Today is Haiti's Independence Day. Haitians living in the USA are celebrating. (generations, Israeli)

[dechatelet]

Originally Posted by desertdetroiter

Your country aided and abetted that failure at every turn. In fact, the United States helped engineer it right from the beginning.

I didn't know we controlled France.

Thanks for telling me.

[xray731]

Originally Posted by Hopelesscause

Why does he think that it’s that bad? USA is far from paradise.

Here you have an immigrant that is grateful for the chances this country has allowed him and you're dissing him? Wish all immigrants were as grateful instead of some complaining about what we haven't provided for them.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by warhorse78

If they really did feel so strongly about their country, wouldn't they still be living there?

No
Seems like a pretty clueless belief.

I've had the opportunity to live in 7 countries in my lifetime. Just because I've chosen to live in another in no way means I don't like the previous ones.


Also, this

Originally Posted by Xpat

I am an American expat and no one minds over here if I celebrate the 4th of July!

[desertdetroiter]

Originally Posted by dechatelet

I didn't know we controlled France.

Thanks for telling me.

Apparently, you know nothing of the United States’ history with Haiti.

The minute the Haitians sent the Rifle-Droppers packing, the United States got scared and did their damndest to sabotage their new Republic. Not to mention our support of Haitian dictatorships during the Cold War.

I never said that we controlled the Whiteflaggers.

[ChiGeekGuest]

Originally Posted by cdelivert

Haitian Celebrate Independence Day on January 1st, because they not only defeated their oppressors, they did something not even Sparticus could do. It is also a symbol to show those Europeans at the time who thought that people from Africa were in the same class as animals, to be treated like cattles, and that they were not intelligent enough to do anything. The Haitians proved them wrong and made a lot people take notice, because we always hear about European Heros, and never about African ones. Their history seem to have disappeared, but in Haiti's history you can find the different tribes that were taken to the Island, had warriors who were able to out mannouver The French, The British, and The Spaniards. People seem to forget that Nimrod , Isis, Osirus, Seth, Shaka Zulu, are all from Africa. That the location of where Israel is now used to be called North East Africa before the Suez canal was built. Africa Had Kingdoms, and people used to travel far and wide to be educated there, Just like they they try to put Haiti down all the time by saying it is the poorest country, however the powers that be, are stealing the resources there, and portraying Haiti and Haitians in a bad light. Haiti stands for liberty for all. If any one did their research they would find out that Haiti, a little country, has helped just about anyone that includes the US, during the Louisiana purchase, and in 1789.

The Haitian Revolution was a successful slave rebellion & anti-colonial insurrection by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule, they defeated Napoleon.

Stating the obvious, this defeat greatly alarmed the US Slaver States.

[ReineDeCoeur]

Yes, January 1 is Haitian Independence Day. I recognize that day as a person of Caribbean descent and of African heritage. Haiti rose, fought and won their independence. It was inspirational for African slaves throughout the Americas.

OK, so your boyfriend isn’t waiving his flag but the real question is...did he forefeit his soup joumou????

[ReineDeCoeur]

Originally Posted by miu

I'm not at work today. I'll have to ask my Haitian co-corkers how they feel about this holiday. Probably the older ones will be more supportive of this day. Otherwise, my impression is that none of them want to return to live in Haiti until perhaps they retire, since the US dollar goes far in the country. And overall, they very greatly prefer living in the US to their own country.

Of course they might be proud of no longer being under French rule, but Haiti itself is not a country to be proud of yet. Thank goodness it's not a US territory!!!

Yes, it is... it’s amazing that the country is still functioning considering that due to winning their independence, the French forced them to pay 150 million francs (the equivalent of $21 billion) or it would launch a full invasion forcing them back into slavery. Haiti paid until 1947. No other nations has had such a burden. All the Western European powers with slave colonies and the U.S. supported France because they wanted to quash any potential slave uprisings. They also refused to trade with Haiti.

France purposely bankrupted Haiti. After, the Duvaliers made it worse but Haiti would NOT be nearly as poor if it weren’t for France and the other superpowers.

Haiti has so much to be proud of, as it has survived the purposeful efforts of Western superpowers to see its demise. It may be poor but it’s history and culture is rich.

And people can say what they want about former President Hugo Chavez but he made sure that Venezuela forgave Haiti’s energy debt.

God bless Haiti.

[PCALMike]

Haiti is run by a corrupt gang of elites who refuse to open up for progress and change and give up power and privilege and instead keep the population in misery by riling people up against the foreigners. Oldest trick in the book.

[NeutralParty]

Why do the harmless actions of private citizens seem to bother so many people? I want people to stay out of my business. So in turn, I tend to stay out of other people's business. If we all practiced that, this country would be a much better place.

Last I checked, this is a free country. Within the laws, people can do pretty much whatever they want. That's part of what makes America so great. I'm not sure how or why legal immigrants or second/third generation Americans celebrating their home country bothers anyone.

I am of German descent and I wear a Germany t-shirt when attending beer festivals. I hope that doesn't bother anybody.

[Bronxguyanese]

Originally Posted by warhorse78

My boyfriend is Haitian, and he's working today instead of celebrating. I asked him why, and he is like, Haiti is the worst country to live in that is located in western hemisphere, and he thinks most of his people are down right idiotic for celebrating a Haitian holiday while making a living on American soil. He will celebrate his culture, but he tells me he will never get behind celebrating Haiti's independence while living in another country because he feels it's just a huge joke.

What do you all think of the Haitians Americans who are celebrating today? If they really did feel so strongly about their country, wouldn't they still be living there?

I was born here in the states. My family is from South America a country called Guyana. I'm also proud of my Afro/European, Brazilian, Caribbean and indigenous heritages alike. I have a great respect for where my family came from and where we are going now as Americans. I don't celebrate Guyanese independence day, why? Because I'm an American and I celebrate American independence day. Even though I embrace and respect the nation of my forbearers. I have to uphold the United States first and foremost. At one point my families country was just as poor as Haiti due to years of being pro socialist, pro Cuban pro Soviet Union and being anti American thus resulting the US putting sanctions against Guyana and embargo, plus Guyana nationalized every corporation foreign entity and banned trade with capitalists states. By the late 1980s its treasury was dry like a cup of water in a desert.

As for Haiti? It was a successful slave revolt that lead to the first ever black Republic. Haiti's slave revolt inspired other Latin Americans to rebel against their Latin Master's like how the Haitians rebuild against the French. Haiti's revolution spread to near by Cuba, and spread to Spanish half of Hispanoila where the Haitians took over the other half of the Island. Haiti was left isolated by other nations in the Caribbean thus became more poor, decade and by decade. Haiti is left in a state of poverty to this day and can never get out of it.

What I learned about these countries Cuba, Haiti, and Guyana and to a certain extent modern day Venezuela. Don't chase the white man out of his new home. Just don't do it. Cuba under Castro nationalized everything, thus resulting in the mass exodus of ruling elite mainly whites. Guyana prior to independence of the British in 1966, Asian Indians and blacks were supporting Communism/Socialism, the murder of a white family named Abrams of Portuguese stock, lead many whites to leave Guyana with their assets. Like Cuba, Guyana nationalized all foreign companies. By the 1970s nearly all whites left Guyana. After the Blacks and Indians where done with the whites, they turned against each other. Haiti saw the massacre of its white populations by the black Haitians. The French in Haiti relocated to Cuba or Puerto Rico. I always wondered why so many Puerto Ricans have French last names. Now modern day Venezuela. With Hugo Chavez who nationalized foreign entities, which was good initially, but now Venezuela seeing hyper inflation of its currency. This is resulting of many Venezuelan elite to offshore their money in other places or leave entirely, this is being done by the Venezuelan elite. Never mess with a white man and his money, and don't chase the white man out of his home.