Flo is gone. As I agreed with what she said in the post that...

< Previous | Home | Next >

Reply to Msg 5225

Flo is gone. As I agreed with what she said in the post that you are addressing, I will try to respond for her. I have neither the time nor the inclination to put detail in my answer (that was Flo's specialty), but I will give you a broad idea of why I do think that she is right.

First let me respond to what I thought were Louinel Jean's very sensible, yet problematic statements.

Louinel argued "the worst thing a poor country could do is to isolate itself from other nations" and "Isolation breeds poverty." The problem with the first statement is that Louinel might have a very good point, but it is based on a false misread of Flo's statement.

Nowhere in her statement does she say or even imply that Haiti should become an isolationist nation.

She only questions the need for our small and very poor nation to have so many ambassadors, seemingly in many places that might have no real benefit to us. Thoroughly analyzing a person's statement before answering helps the flow of a discussion, reduces fiction, and promotes collaborative efforts.

I am sometimes just as guilty as Louinel of not thoroughly reading a post, but I try to make up for it by offering a denial statement ahead of time, as I did with Flo and Djakut the last time they posted something that worried me. Sometimes I'll say something like "I'm sorry if I misunderstood your argument, but here's what I understood from what I read so far." That kind of statement tends to keep the peace.

The second more interesting argument made by Louinel is "isolation breeds poverty." I simply disagree with this one, primarily because the evidence does not support it. Although neither Flo's statement or my supporting statement said anything about isolation, the fact is that isolation can breed social stability and economic progress.

Isolation was good for Japanese economic stability and internal solidarity.

It is during the period of isolation that the Japanese merchants developed a new national credit system that allowed them to become--by any standard--very wealthy.

It is also during the isolation period that independent farms and farming multiplied in Japan, which then led to the strong development of cash crops like cotton and tobacco that are at the root of Japan's modern day Japanese agriculture.

Today's Japanese economy yields one of the world highest rice crops.

Another benefit of social isolation it that the national culture is protected.

As I stated many times on this blog, without national culture a nation is truly dead (short version).

It is during their period of isolation that the Japanese samurai sword was perfected.

The Japanese promoted the use of firearms in combat as something that is to be reviled.

It then became dishonorable to use firearms in any form of combat.

Rejecting the use of European types of firearms as cowardly and un-Japanese, the use of traditional weapons were encouraged; resulting in the Japanese Samurai sword becoming the best and most sought after sword in the world today.

Even after it opened itself to the international community, Japan still maintained a relatively secluded society.

You can get most of this info on the web, but historian Yuji Ichioka wrote a fairly good book about it.
We also know that the Chinese were also basically isolated with all sorts of trade embargos against them, especially after the fall of Russia.

Look where they are today! Cuba is another example of (relative) isolationist success.

They are not as far as they could be, but even with the Giant (US) breathing down their neck constantly, they are still far better of than we have been in years.

It is not that I think that isolationism is a good thing, nor do I think that that was what Flo was saying.

It is simply that perhaps we are a bit more realistic about the situation than you because anyone who knows our history would not be obfuscated by Flo's statement.

Realistically:
1. We all know that most of these ambassadors are doing nothing for Haiti--nothing at all.
2. We all know that no real strategy or plan of action or real training was given to these ambassadors, making them basically useless.

3. We all know that most of these ambassadors are just people who knew people who knew people.

4. We all know that no serious research was done to determine where to place ambassadors so that they could really be useful to our nation.

5. We all know that for every two ambassadors who might actually care about making a difference for the country, there are five who are now living it up at the expense of the Haitian people.

6. We all know that right now Haiti has developed nothing to trade.

No surplus of anything.

I am sure that a carefully thinking person could find better use for the little money we have by redeveloping the national structure and creating ways for use to develop trade good surpluses...What exactly are even the good ambassadors doing?

Are they again discussing how we are not self-sufficient and need help?

Are they again passing our little tin cups?

What has happened to our pride and dignity.

In my very humble opinion (maybe it's the way I was raised) if you have nothing to offer, you stay in your corner and build on the little you have. You only make contact with the most crucial outside elements--at least until you have something to offer.

I think that's where I was going with this, and maybe so was Flo. I could probably go one to explain this further, but I don't really want to. Sorry Jean-benito Mercier; I'll try to get to yours tomorrow.

Linda, December 15 2007, 11:22 PM

Topic: Why Does Haiti Have 20 Ambassies?

Start a NEW topic or,
Jump to previous | Next Topic >

< Previous | Home | Next >

 

Messages in this topic

1 - 10 of 14 « First  ‹ Prev  1 2  Next ›  Last »
Are you saying that because you are poor you don't need relationship? What are you saying really. What is the purpose... read more >
Louinel Jean, 14-Dec-07 7:32 am
Sans vouloir contredire votre interpretation de la question des embassades, je ne pense pas qu’il soit absolument... read more >
Jean-benito Mercier, 14-Dec-07 11:03 pm
Flo is gone. As I agreed with what she said in the post that you are addressing, I will try to respond for her. I have... read more >
Linda, 15-Dec-07 11:22 pm
Flo is gone. As I agreed with what she said in the post that you are addressing, I will try to respond for her. I have... read more >
Linda, 16-Dec-07 10:29 am
Je partage votre avis sur la question des ambassades haitiennes. Elles sont utiles, d'une facon ou d'une autre. La... read more >
Frere Jean-ba, 17-Dec-07 12:19 am
Hello Frere Jean-ba. I thought it best to use a direct quote from one of our suffering Haitians to answer your post... read more >
Linda, 17-Dec-07 3:46 pm
Regardless of the many difficulties facing our native country, she's admired and has the respect of many nations the... read more >
Ed Gauvin, 18-Dec-07 11:08 pm
You are deluding yourself. Haiti is the laughing stack of the international community. The beggar of nations. Haitians... read more >
Philipe, 20-Dec-07 2:28 pm
Ed, I'm not sure if your post was a reply to my last one on this subject, but if it was than it seems that my previous... read more >
Linda, 20-Dec-07 3:06 pm
Linda, My response was not meant to insult you or anyone else for that matter. I've lived in the USA for more than... read more >
Ed Gauvin, 20-Dec-07 4:59 pm
1 - 10 of 14 « First  ‹ Prev  1 2  Next ›  Last »

 

< Previous | Home | Next >