich natural resources, it's breathtaking scenery and most importantly, their lovely people.
When we think of the word 'Haiti', some conjure in their minds, little black people stretching their hands for food and risking their lives over hundred of miles of shark infested reefs, to a land of opportunity.
Not so; we will bring light to this great yet intriguing land and go back into its history to see from whence it came.
Contrary to popular belief, the word Haiti came from the word 'Hayti', which is a French word.
The original name was Ayti, named by the Tainos or popularly known, 'Arawak Indians''.
The French saw Haiti as a 'Mountainous Land' and gave it that name to show its splendor.
Haiti is a beautiful land with people of interesting ethnic background.
They are also considered by me to be hardworking people.
Why are they so poor? I think it has to do with a 'basket to carry water' situation.
There are stronger political issues which impacts significantly on their economy and hence their social life.
The land had been a canvas from a long hard brush from history, painted in red, blues and white.
Ironically, these colors were not only metaphoric but literal since those colors were used to marginalize their status amongst blacks, white and mixed (mulattoes).
Let me share a brief history of the island.
Ruthless Warriors The island of Saint Domingue (pronounced San Domua) as it was named after the Spaniards, bred insurgence namely the infamous Jean Jacques Dessalines who was a lieutenant in Toussaint L'Overture's army.
Tousssaint was a leader of the Haitian Independence Movement during the French Revolution.
In an act of betrayal, Jean Jacques Dessalines joined forces with the French to overthrow Toussaint and later rebelled against the French again in an attempted to crown himself emperor in 1804.
His ruthless reign and sustained oppression of the mulattoes (half white) won him a 'Noble Prize' for cruelty.
Thereafter, Haiti steered in a destructive path that plunged their economy into the bowels of poverty.
To add to their dilemma, funds were spent on strengthening Jean Jacques Dessaline's army and little was spent on agriculture, which was their main source of income.
Jean Jacques Dessaline's leadership and dictatorship style along with his self proclaimed 'Emperor' status attributed to his demise.
He later died in 1806, two years after his reign of terror.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea There had been speculations about a pact signed with the devil and Toussaint prior to the Haitian victory over the French government.
It was said that the deal attributed to Haiti's devastation as the devil had his hand over the country.
In retrospect, the entire population of Haiti was destroyed by the earthquake, an act of God which is irreversible (many disasters all over the world are said to be called such).
Though they suffered significantly, I personally think that the earthquake has finally brought the opportunity for a miraculous relief to their long suffering.
The time has finally come as the entire globe is now looking at this so-called 'God forsaken land'.
The Haitians are very resilient, strong and determined.
The country will take painstaking efforts for all the 'king's horses,' to put back the pieces again but it will mend.
It may take a long time but I strongly believe that this is their time.
Their time to shine again and proclaim that the French were indeed right; that Haiti is definitely a beautiful island.
The impression is a silhouette to its rich natural resources, it's breathtaking scenery and most importantly, their lovely people.
When we think of the word 'Haiti', some conjure in their minds, little black people stretching their hands for food and risking their lives over hundred of miles of shark infested reefs, to a land of opportunity.
Not so; we will bring light to this great yet intriguing land and go back into its history to see from whence it came.
Contrary to popular belief, the word Haiti came from the word 'Hayti', which is a French word.
The original name was Ayti, named by the Tainos or popularly known, 'Arawak Indians''.
The French saw Haiti as a 'Mountainous Land' and gave it that name to show its splendor.
Haiti is a beautiful land with people of interesting ethnic background.
They are also considered by me to be hardworking people.
Why are they so poor? I think it has to do with a 'basket to carry water' situation.
There are stronger political issues which impacts significantly on their economy and hence their social life.
The land had been a canvas from a long hard brush from history, painted in red, blues and white.
Ironically, these colors were not only metaphoric but literal since those colors were used to marginalize their status amongst blacks, white and mixed (mulattoes).
Let me share a brief history of the island.
Ruthless Warriors The island of Saint Domingue (pronounced San Domua) as it was named after the Spaniards, bred insurgence namely the infamous Jean Jacques Dessalines who was a lieutenant in Toussaint L'Overture's army.
Tousssaint was a leader of the Haitian Independence Movement during the French Revolution.
In an act of betrayal, Jean Jacques Dessalines joined forces with the French to overthrow Toussaint and later rebelled against the French again in an attempted to crown himself emperor in 1804.
His ruthless reign and sustained oppression of the mulattoes (half white) won him a 'Noble Prize' for cruelty.
Thereafter, Haiti steered in a destructive path that plunged their economy into the bowels of poverty.
To add to their dilemma, funds were spent on strengthening Jean Jacques Dessaline's army and little was spent on agriculture, which was their main source of income.
Jean Jacques Dessaline's leadership and dictatorship style along with his self proclaimed 'Emperor' status attributed to his demise.
He later died in 1806, two years after his reign of terror.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea There had been speculations about a pact signed with the devil and Toussaint prior to the Haitian victory over the French government.
It was said that the deal attributed to Haiti's devastation as the devil had his hand over the country.
In retrospect, the entire population of Haiti was destroyed by the earthquake, an act of God which is irreversible (many disasters all over the world are said to be called such).
Though they suffered significantly, I personally think that the earthquake has finally brought the opportunity for a miraculous relief to their long suffering.
The time has finally come as the entire globe is now looking at this so-called 'God forsaken land'.
The Haitians are very resilient, strong and determined.
The country will take painstaking efforts for all the 'king's horses,' to put back the pieces again but it will mend.
It may take a long time but I strongly believe that this is their time.
Their time to shine again and proclaim that the French were indeed right; that Haiti is definitely a beautiful island.
SHARE
