The Forgotten Stories of Haiti and Cuba

As another huge hurricane approaches the shores of the United States the American press sends out their foolish reporters to stand in the winds to report the obvious. On this day of remembrance for the events of 9-11-2001, the foolish politicians have muted their second grade school yard bickering enough to remember the dead of America.

Too bad the foolish press and the bickering politicians fail to recognize a human tragedy just off the shores of this nation's southern coastlines. Haiti and Cuba have endured their third hurricane in less than a month. Cuba was better prepared for the onslaught but the impoverished nation of Haiti wasn't. Haiti is fast becoming the international equivalent of Katrina and New Orleans.

Haitian people are starving and going without water that's safe. Their homes are gone. Their roads are gone. Sources of food are gone. International relief efforts resembles the Bush response to New Orleans when the black community was abandoned.

Few Americans give a good goddamn about Haiti or Cuba. Cuba is part of the evil dictatorships bent on destroying the American "way" we've been taught. They stole our national pasttime and were better at it. They have been the sore reminder of American failure to bully some small nations. Haiti is the example of American bullying from the time the nation was first established.

The U.S. has been a constant in Haiti. A constant destabilizing force to prevent the will of the Haitian people. We, the people of the U.S.A, have allowed our government to dictate (with emphasis) what path Haiti would take in government. Whenever the people selected and elected some leader distasteful to American corporate interests, American government using military intimidation has chased the chosen leaders.

We once again have to ask how a nation like Haiti could be so impoverished considering the constant presence of the richest nation on the planet overseeing their affairs. How could President after President ignore the poverty so obvious in the streets and rural areas of this nation. Do Americans close their eyes whenever they encounter something disturbing?

It has become clear nations of black humans don't count in the minds of rich nations controlled by whites unless there is something for the rich nations to steal and profit from. Even if there is profit to be gained, poverty continues with U.S. sponsored dictators shutting the door on the hungry, homeless and weak. American politicians cry out they can't interfere with the sovereignty of other nations as the poor suffer without end. That rule is overlooked if there is something to be gained as there is in Iraq.

600 hundred are known to be dead in Haiti at this time. The numbers will undoubtedly increase into the thousands because so many are without basic items like food and water. And so many were already weakened by the incredibly harsh poverty imposed on them. Americans will close their eyes to a nation of black humans suffering such devastation. It disturbs them. And, in order to declare ourselves the greatest nation on Earth, we can't admit the immense effect American foreign policy has had to
perpetuate the poverty.

Of course, we failed New Orleans after Katrina and the outcry lasted less than six months. The Lower 9th Ward still waits. If we couldn't help our citizens who were so predominately black, how can we ever be expected to recognize the misery of Haiti or Cuba?

There remains a worldwide caste system that makes some catastrophic events far more important than the same event or a worse event depending on the location and the people. Is there a pattern that demonstrates such a caste system? Darfur and all of the Sudan are examples. Most of Africa is neglected in spite of the epidemics of war, AIDS and starvation which are made worse by droughts.

When the former Yugoslavia and Chechoslovakia broke up, sectarian wars ensued. We knew there were massacres and camps like those of Nazi Germany but did nothing until hundreds of thousands had died and much of the infrastructure was destroyed.

When Kuwait was allegedly "invaded" by the American chosen dictator, Saddam Hussein, the greatest military power in the world immediately sprang into action. Troops massed at the borders of Iraq and "smart bombs", "smart missiles" and unprecedented air power crushed the phantom resistance of the Republican Guard of Saddam. The atrocities claimed by the Kuwait government turned out to be the lies of a woman tied to one of the royalty of Kuwait.

We can't pretend there isn't a lack of concern for genocides in nations that lack something of corporate interest or strategical importance to increased power. We can't deny racial profiling at the highest level occurs when African nations are allowed to starve and be torn apart by brutal sectarian wars. Haiti no longer interests our leaders unless they elect a socialist or Marxist leaning leader. Then as in Central America, the leaders make sure the oppressors of our choice get the support they need to suppress or overthrow any government that might actually try a form of democracy.

So, the storms will crush Haiti and Cuba but the foolish media will be in Galveston or Houston waiting to get wet and battered by the same storm where the population is much better prepared to endure. The impoverished will die of the surge of the storm, the flood, falling buildings or disease caused by lack of clean water. Many will be young children. The media will tell warm stories of families from rich neighborhoods having to go north and stay in a motel or gym until the storm passes. The personal "tragic" story of an elderly person losing a pet or a home will fill the news. The real story will remain a small article in a paper or a ten second mention on the news. The real tragedy is considered too disturbing to the people of this "great" nation.

The human tragedy of Haiti and Cuba won't enter our hearts as much as missing pets in the U.S. where the next hurricane comes ashore. Haiti is not important. Haiti doesn't rate. Haiti has always been trouble. Haiti has always been that way.

Haiti is populated by humans that God is said to have created. Cuba is populated by humans Jesus Christ, Himself, would bless and come to their aid. If we strip away the insanity of politicians we will find our brothers and sisters in Haiti and Cuba. They need us.

Wm. Terry Leichner, RN