One does not have to go too far into Haiti to realize that we are a country at war. The face of our enemy is at every corner of the country. We can see it in the face of the children all over the place from Cite Soleil to the remote area of Jean Rabel. Haiti is at war and the enemy is not that of a foreign army, but instead it is the inner soul of each Haitian. To win that war, we must clearly define the signification of being Haitian in today’s world.
We have a systemic handicap that is preventing any progress to take place in our midst. The symptoms of our cultural erosion are well known and experienced by all, and yet for the most part, we are clueless as to how to find the cure. Cohesively, we are a complete failure. Our lack of engagement in the battle for the betterment of our country is leaving a failing legacy for future generations. It is in this light that I want to challenge every sector of the country to meet the greatest challenge facing our nation: Defining the Haitian mentality.
Our issues are numerous and complex. It is time that we publicly declare war against the regressive mentality that is holding our nation hostage. Each one of us may claim to want to see a better Haiti, but until we enter into a debate with our conscience, and ask ourselves how much of us, we are willing to give up for the benefit of our country, it is my belief that we are simply bluffing when it comes to actually facing the reality of the day.
Haiti will survive, and at the end it will be victorious in the battle against oppression, exploitation and extortion. As a people, we must be confident in our ability to continue the battle that our ancestors started many moons ago. It is not a matter to be left to some foreign powers or individuals. The fight for the better Haiti is the duty of every single Haitian citizen. If the common goal is to ameliorate the living conditions for the greater number of people, why then is it so difficult for us all to work together?
We are at war against an invisible enemy, and yet its presence could be felt by all. The depression in the face of the mother who is unable to provide the basic necessities for her children is part of the scar left by the enemy. The betrayal of our sovereignty by our leaders is a result of the strength of the enemy. In this war, we can’t hide or run away from the enemy; therefore we must find the courage to stand and fight.
This is the battle of our generation. We did not ask for this fight, but we have an obligation to defend our existence. We can not surrender, for our forefathers gave up too much to make sure that being Haitian would forever mean being free and independent. We are at the crossroad of determining who we are, and our decision whether to engage the enemy or give up would play a significant role in the continuation of our republic as the symbol of freedom and equality for humanity.
Haiti matters, not because I say so, but because we are the land of inclusion. Our history speaks for itself, we have helped many countries obtaining their freedom, when the great powers of the world thought freedom was an exclusive right belonging to a few. We opened our borders to everyone who felt oppressed in their homeland to come and experience the joy of freedom in Haiti. The survival of Haiti is not only a matter that should worry Haitians, but all friends of human rights.
In declaring war against the regressive Haitian mentality, we are aware that we are bringing the battle to the front door of all those who support the status quo in Haiti. We understand that we face a very difficult battle, but in order to eradicate this disease that is destroying our society, we must destroy its blood supply. Anyone supporting the enemy is an enemy; hence we must get a declaration from all sectors of the country as to where they stand on this battle.
Our misery will not evaporate by a magical strike. We must become proactive and make things happen. We must design the strategic war plan as to how we will face and defeat the enemy. We have to be undeterred in our final goal, and the mission must be clearly defined. We are in this battle to win. The people who are supporting the regressive Haitian mentality by keeping the majority of the people in darkness, illiteracy, unsanitary conditions, hunger and so forth are on the wrong side of the war. We will fight them with our intelligence, diligence, patience and above all determination.
We are at war against an enemy, which on the surface looks invisible, but its friends are not. We cannot be scared to stand against those who want to destroy our sovereignty. The days for finger pointing are well beyond us, we are entering the battle field with all the weapons we have at our disposal. As Dessalines once asked of his soldiers, if you are not ready to defend the Fort, then you are not man enough to be in his army, today the situation has not changed.
If we are unwilling to defend our sovereignty, then we are not good enough to be Haitians. It is not enough to call ourselves the sons and daughters of Dessalines, to look to celebrate Flag day, Independence day, and yet refuse to go to battle to defend the very ideal of our sovereignty. We can’t hide behind a mountain and throw rocks at the supporters of our enemy. We ought to meet them face-to-face, and fight them until we destroy their will.
We are at war, and at the end, we will be victorious just as our ancestors were in the beginning of the fight. Haiti is not for sale, and it will always remain the property of all Haitians. The enemy will be destroyed, and prosperity will come.