I predict that the US will express concern but do nothing, about the recent quake.
Because of government corruption there, it will be ineffective to offer aid to the government. But as in Myanmar, the government will probably refuse to allow the US to deliver aid directly.
I'd suggest using helicopters and dropping twenty dollar bills in the most devastated areas. This will enable residents to buy needed supplies. There is no lack of resources in Haiti; the problem is distribution. --Ed Poor Talk 10:21, 13 January 2010 (EST)
- I plan to add to the history section. RJJensen 00:28, 18 January 2010 (EST)
- I have read that the war Haiti fought with France to become independent in the first place was the start of the trouble. It wrecked a lot of the country's infrastructure, and the peace settlement required Haiti to pay large reparations that crippled its economy. So the fledgling nation never really had a fair chance.--CPalmer 12:02, 18 January 2010 (EST)
- It's a very long and bloody story. the slaves were worked to death and revolted and won. Napoleon sent in an army to re-impose slavery, but the French army was decimated by yellow fever. there were no reparations. RJJensen 12:26, 18 January 2010 (EST)
- I have read that the war Haiti fought with France to become independent in the first place was the start of the trouble. It wrecked a lot of the country's infrastructure, and the peace settlement required Haiti to pay large reparations that crippled its economy. So the fledgling nation never really had a fair chance.--CPalmer 12:02, 18 January 2010 (EST)
Ed, Laurent Dubois and Carolyn Fick have the best two contemporary books on the subject of the revolution, and C.L.R. James's The Black Jacobins is a classic text that links the Haitian Revolution to the anti-colonial struggles of the mid-twentieth century. The Afterword that he included in the revised edition is a must-read. Nicholl's From Dessalines to Duvalier and Troillot's State Against Nation are still for me the best histories linking colonialism and the Revolution to contemporary Haiti's problems. You should start by reading those. The French-language literature is better in a lot of ways, but I imagine not really suitable for most CP readers. AlexWD 15:00, 18 January 2010 (EST)
It's a long and complicated story. Take the time to enjoy some classic writing about it in a critical manner, and formulate your own understanding about it. As Andy says--"open your mind." AlexWD 15:24, 18 January 2010 (EST)
- What? *choke, gasp sputter* You expect me to actually learn something? ;-) --Ed Poor Talk 15:34, 18 January 2010 (EST)
- Re reparations. The source here states that France forced Haiti 150m francs in 1825 in exchange for official recognition; I believe this is the charge the article I read was referring to. The charge may not technically be categorized as reparations, but I believe it did rather sabotage the young country's efforts to develop.--CPalmer 07:11, 19 January 2010 (EST)
It is my understanding that voodoo started in Africa, and was transported to Haiti which added some of its own traditions. Similar to the voodoo in Louisiana.--EllisI 16:07, 12 October 2011 (EDT)