i like the way you see things...very impressive.

keep up the good work bro.

NegNwe; I hear you.  If it upsets you then by all means fight for your right to be included.  Just understand that it does not upset me the least if it is a Caribbean/West Indian affair.  I simply don't think it is worth my energy; West Indians/Caribbeans and their views are of no importance to me. And no I don't see Haiti as being a part of that group.  I have even removed (stolen..lol) the Haitian flag from a display by a christian group about the Caribbean a few years ago in Cambridge.  Furthermore these people have a right to include or exclude any group or nation they don't feel a connection with.

If it was an article by a European or American magazine and it left Haiti out, then I would speak up.  For example the National Geographic Society's venture into tourism publishing did not mention Haiti.  Many tourist or travel books do not mention Haiti. That I would like to see changed. These people have money and power and agree with it or not, can make or break us.  I have never been on a Caribbean site nor do I care to visit one.  With the exception of Cuba, these islands hold no interest for me.

My pride and pleasure in being Haitian lays in the fact that I see us as being very different from these people.  I enjoy that and point it out to all foreigners when discussing Haiti. 

I understand it is important to some of you to feel part of a group, there is nothing wrong with that.  I on the other hand am pushing the idea of Haitian uniqueness.  Haiti, like Madagascar, Ethiopia, Israel, Fiji, and a few others, does not fit in any group.  (I am not talking geography).  That uniqueness is what I feel we should sell and convey to the people that matter; we all know who they are.

kreyolbro@aol.com

Quote: Originally posted by kreyolbro on November-01-2003

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... Furthermore these people have a right to include or exclude any group or nation they don't feel a connection with....

...I understand it is important to some of you to feel part of a group...

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Kreyolbro, you'e getting this whole argument wrong. You have to understand that most of these people are not excluding us because they don't like Haitians, but because they are ignorant of Haitians or even exactly where and what Haiti is. I'm not arguing for the sake of being part of a group, but rather to stop the ignorance.

How are people going to trade with us, visit our shores, write about us,  or recommend our art to their friends, if they don't even know we exist?

As someone mentioned, many of Haiti's problems stem from a long history of isolation. Although we are a strong people, we can no longer live by ourselved within our borders. Since these people, as you say, "can make and break us", wouldn't it be wise to make sure they get to know who we are since their decisions can have such a huge impact on us? We now live in a new world of globalization and it is in every Haitian's interest to make sure we don't get left out...again!

Great point Negnwe...

Negnwe;     When I said these people can break us or make us, I am not talking about West Indians/Caribbeans. 

Furthermore, I did make a distinction (maybe I was to subtle) between a European/American/Asian audience which we should pay attention to and an irrelevant West Indian/Caribbean audience.  The original poster was referring to West indian sites and not sites about the West Indies.  There is a difference.

It's not about liking each other or not, it is pure economic.  A Haiti which stands out as different can create its own niche for tourists and investors alike.  Haiti was hurt by its isolation from advanced European and Asian societies, not by its lack of contact with other islands or African countries.  There is no economic benefit from a west indian/caribbean audience knowing about Haiti.  They have nothing to offer us; we are all in the same boat waiting for that white dollar or Euro. 

I understand many of you live in "caribbean" comunities in the US and many have been affected by their culture and ways.  I expect you to have a different view on inter-caribbean relations.  I on the other hand can afford to see things in a more detached light.

I am not saying anyone is right or wrong; just sharing my vision of how I want Haiti and Haitians to be seen by the rest of the world.  That is why I push vaudou and Haitian Kreyol; bring up the differences and hide the similarities.  See this as a simple exchange and not a debate.

kreyolbro@aol.com

Tout Ayisyen,

As usual, Kreyolbro is nit-picking and refuses to be swayed. Let him do what he wants. But I will take this opportunity to ask every single Haitian reading this to stand up and be noticed. Talk to your American friends and colleagues at work about Haiti, bring up a missing Haitian flag to any organization (store group, etc) guilty of the offense. It doesn matter if it's a Caribbean group, European group, or whatever, if you see ignorance  on the part of Haiti speak up.

I'm one of those many Haitians in New York who has the Haitian flag hanging under his rear-view mirror. I remember hearing one young kid saying to another, "that's the Haitian Flag." In my mind I was like "Good! That's one more person who learned to recognize the Haitian flag." We've been invisible and never counted for too long and, collectively. we can put an end to that.

Epi dats it!