Responsibility

My personal analysis of the major difference between the developed world and the under-developed world has come down to one word: Responsibility.
We are witnessing a key era in world history. Globalization, which had promised to open the door of prosperity for many poor countries, today is at a point of colossal collapse. Lately, the news about the financial situation of the major industrial countries has been very alarming.
During the era of great economic prosperity, most of the world underdeveloped countries did not see any improvement in their financial situation. As a citizen of one of the poorest nation on Earth, I am very concerned about the impact that the latest economic woes might have on the welfare of my beloved Haiti.
Without going into too many details about the principles of macroeconomic, it is obvious that in a recession of global markets, the poor countries would suffer much more than the advanced countries. In the United States, if one is paying close attention to the presidential campaigns, one would realize that the call for strict regulation of the financial market is becoming very popular these days.
With all that said if you were not aware before, as to how certain countries can progress while others are constantly lagging in sheer poverty, now it should be clear that it is all because of a sense of responsibility.
Haiti has been in a depression for more than two decades. The rate of inflation has been out of control. And yet the lack of responsibility by those in power has only been increasing. Often people from poor countries, like me, always think it is the responsibility of the rich countries to help out our meager countries. We usually think they have a vendetta against our countries, thus they refuse to let us see the light of progress. While in some cases, interference of those rich countries policies might play a role, but more often than not it is the irresponsibility of our leaders and private citizens that are at the roots of our poverty.
I was amazed at the “bailout” proposal by the United States government. I was even more amazed by the acceptance of both presidential candidates to the bailout. The only question that I could ask was why they are in favor of such proposal.
Upon further reflection, it hits me that the government was carrying out its responsibility. Sometimes being responsible doesn’t mean being right, but being responsible is always the right thing to do.
Two weeks ago, President Rene G. Preval went to the United Nations asking for relief for our country. He did the same thing in a meeting in Florida and with Haitian leaders in New York. Not once, did he mention that his government has a responsibility towards the
Haitian people. By coming to the United States and start begging for aid, in my book this is not an act of responsibility.
We ought to become more responsible as individuals and as a nation. The difference between countries like the United States, France, Germany and ours is not that those people are smarter that we are; it’s not that they are more fortunate than we are, but their sense of responsibility has far outclassed ours.
In advanced countries people have a responsibility to get their job done. In Haiti, people think they are doing their boss a favor by doing their job. In advanced countries, it is the responsibility of the government to make sure justice is fair, whereas in Haiti the government thinks they are above the law. Our problems as a poor nation are many, but we cannot start to crack the code of the solution open until we become much more responsible.
Responsibility is a heavy burden to carry. One must be willing to accept failures just as one would love to be praised for success. By being responsible, we would be able to attack the roots of corruption, dishonesty, greed, betrayal, and above all unethical conducts in our society.
It is time that each one of us becomes more responsible as citizens. Jean Jacques Dessalines, who was murdered on October 17th, 1806, did his share at being responsible. He led a nation to victory, and broken the chain of slavery forever in Haiti. He gave us a place to call home. In return, we owe him gratitude by holding sacred his ideas of freedom for all of us. We can not be free without being responsible for our actions.
For too long, we have refused to do the right thing. We have neglected to work together. We have forgotten what it is like to love our fellow countrymen. We have ignored our responsibilities towards our country. We are in essence betraying the sacrifices of our ancestors. We must become much more responsible for the survival of our nation.
The border between prosperity and misery is only separated by the mere act of responsibility. When we know what we ought to do the task of doing it is that much simpler. If in unity there is strength, in responsibility there is prosperity. Let’s join hands together to build a responsible society, and cohesively we will lead Haiti on the path to prosperity, peace, and harmony. Long live Dessalines, long live the independence of 1804. Never again should we accept to be sub-servant of foreign powers, and the best way to prevent this atrocity is by being a responsible citizen, and a responsible nation.
— Contact Ilio Durandis at ilio@zanmi.com