OK, got your point. But when people are willing to work...

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OK, got your point.

But when people are willing to work together language is never a barrier...actually, when people really want to work together all the barriers are worked out in a civilized fashion.

Now, let's try to address the very important point you made. I'll go around this in a kind of bizarre way...I'll use myself and my mother as an example...bear with me for a minute, than you'll see where I'm going with it all.

When I was growing up, our house in New York was the place where everybody wanted to be. Why is that?

Well, it wasn't because of sex...my grand parents lived with us and they were sort of religious fanatics; so that wasn't it. On the weekends some drinking was allowed, but many people who came didn't even drink, and when it was a week day and no drinking was allowed, they still came. So, why did these people come, and what type of people are we talking about?

Well that's the beauty of it all...we had all types.

I remember that we had some who were from what was then considered Haiti top elite families, than there were those that my grandmother use to fight with my mother about (she would say stupid things like "lan new york tout deyeh pot tounin devan kay).

But, regardless of my grandmother, these people were just as comfortable at my house as were the elites, the artist came in large numbers, the writers, the singers, the politicians, the shoe shiner, those who barely spoke French and those younger ones who mostly spoke English.

They all, in large numbers, got together regularly at my house and discussed all sorts of issue.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, while in my house they all treated each other with respect.

So why is that?

Why is it that people who, under different circumstances really hated each other, could come together under one roof and really enjoy talking to each other, really show each other respect for both their similarities and differences.

IT HAD TO DO WITH THE PERSON AT THE HEAD OF THE GAME, which in this case was my mother.

Here was a woman who really in her heart believed that everyone in society who wished to contribute should.

She made everybody feel comfortable.

She respected people not just for what they had in common with her, but for other things that were not part of her upbringing at all.

THE COMMON THREAD TO ALL DIASPORAS BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE, IS A LEADER'S DESIRE TO MAKE IT SO.

So, for example, the language issue: We know that Haiti has to have an international language; this means a language that will function within the global market.

Well we don't need to start from scratch we already have French.

Will that be the national language?

Maybe yes, maybe no, but that's a social question whereas having a language for the global market is imperative to our financial well being.

So, a leader does not have to speak perfect French, they only need to know that those representing the country in the global market should be expert in the market language we've adapted.

The second point on the diaspora language problem.

I am assuming that like me, most of the diaspora that would be returning would be those that have not disconnected completely from Haiti.

That automatically implies that outside of the language from the nation where they live, they also should still be able to speak either French or Creole, maybe not well, but well enough to get their points across verbally even if they can't read or write it. With a leader that respects difference, that type of language limit should not keep the individuals from function either in the government or in the market sector--they could be placed in various other areas that are helpful to the government.

Many foreigners with limited English work in high positions for the US government, so we know that language is not a barrier.

Finally, I think you misunderstood something from what I wrote.

I never called on the diaspora to return to Haiti just to get into government.

I for example really just want to go home to teach.

Maybe use the capital I've gained here in the US to develope something good in my own country.

What I said was that if we go back in mass, our numbers alone will tilt the power structure; we don't all need to go into government.

Thinking this way can only get us in trouble, because it shows a sort of power hunger--that's not what the "new idea" is about at all. The idea is that we all go back to Haiti and do what we know how to do best. Some will be best in government, others in small business, others in education...etc. It's the numbers that we would bring that would tilt the power balance, not all of us invading the presidential palace.

TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT...all of the diverse people from the diaspora would find a place to be productive in the new Haiti, if the right leader was in place.

It would be about respect, and that always works

Linda, October 1 2008, 6:18 PM

Topic: A new idea

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Rintintin, what we in the diaspora need is a leader; someone who can cross the line between the elite and the masses... read more >
Linda, 1-Oct-08 12:44 pm
Ok! but there is a big problem. which problem it is? Diaspora arriving in mass to take strong position to get better... read more >
El Caribeno, 1-Oct-08 2:47 pm
OK, got your point. But when people are willing to work together language is never a barrier...actually, when people... read more >
Linda, 1-Oct-08 6:18 pm
Linda, Based on the theory of "extreme situations call for extreme measures" your idea is an excellent one. In fact, I... read more >
Tiba, 2-Oct-08 6:29 am
Tiba, said "they will never leave the wonderful life they are enjoying abroad to go back to Haiti." I tend to disagree... read more >
Linda, 2-Oct-08 8:02 am
Hi,Linda! Although the idea that we discussed before is excellent, there are many points that need to be discussed... read more >
Rintintin, 2-Oct-08 8:13 am
Linda and the rest of you guys, this idea sounds like a coup d’etat against Haiti. Such as the one before. Haiti and... read more >
Diasporas Coup D Tat, 2-Oct-08 9:27 am
A tous les reveurs C' est merveilleux que blogueuse et blogueurs s' entendent aussi bien que Tiba et Toi.Bien... read more >
Romelito, 2-Oct-08 1:26 pm
diaspora, You said what? Linda, this is the prime example of what I am trying to say, sort of. Did you hear what this... read more >
Tiba, 2-Oct-08 5:04 pm
rintintin Creating a government in exile would be a good idea except doing so would be a great violation of the US... read more >
Tiba, 2-Oct-08 5:21 pm
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