I want to say "Thank You" to those who have offered up informative historical perspective on Haiti

[Solly Mack]

One of the greatest things about Democratic Underground is the scope of knowledge of its members.



We all know that for some people it takes a war or a natural disaster before they learn anything at all about other countries and regions.

Some people refuse to learn even then. We've all seen examples in the last decade of people who take pride in their willful ignorance...in their inability to look beyond their own backyard....blinded by a make-shift patriotism that doesn't allow them to seek any information that might challenge their protective beliefs.


For all the great posts over the years that serve to keep DUers informed...


Thank You!

[blondeatlast]

1. Enthusiastic K/R. I'm amazed at the wisdom and breadth of knowledge here.

My critical thinking skills have really grown from this place.

[shireen]

4. +1

one of the things i like about DU is the diversity of people here. I've been exposed to so many issues i'd never hear about in my insulated little bubble of existence.

[w8liftinglady]

2. I agree...this IS the best place to come for facts-people will not allow misinformation to slide

I know-I have written some stupid things..and have the facts to refute them now...

[Land Shark]

3. K&R (and there's a great movie about slaves battling to be free in Haiti) n/t

[pleah]

5. K&R A big THANK YOU ALL from me.

:yourock:

[corpseratemedia]

6. I join your thanks to those posters because they're always providing context

and it really is always "context context context"

those DU'ers are providing a reality anchor for those who want real history to disappear (neo-cons are a good example)

[gateley]

7. I always learn so much from DU. When I ask a question I get irritated by the

"Google is your friend" responses. I know that. I get better, more comprehensive answers from DUers. So thanks again! Recommend.

[proud patriot]

8. I must agree

:kick:

[EFerrari]

9. I've learned at lot at DU U.

:)

[leftstreet]

10. Agree K&R n/t

[Grey]

11. Lots of the 'best & brightest' right here.

I learn something new every time I visit here.

(Including the fact I don't know how to spell or punctuate.)

I, also, love the research function that helps me win arguments, The Mods, and Skinner, Elad, and everyone that keeps this 'up and running'. Hey, I'm a big fan! Thanks, one and all. It's at times like this we realize just how valuable this site is.

[JDPriestly]

12. On one excellent post giving an account of some of Haiti's history,

a number of DUers were giving the poster a hard time. I guess the anti-OP folks couldn't stand hearing the truth.

I noticed that they did not offer any account of Haiti's history that contradicted the account in the OP in that thread. So, we have a lot of ignorant DUers here just to disrupt. There should be some way to protect posts that are informative but get assaulted by hostile people who disagree. It is a different thing if a post is just opinion, but when it is mostly history, give me a break.

[malaise]

24. Excellent post

The first shock doctrine thread was attacked big time. Now Naomi herself has said the same things.

[Mimosa]

13. I know a bit about Haiti

How can I start topics?

I don't want to start a lot of topics, just one. But I don't seem to be able. Do I have to give money?

[EFerrari]

14. If you go to the front page of this forum, you should have

a "post" icon at the top of your screen. Click on that and follow the directions.

[blondeatlast]

15. No need to be a donor. Just look at the top of the forum to the "Post"

icon.

[Grey]

16. I look forward to reading your post. nt

[Solly Mack]

17. Thank you all for helping Mimosa. I was afk.

[Hissyspit]

18. Here's Robert Parry's article on the U.S.'s connection to Haiti:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7462513

The full text is in the responses. I do wish he had expanded on the Bush involvement against Aristide, but the earlier stuff is fascinating.

[Solly Mack]

21. Thank you!!

[Vidar]

19. K&R.

[Ghost Dog]

20. Further reading:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Haiti/Haiti.html
http://www.haitiaction.net/

"The long-suffering people of Haiti suffered a catastrophic blow in February, 2004 when U.S. Marines kidnapped and deposed democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

"The U.S., supported by Canada and France, forced him into exile, forbade him from even returning to the hemisphere, and reestablished a despotic interim puppet government backed and enforced by so-called UN peacekeepers and a brutal Haitian National Police...

"Why did the U.S. plan and carry out this act of savage banditry against a leader beloved by his people and last reelected in 2000 with 92% of the vote? It was because he cared about the 80% or more desperately poor and disadvantaged Haitians and was committed to improving their lives. He was determined to serve their interests rather than those of his dominant northern neighbor. That policy of any nation, especially less developed ones, is always unacceptable to the predatory neoliberal agenda of all U.S. administrations, the giant transnational corporations whose interests they serve, and in Haiti, their elite junior business partners. The Bush administration, in league with these dominant business interests, intends to return this nation of 8.5 million people, the poorest in the Americas, to its pre-Aristide status of virtual serfdom. To do it they destroyed Haiti's freedom and first ever democracy in its history and turned the country into a killing field."

- Stephen Lendman

[Solly Mack]

23. Thank you!

[a la izquierda]

22. I'm excited to be starting my lecture on Wednesday...

with Haiti. I'm teaching a course on Latin America from Independence to the present, and as the Haitian Ambassador to the US eloquently put it the other night, Haiti provided the impetus for Independence in the rest of Latin America.
It will be good to have some current events, horrific as they might be, to contextualize things for my freshman and sophomore college students. Most of them have never taken a Latin American history class.

[Solly Mack]

25. Sadly, it really is a good time for your students to be taking the course.

It's in the news, they'll have more questions, and their interest in the subject will be greater.

[madokie]

26. I have to agree

When this place isn't overrun with a holes its a damn good place to educate oneself on many levels.

[DemReadingDU]

27. Agree, thanks to everyone!

[G_j]

28. K&R: Haitian history, past and recent, is completely ignored

in America

Just a note, Democracy Now! has been having some excellent guests talking about Haiti.