HAITI, YEAR ZERO
by Jean-René Lemoine
published in Libération, 19 January 2010
First of all, let us repeat it. There is no curse of Haiti. If there is a curse, it is in the fantasy of a West that one wonders if he did not need a land where reeling his own fear. "Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas", this slogan highlighted in so many articles seem brandished as an amulet, an exorcism. What do these words, repeated to the environment as a sentence? It's there and not elsewhere that this earthquake were to happen? There is more, there will never be more hopeful? It exists on earth a space dedicated exclusively to the horror? In the early 80's, the rumor was that the outbreak of AIDS was in Haiti. The plague was born there. That country was the infinite danger as now it synthesizes much for the endless misery and disaster announced. And before that, when I said Haiti, I was told "oh yes, the Tonton Macoutes!" This proposal was not even fit in a structured sentence. Haiti was reducible to one common place. I know how this country is poor, frail, abused. I know he had a string of misfortunes suffered, among other things, the Duvalier dictatorships, father and son, but it does not tell a land, as bruised as it is, by zooming in on a wound. Is incomplete and therefore false. It would be fairer to say that Haiti is a country which in his overwhelming grief also conceals an incredible and priceless vitality. It is a country where people have a resilient force that holds them upright, a country where violence is rife, but where the individual is not aggressive. A country that has resolved his Oedipus with France, where he was the richest colony, which has preserved and transformed the African memory. A country incredibly rich in tradition, where art and mystery are everywhere. It is a country of painting, sculpture, literature, music. It is also the country where a religion, voodoo, accompanied by the daily rituals of a people and again it is far from the stereotypes of witchcraft. A country of tales and myths which the marvelous is at the crossroads of many paths. A country that has kept her in extreme poverty, meaning and generosity. Many people who lived there could testify, as paradoxical as it may seem, it often falls in love.
Haiti is one of the world
So please, let us finish this exhausting and oozing with compassion kouchnérienne, dare we first heard that this land moaning now trying to tell us. It mourns its victims understand and respect his affliction. At the announcement of the disaster I was flabbergasted. I'm watching the stunning visual images, I could not integrate them as reality. Then I, like many, wanted to know where were my relatives who were alive, had died. I would say to all those who suffer, my condolences, saying that I suffer with them. I know it is little, but I remember that words comforted me when I thought I would be inconsolable and slides, these words like a charm (it is now time for me to go) in Whose hand will want to take.
That said, I welcome the spirit of solidarity that I see arise from all Units and humanity bear witness that everyone I meet. The world seems to understand that Haiti is part of the world and we can not abandon this country as we did for so long. People act this time, ardently, distribute disaster water, food, care. All this is admirable. But we must now think of the future. A Haitian friend told me: "We can not allow people both in poverty and the trauma of goodbye, when aid agencies are leaving."
We know that disasters have much impact on the spectacular. We know how fast this show even goes out of style. But if we do not change their point of view, all these images broadcast loops will have been for nothing. You can not ask a frail screen of charity on this disaster and then leave, Mass being said. It is necessary, it is essential to give rise to a thought that all this suffering, all this destruction have not been in vain. It is imperative to think about rebuilding. First is the international community has the power. This does not mean to put Haiti under guardianship, as it takes away his rights to a parent crazy. Haiti is a parent, but lucid. This country needs help to recover and regain consistency. It is a country that runs through the death and asked to be reborn. I know there there, despite the exodus which has been so much talk, people can act. There must be consultation with them to think that reconstruction. If this is implemented, then the hope is possible. The hope for real change. Rebuilding a true living space is an extraordinary project that can generate a profound upheaval. This utopia can become tomorrow's reality.
Hope rose
When asked what testimony I said that I was unable to write, as if petrified, I had time. And of course, the next second, I started writing in my head. I know some writers say, tell what happened. It is also important. I hope their words will not only testify to the disaster, because a memory is necessary, but they will also say that something has opened a hope copy rose in this Caribbean island, sister of pain and complicit in so many other islands, so many other countries.
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