Haiti and the blacks!

[Blackmirror]

The following is an article that appeared in The Sunday Standard (Botswana) of 24.01.10.

It was written by a black journalist who writes under the name 'Loose Canon' .

Haiti and the blacks!
by Loose Canon
24.01.2010 4:23:39 P



I hope black people will learn a lesson from the earthquake that hit Haiti.
If they don’t learn anything from it, then I throw up my hands in despair and give up.

Let’s start with a few basic facts.
Until the earthquake, I never knew there was a place called Haiti. I was taught geography at school but I cannot remember a time when the mistress told us about Haiti. It must have been one of those insignificant countries that we had no reason to know about.

I was fairly good at geography because I knew which country was on which continent. I also knew many capital cities. But as for Haiti I was clueless.

Now the whole world, including myself, knows about Haiti. I heard news of the earthquake on the radio. I wondered where Haiti was and what sort of people lived there.

Finally, when I switched on the television, I was informed that Haiti is an island out in the Caribbean. Television pictures revealed a place populated by black people.

From the non-stop television coverage of the earthquake, I got to learn about the history of Haiti. It was not a good history lesson. It would seem throughout its existence Haiti has suffered a series of natural calamities. In the process it has sunk even deeper into poverty and deprivation.

Like all places populated by black people, Haiti is poor. As I watched the television images, I felt very sorry for that forsaken place.

Then I was hit by a thunderbolt.
I wondered what if there were no white people. You see, when the earthquake hit Haiti somebody had to come to its assistance. There had to be a rescue effort. The Haitians who survived of course did their fair bit by digging out their families from the collapsed ramshackle buildings.

But such was the scale of the devastation and the loss of human life that a bigger effort was needed. For that sort of work, you need heavy lifting gear and other sophisticated rescue equipment. I have been following the story of the earthquake keenly. I can attest to the fact that the first people to arrive with sniffer dogs were white crews from all over the world.

The aeroplanes that set off carrying water and food were from white countries. Not only that, the teams of volunteer doctors that I saw on television comprised white people from across the world. As the sniffer dogs went into action, the organized rescue teams that carried the stretchers were made up of white people.

It was announced that a mobile hospital was on the way. It was coming from a white country. For all intents and purposes in the aftermath of the earthquake, Haiti was literally swarming with white people. They had all arrived to save the poor blacks. And the locals were so happy to see them.



Granted there were teams from the Orient such as the Chinese and Japanese. They too had quickly left their homes and families to go and assist the stricken people of Haiti.
It is obvious to everyone that this was a devastating earthquake and the work to repair Haiti and return it to a modicum of normalcy will take many years. Somebody had to commit funds to this effort. Most of the countries that have committed funds to aid the recovery are white. In fact, it would seem the whites are running the show in Haiti.

What is my point?

My point is that ever since Haiti was hit by the earthquake I have not seen any of my folks from Africa.

Unless the television cameras deliberately ignored them, I never saw a rescue team from my motherland. Nor did I see any sniffer dogs from down here.
Heck, I never saw a single traditional doctor busy divining where to find people buried under the rubble.

Haiti is a land of black people. I would have expected the place to be swarming with black people helping their own. They were nowhere to be seen. I never saw any ships from black countries pulling into the harbour.

As the air traffic circled above the small airport, none of the planes was reported as coming from Africa. The blacks were nowhere to be found. They issued tepid statements of condolence to the people of Haiti and a few of the African countries donated small amounts of cash.
Granted that was better than nothing. But I must say I was disappointed. I was sad because the blacks did not behave as I had expected.



You see, for far too long black countries have been insolent to the point of being abusive. They have a tendency of insulting the white man and telling him to keep out of their countries.

In Fact, black people have the temerity to tell white people they can perfectly survive on their own.



So I had expected the black countries to be consistent and behave true to form. Why didn’t black countries tell white countries to stay away from Haiti because we were quite capable of leading the rescue effort? We should have insulted them as we often do at international forums.

There, our countries insult white countries and accuse them of imperialism and neo colonialism. I was extremely disappointed when our countries failed to accuse white people of practicing imperialism and neo colonialism by coming to rescue the blacks of Haiti.

We should have told them we have better sniffer dogs that have been taught only to rescue black people. We should have told their ships to stay away and their planes not to overfly Haiti because we were up to the job with our own ships and aeroplanes.

We should have brought in our traditional food instead of the strange rations the Haitians are not accustomed to.
I am so disappointed by the black leaders that I hope never to hear them again bleating about how bad white people are. The earthquake in Haiti was the most opportune time to show the whites, once and for all, that we don’t need them.

From now onwards, I want black leaders to shut up and never accuse ever again, white people of being bad. I am sick and tired of big words such as imperialism and neo colonialism which are unable to rescue victims of the earthquake.

I hope this is not the last earthquake that hits a black country. I want the next one to specifically hit the residence of The Evil Self-centred Old Man in Harare, Zimbabwe who does nothing for his people. Then we will see if he will abuse the white crew coming to rescue him and his wife Ghastly Grace!

[Xanafax]

Pretty poor journalism, and an obvious lack of understanding but...

If you substitute the words "white" for rich, and "black" for poor then this article makes more sense.

btw I hope I don't have to clarify this but to save a possible future tirade I am not equating white with rich and black with poor. I am merely swapping the words not making an equivalent exchange.

[Blackmirror]

I found it thought provoking

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

I found it thought provoking

What thoughts did it provoke...???

.

[NICKG]

Contributions captured as at January 24, 2010 shows Guyana as the ‘most
generous’ country in terms of its financial pledges when measured against the
country’s GDP.
Unfortunately though, Guyana is the third poorest country in the hemisphere,
after Haiti and Nicaragua. Poor countries help but just can't help that much.
White help comes much quicker and in larger supplies because they are not poor.
So what was the question?

[Blackmirror]

racism is one-sided.

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

racism is one-sided.

No it's not. It is a fence and is occupied by both sides. There are many who
proclaim to be non-racist but deep inside there are usually conflicting thoughts.
Just because it comes out the mouth does not mean it comes through the heart.
Some will deny it on their death bed but when they die the real truth is revealed.
(I don't know this for sure as no one has ever returned to report on it.)
Racism has, is, and will continue to be here a very long time if not forever.

[Shamou]

I believe that there is emotional racism and rational racism... and that most people do have some emotional racism but that, more and more, people are able to overcome that raw emotional racism through rational thinking...

Personally I am absolutely certain that I have absolutely no racism toward Asian people... but, deep down inside of me, I am not so sure about African Americans... I would never let it show, but, I know it's there...

.

[NICKG]

Originally Posted by Shamou

Personally I am absolutely certain that I have
absolutely no racism toward Asian people... but, deep down inside of me, I am
not so sure about African Americans... I would never let it show, but, I know it's there...

You know a wise man once said,"There are many who proclaim to be non-racist
but deep inside there are usually conflicting thoughts."
Wait, that was me in my previous post. Must have struck a chord.
Not to worry though as you have plenty of company with those inner thoughts.
What would you think my thoughts on Asian people would be? It may surprise you.

[Daya]

Originally Posted by Xanafax

Pretty poor journalism, and an obvious lack of understanding but...

If you substitute the words "white" for rich, and "black" for poor then this article makes more sense.

btw I hope I don't have to clarify this but to save a possible future tirade I am not equating white with rich and black with poor. I am merely swapping the words not making an equivalent exchange.

I think this is right on. A very polarized way of looking at things, but still in terms of Majority Vs. Minority (power and wealth, not number). Maybe something gets lost in translation.