I am 56 years old and about to die.
That is what I WOULD say IF I was a Haitian living in Haiti. Life expectancy is only 57.
My purpose is to remind you of Haiti's terrible poverty. You and I would be sickened by seeing how hundreds of thousands of Haitians live, especially in the Port au Prince suburb of City Soleil. Children swim in sewage and drink that water because there is nothing else to drink. There is no sewage system in Haiti. As a result, massive numbers of children die, their little bodies, hundreds of them, literally stacked up like firewood in the morgues.
Simon Bustante and 100 other Haitians ended up at my front door recently. Simon is a soft spoken dignified 11 year old boy whose father had coaxed him into making the sailboat trip to America by showing him the Statue of Liberty's "Give Us Your Poor".
For 20 frightening days with 100 other Haitians, Simon didn't eat, didn't drink, didn't walk, stayed sick. It was a horrible and dangerous trip, but not so bad compared to general life in Haiti.
That is what I WOULD say IF I was a Haitian living in Haiti. Life expectancy is only 57.
My purpose is to remind you of Haiti's terrible poverty. You and I would be sickened by seeing how hundreds of thousands of Haitians live, especially in the Port au Prince suburb of City Soleil. Children swim in sewage and drink that water because there is nothing else to drink. There is no sewage system in Haiti. As a result, massive numbers of children die, their little bodies, hundreds of them, literally stacked up like firewood in the morgues.
Simon Bustante and 100 other Haitians ended up at my front door recently. Simon is a soft spoken dignified 11 year old boy whose father had coaxed him into making the sailboat trip to America by showing him the Statue of Liberty's "Give Us Your Poor".
For 20 frightening days with 100 other Haitians, Simon didn't eat, didn't drink, didn't walk, stayed sick. It was a horrible and dangerous trip, but not so bad compared to general life in Haiti.
After 20 days at sea, Simon and the others finally saw the golden glow of Miami / Ft Lauderdale city lights and then the flashing of police car lights.
In Haiti you learn to fear the police. Simon was, at 11, scared to death. But soon after he walked onto the beach he realized our authorities were there to help him. They medically treated him, gave him food and water and a blanket. Then they took him into custody and into detention.
Simon's father watched the whole thing on CNN. He saw his son in the group of Haitians who landed in Hallandale and was encouraged until an American Congressman from Miami Beach went on Haitian television to advise no one else attempt the trip because those who landed in Hallandale would be returned to Haiti. Simon's father then realized the trip was fruitless. Simon will be send back to the squalor of City Soliel and Port au Prince.
Simon's father understood the peril of the trip and why others shouldn't try it but his desparation to feed his family made it worth the try. He thought ' Simon will probably die young in Haiti anyway.'
I wonder if your experience with Haitians here in South Florida has been as positive as mine.
I have consistently found them to be warm, friendly, happy and gentle. I've always seen them as a very dignified people and it's disheartening to see the indignities they're forced to endure in Haiti because of a long list of economic, social, political misfortunes.
I attended the Presbyterian Church here in Hollywood on Easter. That particular church has a joint outreach program is a local synagogue. Together they support several orphanages. There is no shortage of those since 75 % of the population of Haitian are children. There are tons of them abandoned, diseased, soon to be dead.
A few years ago a friend taught me the phrase " Sak Passe"...it means 'what's happening'. The normal response is " nap boule ". I can't tell you how pleased they are to hear this...an American who knows " sak passe" represents a sign of respect for them.
They beam with a huge smile when they hear this.
My goal is to remind you that there is massive poverty in Haiti. These are wonderful people who need our help. If you can give through your charity of choice, please do. Haiti is the poorest country in the entire western hemisphere.
My goal is also to remind you how very fortunate you and I are to live among the bounty of America.
If nothing else, learn the phrase ' Sac Passe' and the next time you're around a Haitian say Sac Pasa and watch a gentle kind dignified smile fill their face.
Haiti desparately needs our help.
Simon Bustante and his family desparately need us to come to their rescue, to help give them the basics of clean water, safety, education, health, simple human dignity.
Simon Bustante and his fellow Haitians deserve human dignity. Please remind our government of this.
In Haiti you learn to fear the police. Simon was, at 11, scared to death. But soon after he walked onto the beach he realized our authorities were there to help him. They medically treated him, gave him food and water and a blanket. Then they took him into custody and into detention.
Simon's father watched the whole thing on CNN. He saw his son in the group of Haitians who landed in Hallandale and was encouraged until an American Congressman from Miami Beach went on Haitian television to advise no one else attempt the trip because those who landed in Hallandale would be returned to Haiti. Simon's father then realized the trip was fruitless. Simon will be send back to the squalor of City Soliel and Port au Prince.
Simon's father understood the peril of the trip and why others shouldn't try it but his desparation to feed his family made it worth the try. He thought ' Simon will probably die young in Haiti anyway.'
I wonder if your experience with Haitians here in South Florida has been as positive as mine.
I have consistently found them to be warm, friendly, happy and gentle. I've always seen them as a very dignified people and it's disheartening to see the indignities they're forced to endure in Haiti because of a long list of economic, social, political misfortunes.
I attended the Presbyterian Church here in Hollywood on Easter. That particular church has a joint outreach program is a local synagogue. Together they support several orphanages. There is no shortage of those since 75 % of the population of Haitian are children. There are tons of them abandoned, diseased, soon to be dead.
A few years ago a friend taught me the phrase " Sak Passe"...it means 'what's happening'. The normal response is " nap boule ". I can't tell you how pleased they are to hear this...an American who knows " sak passe" represents a sign of respect for them.
They beam with a huge smile when they hear this.
My goal is to remind you that there is massive poverty in Haiti. These are wonderful people who need our help. If you can give through your charity of choice, please do. Haiti is the poorest country in the entire western hemisphere.
My goal is also to remind you how very fortunate you and I are to live among the bounty of America.
If nothing else, learn the phrase ' Sac Passe' and the next time you're around a Haitian say Sac Pasa and watch a gentle kind dignified smile fill their face.
Haiti desparately needs our help.
Simon Bustante and his family desparately need us to come to their rescue, to help give them the basics of clean water, safety, education, health, simple human dignity.
Simon Bustante and his fellow Haitians deserve human dignity. Please remind our government of this.
