"Tale of Two Islands"

     Reading the “Tale of Two Islands” was an eye opener for me. Reading the article helped me see what the United States is all about. For years, they have told us nothing about Haiti’s Revolution, or Haiti being the first Black Republic in the world. The textbooks that they are expecting the students to read are filled with so many inaccurate facts; I sometimes wonder if it is the correct history book that is given to public school students.

     When I have read the article, I have discovered the things that occurred in Haiti, were racist, economic, history, and politically motivated. Given the facts that were in the article, I have finally understood what exactly happened in Haiti in February 2004. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the democratically elected president of Haiti, was ousted. Many people believed that he was ousted because of the fact that he stole money from the poor. It was incorrect information. Aristide was ousted because of the fact that he was fighting for the Haiti’s poor. Jean-Bertrand Aristide invested in many important projects, but apparently, the rich countries did not want that to happen.

     When I read the article, it also made me think about the wet-foot, dry-foot policy that was enacted by Congress. When that policy was enacted, it basically gave Cubans a right to stay in the country, if they touch land. If Haitians make it to the land, they get deported. This policy is racist. United States is saying that “We will never forsake you”, in the wave of the earthquake, but yet, they have done it too much in the past, time and time again, through these racist policies.

     I am trying not to be one-sided to Haiti, but Haiti deserves to be admitted just as Cubans. Cubans are crying “wolf!” Because of the Castro regime, this mainly involved communism. At least they have most of the available items that Haiti does not. When Haiti “wolf!” even for legitimate reasons, as we have seen time and time again, they do not get the help that they receive. They are sent back home to a country where resources, and social service are scarce. I understand that the United States was embarrassed by Castro, but that was in the past, and what they are doing now, is a classic case of racism. To me, for everything that Haiti has done for the United States, clearly, When the United States needs help; I truly hope that this motto applies: “Do unto others as you would want others to do to you.”