Sunday, January 6th, 2008- Trip to Labadi, Aristide: And the Endless Revolution

I would have never believed that opting to stay apolitical and neutral to the environment in which a NGO works in is very limiting. I do see how this makes sense in retrospect because as a nonprofit organization the NGO must be very aware and in tune with the needs of the constituents and seek to marry the competencies of the organization with the opportunities in the environment so that the mission and vision do not become obsolete are nonresponsive to what the people really need. I would think that this is especially true in preset day Haiti, where recently a popularly elected president was forced out of government by U.S. politically and militarily backed thugs. Being a foreign organization one cannot step into a country and not pay attention or acknowledge the crimes and injustices felt by the people that you are trying to aid, especially when these memories are very fresh and the wounds have not yet healed. Apathy does not demonstrate that you are impartial but relates to the ones that are hurting that what happened does not matter. Ignoring the problem does not necessarily mean that it will solve itself with time. Because of the atrocities and abuses NGOS should not remain apathetic. Paul Framer for instance does not support a politician per se because of the platform or because of the party affiliation, but he supports a politician or party because this person is widely supported by the majority as a person that works in the populace’s interests. Additionally taking a stand about something in an organization that the surrounding community also feels strongly about boosts its reputation and fosters trust relationships. This also leads to more accountability to the people served.

Something else that I feel is important to note here that I learned today are some issues that hinder long term sustainability development work that I have never considered before. Infrastructure and human lives are often destroys with political unrest and upheaval. This causes programs to be abandoned due to safety. Such NGOs are the Peace Corps or Fulbright Scholars unfortunately. Political instability is a tired story in Haiti. It seems to be a vicious and endless cycle. Makes me think that maybe sustainability is not possible here, but that would be a defeatist attitude.

We went to the beach today in Labadie. The countryside here in Cap Haitian really deceives you into thinking there is no deforestation in Haiti. The mountains are covered in such much green and it’s really quite beautiful. It looks “untouched” as a tour guide might say. The road is very rough and bumpy, so it took a while to get to the beach on a hotel resort. Many cruise ships have this as the stop for Caribbean trips where they characterize this location as quaint and untouched for hundreds of years. I attribute the lack of development on the roads because of this attraction of tourists to this quaint Haitian beach town. Ironically remaining “underdeveloped” brings tourists, making a spectacle and attraction of the “backward” ways of the Haitian people. I wonder what impression the other interns will leave with from their stay here for just a couple of days. Most of them are here for the first time and abject poverty in comparison to the comfortable lifestyles in the United States makes me ponder what message they are going to bring back home. As a Haitian at times I feel embarrassed about the lack of infrastructure, poor road conditions, deplorable market conditions and living standards of the places that we have seen. But I would hope that they realize that these conditions are consequences of a long history of neglect from the hands of the government, international rape, and poorly guided and greed intended practices from the very top. Nothing is wrong with us as a people, as Haitians. We are proud of who we are, as blacks, as rich in culture, and as relentless pragmatic collectives. The pictures they have taken show otherwise, the questions they ask me about how I must look like a foreigner because my hair is tamed demonstrate otherwise. I would hope the images of prideful uniformed school children, well pressed and eager remain in their thoughts. The conditions here are regretfully nasty, but to live in them with grace and still feel dignified is hellacious. I hope they leave with the message of how important community is, and what resilience and friendship is built upon.