Tuesday, May 28, 2013

U.S. Intervention in Haiti

Haiti, 1920:

10 years ago an international consortium of banks refinanced Haiti's international debt and seized control of the country's treasury. Four years later, in December of 1914, United States marines came to Haiti upon the bank's request to protect the national gold reserves. The gold was moved to the bank's New York vault. Eight months later, the marines once again stormed Port au Prince, claiming the need to protect foreign lives and property and under martial law subdued armed Haitian militia fighters. They began to train a new militia group which Charlemagne Peralte led a resistance movement against. Calling out to the French governemnt, he called President Wilson a hypocrite for preaching on the sovereignty of small nations while occupying Haiti. He urged all Haitians to resist the Americans.

Four years later, the occupation remains and the people are desperate. Each morning their is a new offense, poverty is widespread and the people are oppressed with taxes. They are unable to rebuild houses destroyed by fires they create. The constant insults upon their lives have rallied Haitians and unified them to a common cause. Anger towards America has fueled rebellion and the nation's people are just waiting for a leader to step in and direct it. Chants of, "Die for your country," "Long live Independence," and "Down with the Americans!" fill the streets. Even the youngest of children can reiterate, "President Wilson- traitor,bandit, trouble maker, and thief." The tension is pungent and the outrage is palpable. Haiti is a match just waiting to be struck.

Upon speaking to one native woman she spoke, " We were ready to accept this rule and follow its obligations, despite the threat to our autonomy and the dignity of our free and independent people. But the flase promises, given by the Yankees, when they invaded our land, brought in almost four years of continuous insults, incredible crimes, killings, theft and barbarian acts, the secrets of which are known only to Americans." Her dark eyes were then overtaken by a heat and she lowly whispered, "Today we lost patience adnd we reclaim our rights."

Haitians, kind and peaceful by nature, have bore the brunt of America's force for too long and have become intolerant of their barbarious acts. They are quick to acknowledge American fault and the cruelty they've been embraced with. the Yankees have brought ruin to this beautiful country and driven hopelessness into their spirits.

One thing rings loud and true amoungst the Haitians, they are prepared to give everything, sacrafice everything to liberate their nation from this oppression. They will bend no longer, bear no more; they will fight.

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