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Rich Benjamin

The Axis of Democracy and Our Black Step Child

HaitiDemocracyToo.jpgHaitians went to the polls yesterday as turmoil continues.

Will Haiti join Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Saudi Arabia in the axis of democracy, nations listed by Bush in recent speeches, as prime candidates for his sweeping visions of human liberty and universal democracy? Or is the Bush administration just obsessed with the central ritual of democracy -- voting -- while failing miserably on other counts.

In supporting democracy and funding elections in poor countries like Haiti, the U.S. and international organizations should tend more effectively to the country's basic humanitarian and economic needs, too.

Have you ever seen 'elections' replace a plate of corn porridge (mayi moulin) for Haitian children who throw up bile because they haven't eaten in days? Or replace anti-retrovirals for young women who contracted HIV because they had to sell their bodies to eat? All that because they are of the wrong race, have survived incompetent, corrupt, U.S.-backed regimes, and were born like the little navy blue Darfurians in a place without much natural resources for "first-world" nations to pillage.

I suggest as a last resort that the U.S. government, the World Food Program, and UNICEF collaborate to install feeding kiosks and mini health dispensaries at each polling place. I also suggest that an international election advisor fast for two days, then define "democracy" in Creole in Port-au-Prince's ravaged La Saline slum, with a focus group of light-skinned elites, frustrated youth and no peacekeeper!

I offer these immodest suggestions not only for the sake of a humane, lasting democratic system in Haiti, but to solve the U.S.'s real concern: keeping poor Haitians from Florida's shores and our own democracy.

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Posted at 9:40 AM, Feb 08, 2006 in Democracy | Immigration
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Comments

I agree

One vote, One Ham Sanwich!

Posted by: Harry Springer | February 10, 2006 10:21 AM

With various information coming in in reference to the election, i.e. burned ballots etc., I think we need to deal with the situation straight-up: recognize that there has been tappering with the election and have a re-election set to clear the air. The election should take place within 1 month to ensure momentum and turn out as well as diffuse the anger. The anger can be used in constructively organizing people and turn out the vote. Spring is on the way and this will allow warmer tempertures for people to walk in. Thirty days will allow time for printing of ballots and distribution and lessen time for possible reprisal against those who did not vote for the person now in office or visversa...lessening violence and instability of people and government, so less drug/alcohol, gun and RX use.
That is if we are serious about true democracy and soveriegnty for a people. There is nothing like self determination. Then let's the Haitian people role out their own plan for the lifting of the people rather than have to accept a pre-plan done by someone else for someone else's agenda. Are there still elements in America afraid of freedom and self-determination for others ? Is our talk and walk really for the common good of the people of the earth ? Maybe we ought to connect with the Divine holy breathe within so we know how to conduct our daily life affairs domestically and internationally. You know the basics: fast and pray and meditate, have some fellowship so we have the counsel of many. You know, work together or should I say walk together children and don't you get weary. May be we should we admit our faults to one another, instead of acting like we can do no wrong and are in some way perfect ( you know like gods ... you know what I mean). What if we hooked into Divine strength, so we could tell the truth and bear the pain of the truth; cry a little and wail alot because of the truth...and then commit and do things a different way. The way we really know is right. Instead of trying to process the chaos in our lives since childhood, through control of the world. What if we did acknowledge that things were a mess and we needed some help from the spiritual forces of Light and Life rather than evil and death in which everything centers around you/I/us. I think we just may be revived big time; and by April 1st we could have a tremendous exhale and not been seen as fools with a haughty spirit headed head-long into destruction, trying to blame someone else for whatever. Just some suggestions. And Haiti would experience life better because we took care of business at home and we ourselves were seeking dilgently ever to improve...and we had the will to work to clean up the mess here and abroad so the human family could live...really live...I mean LIVE LIFE to the the FULLEST. Somewhere I heard abundant life is possible in fact it is suppose to begin NOW, didn't you know. Yes on this side of eternity. I think some got the message, and some did not. What happen, was there some withholding of information due to.... Well I think it is a new day- the 8th day... and we have come to the crossroads...and life will never be the same again. We have come to the end of time as we have known it. Let's lock arms and join hands for the transition...for quality food, health care, air, education and community economic growth where everyone has a piece of the cut...a piece of the rock and respected, not demeaned and negated as human beings by you/I/us. Somewhere I read that with God nothing is impossible. What's that, you don't believe in God ? Any god but yourself ? Well maybe reflection and praxis is necessary ? What do you think ? Well...

Posted by: Michele P. Ellison, ACSW, M.Div. | February 16, 2006 04:41 PM