Obama's Picture at The US Embassy In Haiti
Published: Thu, 07/03/08
Barack Obama, A Pretty Picture In Haiti
Yesterday
I went to the US Embassy in Haiti to renew my son's US passport and I
noticed 3 pictures on the wall in the embassy's US Citizen lounge.
A picture of Georges W. Bush,
- a picture of Vice President Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney,
- and a picture of Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice
and I started thinking: "Man, it will feel so good too see a picture
of a Black US President next year on the wall of the US Embassy in
Haiti."
Considering that we Haitians are the inventors of Black
Freedom in the new world, considering that Haiti was the first country in
the new world where slavery was forever abolished, having a black man
as the president of the United States, the most powerful country in the
world, means a lot more to us than most people.
We fought for it, we won the battle, we paid the price, and we have the scars to prove it.
Until
this day other nations are still trying to belittle and undermind our
potential and our accomplishments but... pa okipe-w ti mal... we know
who we are.
As a citizen of "The Republic Of Haiti" your pride is
your birthmark, carry it well, your flag is your beacon, display it
whereever you go, nobody can take that away from you.
Many people may call Haiti "the poorest country in the
new world," yes, we have our fair share of problems, we are still
struggling to aim in the same direction, we are still trying to get
along, we are still trying to get our political engine up and running,
our bad habits get more headlines than the goodness in our hearts, but
we are nonetheless citizens of "The Republic of Haiti."
Whether you like it or not we are "The Republic Of
Haiti," the first country in the world where a black man can be
whatever he wants to be.
Yes We Can!
What does it mean for Haitians to see a Black man as President of The United States?
It means that our heroes did not fight in vain and Haitians did not fight a selfish battle in the early 19th century.
It
means that our cry for liberty and fredom did resonate around the
world, our liberty torch was too bright for the world not to notice,
our cry for freedom was too loud for the world not to hear.
I must admit to you, a lot went through my mind while
sitting at the US embassy in Haiti as my 6 year old American son began
to ask me "Why is there an eagle above the flag pole dad?"
It's the Bald Eagle son," I replied, "it's the symbol of the United States of America."
I was still staring at the wall, still, envisioning the picture of "Barack Obama, President of The United States Of America."
What a day this will be!
To add to my happiness, I just read an email that "Obama promises Caribbean total debt write-off if elected president" in which Haiti is mentioned.
It gives me hope. It make me think that, CHANGE is coming to Haiti.
What do you know, It looks like "CHANGE" is coming to Haiti!
What can I say: Viva Obama!
I
hope he understands that, had it not been for Haiti's fight for
independence, had it not been for Haiti's cry for freedom, CHANGE for
him would be very unlikely.
It's time to pay the piper!
I am Woodring Saint Preux and I said it.
