Letters to the Editor

Columnist Williams omitted Haitian history

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 4:19pm
By: Letters to the ...

In a recent editorial, Professor Walter E. Williams states that the reason why natural disasters take fewer lives in this country is because we have greater wealth and that Haiti is suffering from self-inflicted poverty. Please allow this 55-year-old educated black American to share with your many readers some little-known history about Haiti and France that the professor somehow conveniently omitted.

Haiti is the first black republic and the second oldest republic in the western hemisphere. In 1804, Toussaint L’Ouverture led a slave revolt against the French, the only successful slave revolt in history, and won their freedom but at a price. In 1824, France demanded indemnity on a staggering scale: 150 million gold francs, five times Haiti’s annual export revenue. Weighed down by this financial burden, Haiti was born almost bankrupt. The debt was finally paid off in 1947. For 122 years, Haiti paid for its freedom. (Did America pay for hers from England?)

Too bad the professor ain’t educated enough to share this pertinent history with his fellow “right” wingers. Thanks for listening and may God bless Haiti, and America, still the greatest country in the world. Now let us together rebuild Haiti. Peace.

Pam Hairston

Washington, D.C.

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Rebuild Haiti
Submitted by PTC Observer on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 2:58pm.

We can't do it they have to do it. The more the world helps the more corrupt this nation becomes. The more money given is more money funneled into the pockets of those in power. This was going on before the earthquake and will now continue unabated.

Allowing the people of Haiti to take responsibility for their own country and actions is the only process that will work. It's call individual freedom without government interference in our lives. Something leftists simply can't understand.

No nation need live in abject poverty provided it operates on fundamental principles of life, individual freedom and private enterprise.

Only by protecting life, freedom and private property can Haiti emerge from its darkness. Until the Haitians root out political and structural crime, establish a working judicial system, and establish a true representative republic there is no rebuilding this devastated country.

The same can be said of the United States, a country quickly approaching the same abyss faced by Toussaint L'Ouveture in 1804, but we will be fiscal slaves to the Chinese. Our wealth squandered, our quality of life devastated by socialist ideals and neo-captialist corruption.

It is instructive that Ms. Hairston lives in Washington D.C. A city with the lowest unemployment in the entire country.

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Bravo, Bravo Ms Hairston....
Mike King's picture
Submitted by Mike King on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 1:08pm.

Thank you for the update on my 5th grade history. You are indeed well informed.

Would you mind elaborating on the progress of the Haitian Nation for the last 63 years? Please specify exactly what has become of the $2 billion (yes, billion) in foreign aid over the past ten years from the US alone.

Aside from now, please expand upon the involvement of the US military over the last two decades. Oh yes, please include any information on alledged corruption, money laundering, and illicit drug and human trafficing as well.

I'm waiting.


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