Truth Amidst the Rubble in Haiti: The U.S. Is the Problem, Not the Solution (A different view of Haiti) From articles by Li Onesto, Revolution Newspaper

On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti.

The earthquake killed more than 200,000 people in a country of 9 million.

Hearts around the world continue to ache for the Haitian people.

So many dead and dying.

Most buildings in Port-au-Prince, the capital, completely flattened. The rest uninhabitable.

Revolution sent a correspondent to Haiti who has told stories of the incredible spirit of the people —

“It is incredible to see how generous and caring people can be in the most miserable conditions.”

The U.S. is the most powerful country on earth. It is only a few hundred miles from Haiti. But in the crucial days after the earthquake the U.S. failed to deliver the food, water, medical supplies, and rescue teams and medical personnel so badly needed.

The U.S. sent 10,000 Army, Navy and Marine forces...

The U.S. delayed medical supplies from reaching Haiti.

When the people tried to get supplies to survive the U.S. media called this ‘looting’.

This delay increased the deaths and suffering of the people.

WHY is Haiti so poor?

Haiti is poor and impoverished because of a long history of U.S. domination and oppression. For example the U.S. marines occupied Haiti for 19 years from 1915 to 1934.

The U.S. supported the rule of a corrupt dictator, Papa Doc Duvalier.

Bill Quigley, of the Center for Constitutional Rights, said: "We have kept the country dependent. We have kept the country militarized. And we kept the country impoverished.

We have dumped our excess rice, our excess farm produce... undercutting the small farmers who would make up the backbone of the place...”

Hundreds of thousands were driven from the rural areas to Port-au-Prince—to live in poor conditions, where unemployment in some areas is 90%.

Foreign businesses like clothes makers use Haitians for cheap labor.

Wages paid in Haiti are as low as 44 cents a day! People eat mud pies to deal with their hunger.

The U.S. concern is not for the Haitian people, but to keep Haiti as a source of cheap labor and profit. Haitian women get 9 cents for making baseballs that cost $2.50 to $4.50 in stores in the U.S.

Do things have to be this way? NO.

The Haitian people made a revolution against slavery in 1791 that inspired people all over the world.

The rebellion of the Haitian people inspired revolution in Latin America

“The Haitian people need revolution that breaks the chains of imperialist domination—NOT more of the same system they have been suffering under for so many years.”

Revolution – this is not something you will hear about on TV. But revolutions have happened, and oppressed people with “no hope” found a new life and new world by rising up. For example, in China from 1949 to 1976.

The world does not have to be this way. Haiti does not have to be this way. There is another way and we need to learn about that. Our future, the future of Haiti and the world depends on what we do.