Breaking Haiti
Why the U.S. Owes Haiti Billions

By BILL QUIGLEY

Why does the US owe Haiti Billions? Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, stated his foreign policy view as the “Pottery Barn rule.” That is – “if you break it, you own it.”

The US has worked to break Haiti for over 200 years. We owe Haiti. Not charity. We owe Haiti as a matter of justice. Reparations. And not the $100 million promised by President Obama either – that is Powerball money. The US owes Haiti Billions – with a big B.

The US has worked for centuries to break Haiti. The US has used Haiti like a plantation. The US helped bleed the country economically since it freed itself, repeatedly invaded the country militarily, supported dictators who abused the people, used the country as a dumping ground for our own economic advantage, ruined their roads and agriculture, and toppled popularly elected officials. The US has even used Haiti like the old plantation owner and slipped over there repeatedly for sexual recreation.

Here is the briefest history of some of the major US efforts to break Haiti.

In 1804, when Haiti achieved its freedom from France in the world’s first successful slave revolution, the United States refused to recognize the country. The US continued to refuse recognition to Haiti for 60 more years. Why? Because the US continued to enslave millions of its own citizens and feared recognizing Haiti would encourage slave revolution in the US.

After the 1804 revolution, Haiti was the subject of a crippling economic embargo by France and the US. US sanctions lasted until 1863. France ultimately used its military power to force Haiti to pay reparations for the slaves who were freed. The reparations were 150 million francs. (France sold the entire Louisiana territory to the US for 80 million francs!)

Haiti was forced to borrow money from banks in France and the US to pay reparations to France. A major loan from the US to pay off the French was finally paid off in 1947. The current value of the money Haiti was forced to pay to French and US banks? Over $20 Billion – with a big B.

The US occupied and ruled Haiti by force from 1915 to 1934. President Woodrow Wilson sent troops to invade in 1915. Revolts by Haitians were put down by US military – killing over 2000 in one skirmish alone. For the next nineteen years, the US controlled customs in Haiti, collected taxes, and ran many governmental institutions. How many billions were siphoned off by the US during these 19 years?

From 1957 to 1986 Haiti was forced to live under US backed dictators “Papa Doc” and “Baby Doc” Duvlaier. The US supported these dictators economically and militarily because they did what the US wanted and were politically “anti-communist” - now translatable as against human rights for their people. Duvalier stole millions from Haiti and ran up hundreds of millions in debt that Haiti still owes. Ten thousand Haitians lost their lives. Estimates say that Haiti owes $1.3 billion in external debt and that 40% of that debt was run up by the US-backed Duvaliers.

Thirty years ago Haiti imported no rice. Today Haiti imports nearly all its rice. Though Haiti was the sugar growing capital of the Caribbean, it now imports sugar as well. Why? The US and the US dominated world financial institutions – the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank – forced Haiti to open its markets to the world. Then the US dumped millions of tons of US subsidized rice and sugar into Haiti – undercutting their farmers and ruining Haitian agriculture. By ruining Haitian agriculture, the US has forced Haiti into becoming the third largest world market for US rice. Good for US farmers, bad for Haiti.

In 2002, the US stopped hundreds of millions of dollars in loans to Haiti which were to be used for, among other public projects like education, roads. These are the same roads which relief teams are having so much trouble navigating now!

In 2004, the US again destroyed democracy in Haiti when they supported the coup against Haiti’s elected President Aristide.

Haiti is even used for sexual recreation just like the old time plantations. Check the news carefully and you will find numerous stories of abuse of minors by missionaries, soldiers and charity workers. Plus there are the frequent sexual vacations taken to Haiti by people from the US and elsewhere. What is owed for that? What value would you put on it if it was your sisters and brothers?

US based corporations have for years been teaming up with Haitian elite to run sweatshops teeming with tens of thousands of Haitians who earn less than $2 a day.

The Haitian people have resisted the economic and military power of the US and others ever since their independence. Like all of us, Haitians made their own mistakes as well. But US power has forced Haitians to pay great prices – deaths, debt and abuse.

It is time for the people of the US to join with Haitians and reverse the course of US-Haitian relations.

This brief history shows why the US owes Haiti Billions – with a big B. This is not charity. This is justice. This is reparations. The current crisis is an opportunity for people in the US to own up to our country’s history of dominating Haiti and to make a truly just response.

(For more on the history of exploitation of Haiti by the US see: Paul Farmer, THE USES OF HAITI; Peter Hallward, DAMNING THE FLOOD; and Randall Robinson, AN UNBROKEN AGONY).

Bill Quigley is Legal Director at the Center for Constitutional Rights and a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans. He is a Katrina survivor and has been active in human rights in Haiti for years with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. He can be reached at: duprestars@yahoo.com.

What's good fans and haters alike? It's that time again..another note from yours truly. First off, I'd like to wish everybody a happy Holiday Season, no matter what it is that you're celebrating. Be safe and have fun.

NOW that I've gotten all of that crap out of the way, it's time to bring it to you raw like only I can. Peep the scenario: A coworker of mine and I decided to visit a client of ours at the hospital the other day. My coworker just HAPPENS to be a heavy set, white woman. Nothing good or bad about that. It is what it is. Well, when we got to the E.R., we were informed by security that they only allow one visitor at a time to see patients. My coworker went in first and I sat in the waiting room. As I sat down, I saw a black woman sitting to the right of me. She looked a lil...well, lets call a spade a spade; she looked like your typical nigga. My suspicions were confirmed when she opened her mouth and began talking to her friend next to her. She went on and on about beating some woman's ass and how she "keeps it real"....blah blah blah.

As I was sitting there doing my best to ignore the ignorance that had begun to stink up the air, I noticed another black woman walking in my direction. She sat a few chairs away from me. I noticed that I was being looked over by her...but whatever. I continued to sit there and watch the television, attempting to ignore the fact that I felt eyes on me. Suddenly, the women began talking to each other (these heffas talked across me like I wasn't even there...rudeness). Anyway, I quickly made an assumption about the women sitting next to me....NIGGAS! Now don't get it twisted; there's a difference between black people and niggas. If you don't know, ask somebody!

Moving along...I looked up and noticed that my coworker was exiting the E.R. and was walking back towards me. As she sat down next to me, the two NIGGAS sitting beside us all of a sudden piped up saying "I knew it!...his nails were too clean!" and "he's just like my cousin". It was obvious to my coworker and I that these women were making the assumption that she and I were "together". This assumption doesn't really bother me. What does bother me is that they are so stuck in our ways that they are too blind to see that their way of thinking only hurts their progress. It also drives a wedge between people of the same damn race. We continue to pull our own people down just like crabs in a barrel!

Why are people so caught up in the whole race thing to the point where they feel that it's necessary to pull someone down because of who that person is dating or married to? If you're gonna have a reason to be a hater, find a GOOD reason. All of this, he/ she is with a white woman/ man is played out. Color shouldn't be the issue at this point. NOW, if you're gonna find a reason to hate on two people being together, make it a good reason. If you see a good looking man/ woman and they're with somebody that isn't quite up to par, then hate on that! But to lower yourself to the level of being disrespectful and hateful because you see people involved in an interracial relationship is wack, plain and simple. In a way, it keeps us in the same state of mind that stunts our own growth and prosperity.

Now there is a flip side to this coin. You do have those lame assed people out there that claim that they only date a certain race under the guise of "preference" when in actuality they make that choice based on negative stereotypes of other races. I've known a few brothas that claim they only date white women because black women are "too loud, too obnoxious, too pushy, etc." I know some brothas that say they only date white women because they're "easier to get along with, easier to get in bed, and will put up with anything for you". Both sets of examples are negative stereotypes but they are also EXCUSES for people to continue to think the way that they do. It's such a lazy approach to life if you ask me.

Bottom line, I don't know every brotha on the planet so I can't sit here and speak about every one that I see with a white woman. That's retarded. I do know that it's wrong to judge them based on first appearance. You fall for who you fall for. Now for the niggas that are out there getting their Tiger Woods on, YOU'RE WACK!! But people are even more wack if they're out there talkin shit about every interracial couple that they see! Quit pullin' people down to where you are! Those crabs are tryin' to get out of that barrel and enjoy life and you keep pullin' em right back in, na'mean? Shit, I'm bout to go find me an Asian girl to holla at right now! LOL....(Just kidding Keish!)

Aight aight...I know. I've been SLACKIN on my note game. Never fear though because your man is back with another one for that ass! Im'a get straight to the point with this one though. 2009 has been a WEIRD year to say the least for me. Legal trouble, family discord, car accidents, marital problems, old "friends" and past loves popping back up in my life at the oddest of times...and that's just the personal life! That doesn't even address the stress of the job and all that.

I'm still here and still pushing along though. Something that I'm STILL learning to do is to just let go of the stuff that I can't really control. I'm such a control freak when it comes to...everything (I'm sure Keisha can vouche for me on that one). I guess you could say that I would rather drive the car than be the passenger. There's nothing wrong with that though as long as I'm driving a car that I have the ability to handle and control. Sometimes we have the habit of jumping into cars, calling ourselves going somewhere and we don't even have the keys in our hands. Hell, sometimes we jump in the driver's seat and don't even know where the hell we're going! I've tried to hot wire a couple of joints thinking that I could handle everything that comes along with it, only to find out that all the stress that came along with being the driver of the car wasn't worth the free ride to begin with.

I bet you're wondering, "where the hell is this dude going with this one?!" Well, when I was younger, I would always jump in the car with Pop Dukes and ask him where we were going. His response would always be "close ya mouth and enjoy the ride, boy!" Speaking from my own personal experiences, sometimes it's best to just shut up and enjoy the ride. Let somebody else drive the car sometimes (your significant other, God, the cab driver with the heavy accent, etc.) You can't always be the driver and you can't ALWAYS handle EVERYTHING. Life is a LONG trip but we've all got people that we can let hold the wheel from time to time. Driving long distances by yourself without taking a rest can lead to driving off the road and crashing into some old white lady's house if you're not careful. Fasten your seat belts, let the windows down, and throw on ya favorite album (shout out to Wale's "Attention Deficit" and LeToya Luckett's "Lady Love"!!).

- Shout out to my old 'Boro squad for being the REALEST crew ever constructed. The X-Men ain't got shit on us!...well...except for the super powers and all that.....and the jet plane...and the mansion. But other than that, we got them niggas!
- Shout out to Sondra!...no words for you...you're the best.
- Shout out to L-Boogie...my big brother stay havin my back! You gotta go through me to get to him!
- Shout out to ****** for showing your true colors. I always knew...just wouldn't accept it. I see you though! It's all good!

Well someone told me that I should take him. Maybe he's not happy where he is now.
Keyshia Cole said, "It's not where he is. It's where he wanna be."
And someone said, "You can't steal someone who's already gone."
But my conscious would get to me and I wouldn't be able to do something like that.
Most of the time dudes don't leave their wives or girlfriends for you, anyway, and the girl ends up with hurt feelings and left alone, while he still has someone to go back to. If he does leave his girlfriend/wife for you, would you be able to trust him in a relationship considering the way ya'll got together??? Some people have said that if you do choose to be in a relationship with this person, DON'T expect it to last long. It's not meant to last long. I just know that I wouldn't want to do that anyone because what comes around goes around. I know some women don't care and I'm not tryna even bash anybody for doing simply what they do. I just know as for me I couldn't do something like this. But then again, you never know until you're in that situation or have that opportunity...So NEVER say NEVER! =]

Man, I turned on the radio today and heard black folks sounding really f*ckin stupid, at work also. All day "Kanye West stole her moment", "Kanye West is Crazy", "She's just a kid", "He's making us look bad". My thing is it really that big of a f*ckin deal in the grand scheme of things, half of ya'll never even heard of that chic, and if the table was turned and tom green ran up there and said some crazy sh*t, white people wouldn't be calling in apologizing on his behalf. It would have just been a joke or a VMA moment to laugh about. I hate to say it but some black people either consciously or subconsciously want the approval of white america so bad they feel as if one black person can mess up there chances to get it......after all this time it's amazing how many people still care what white america thinks, .....it's sad , on the V-103 an Atlanta (hip hop R&B) station, the country station called in and said they wouldn't play kanye anymore, so the next thing V-103 does is play taylor swift (smh). I've never heard a white person say Dahmer made them look bad, or Bush, or what happened to the Jena 6, or Oscar Grant, or James Bryd, etc. ( so why do some black people feel the need to) It's really on some slave mentality type sh*t for reeeallll. The same people that say that they're sick of black people when when a couple f*ck them over (judging their entire race) are the same ones who say white people are cool when one is nice to them (see that twisted logic). hearing caller after caller almost beg for forgiveness on his behalf was crazy to me, for the silliest sh*t no less a F*ckin VMA???

what ya'll need to peep is 2pac died yesterday, the most iconic hip hop figure and and the most revolutionary artist of my generation, died yesterday and not one artist at the VMAs gave him a shout-out, and even the next day, no tribute shows to my knowledge, no tweets lol, that's something to be mad about..............again I'm not saying it's all black folks but if the shoe fits you need some de-programming.

Melancholy happiness.
Lachrymose* days.
Felicity* nights.
Hoping yu didn’t have to leave so soon so we could work this out
Wishing fore once everything would go alright..
Wanting yu to abscond* and recur* with no doubts.


* Lachrymose-given to tears or weeping : tearful
Felicity- the quality or state of being happy; especially : great happiness
Abscond- : to depart secretly and hide oneself
Recur- to come up again for consideration


Unfinshed Dedication to Yu,yu know who yu are...

What's good friends, family, and country people?! Been a minute since I had a chance to get at you. I've been busy (truth is, I just didn't feel like talking to most of you niggas.). But I'm back with a new note for your collective asses! In the spirit of my profile pic for this week, I'm playing the role of Dr. Knockboot. First off, if you don't know what this means, smack ya self in the face and then listen up.

Dr. Knockboot is the nigga version of Dr. Ruth. He answers all questions and gives advice about love, sex, relationships, and everything in between. So this is the deal. Let's have a little fun with this joint. Post all ya questions and comments that you want me to answer and I'll get at you with that life changing advice that only a nigga like me can put you on with!

Soo i was on this blog (Melody Eshani) this girls style is pretty fire
but anyways I heard this group she put a video up of called Little Dragon
and I have been hooked they are quite amazing, can't find one song I don't like...


Check them out

1) Are you really ready for 125 questions?
i guess what else do i have to do

2) why are you answering all these questions?
bcuz i feel like it..lol

3) Do you believe in God?
yeah

4) Who did you last say "I love you" to?
jamie

5) Do you regret it?
uh..no

6) Have you ever been depressed?
I dont get depressed

7) Have a best friend?
yes!

8) Are you a boy or girl?
wow what do you think genius

9) Do you like cheese?
wth..naw not like that but i know someone who does.. STEPFAN!!!


10) How do you want to die?
however god intends for me to, its really up to him

11) What did you last eat?
strawaberry apple sauce...yummy :)

12) Play any sports?
no but i did play soccer, and basketball

13) Do you bite your nails?
no

14) When was your last physical fight?
Imma lover not a fighter...lol

15) Do you have an attitude?
no

16) Do you hate someone?
hate is such a strong word..i would say dislike..lol

17) What’s your real name?
forreally tho.....

19) Are you gonna get high later?
no

20) Do you hate anyone at the moment?
i answered this already

21) Do you miss someone?
all my friends...if i tagged you and you my friend then i miss you!

22) Twirl or cut your spaghetti?
who cuts spaghetti(weird)..twirl

23) Do you tan a lot?
"...black man(woman) with a permanent tan"...crooklyn dodgers..i like that song..lol

24) Have any pets?
not yet

25) How exactly are you feeling?
ok, i guess no complaints over here

26) Ever eaten food in a car while someone or yourself is driving?
yep

27) Ever made out in the bathroom?
no

28) Would you take any of your exes back?
no thats y they are an ex...duh

29) Are you scared of spiders?
depends on what kind

30) Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
yea, fun times, fun times,

31) Do you regret anything from your past?
no

32) What are your plans for this weekend?
dont know yet

33) Do you want to have kids?
?!?!?

34) Did you ever kiss someone whose name starts with an E?
no

35) Do you type fast?
yea

36) Do you have piercings? How many?
3 in each ear, and one in my face..lol so 7

37) Want any more?
no

38) Can you spell well?
yea

39) Do you miss anyone from your past?
yep..he died...

40) What are you craving right now?
subway

41) Ever been to a bonfire party ?
no

43) Have you ever been on a horse?
yep

44) Kissed someone in a pick up truck?
no

45) Have you ever broken someone's heart?
no

46) Have you ever been cheated on?
no

47) Have you made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry?
no

49) Would you live with someone without marrying them?
yea

50) What should you be doing?
working on a graphic

51) What's irritating you right now?
this weird noise outside

52) Have you ever liked someone?
yeah

53) Does somebody love you?
a lot of people do

54) What is your favorite color ?
red, black and white

55) Have you ever changed clothes in a vehicle?
yea

57) Do you have trust issues?
no

59) Have you ever shaved in the kitchen sink?
no!

60) Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
with my mom yes!

62) Do you believe your most recent ex thinks about you?
who cares..lol

63) Who was the last person you cried in front of?
jamie..ugh

64) Do you give out second chances too easily?
yep

65) Is it easier to forgive or forget?
forgive

66) Is this year the best year of your life?
when i get this job..HECK YEA!

67) What was your child hood nickname?
Tati, Tater tat(yea i know), tat tat, yanna

68) Have you ever walked outside completely naked?
no

69) Do you think you're a good person?
of course

70) Do you believe everything happens for a reason?
yeah

71) What is the last thing you did before you went to bed last night?
listen to 2pac

73) What is bothering you?
dont worry about it

74) Have you ever been out of the country?
yes

75) Do you play the Wii?
i dont have one

76) Are you listening to music right now?
yes

77) Do you like Chinese food?
yep

78) Do you know your fathers b- day?
yes

79) Are you afraid of the dark?
no

81) Are you mean?
no

82) Can you keep white shoes clean?
no

83) Have you noticed this survey stopped getting personal?
no

84) Do you believe in true love?
yep

85) Are you proud of the person you've become?
yea

86) Do you like the outside?
yeah

89) Are you currently bored?
not anymore..lol

90) Do you wanna get married?
yep

91) Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby?
aww yea

92) Are you hungry?
no

93) Do you have a bank account?
yep

94) What makes you happy?
live.love.life

95) Would you change your name?
yea

96) Ever been to Alaska?
no

98) Do you watch the news?
sometimes but its depressing so i rarely look @ it

99) What' s your zodiac sign?
aries

100) Do you like Subway?
yep

101) Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed?
huh?

102) Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?
hmm..y?

103) Do you talk like your friends?
lmao..yes accents all day!

105) Have you ever seen someone you knew and purposely avoided them?
yea..lol

106) Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self?
I act like myself with all my friends..lol

107) Who is the last guy you talked to?
Sheldon

109) Do you go to church?
uh-uh

110) What's going on between you and your best friend?
nothing....wth...just being besties!

111) Who's the last person you had a deep conversation with?
grandma

113) Do you enjoy piercings & tattoos?
yes but they they cant b anything outrageous

114) What do you wear more: jeans, sweats, pants, or shorts?
sweat pant hair tied chilling with no make up on..lol sweat minus the makeup cuz i dont wear it..lol

115) You're a Sharpie marker, what color are you?
the most popular color.. BLACK

116) Where do you go if you are butt naked and locked out of your house?
lmao..hmm I would jump onto the balcony..(i live on the first floor) and break the screen door and hop through it..haha

117) Do you prefer to shower at night or in the morning?
both

118) Have you ever said you'd never love again?
no

119) Do you want to please everyone?
no...

120) Have you heard a song that reminds you of someone today?
yep but they are acting all high and mighty...next...lol

121) Has someone ever made you a promise & broken it?
all the time

122) Are you alone?
@ the moment

123) Do you have any siblings?
yep 3 all younger

124) Did you speak to your father today?
no...phone tag is not fun whatso ever

125) How many months until your birthday?
12..lmao

126) now that you're done, what are your thoughts?
great..wait i though this was a 125 question survey..where did this one come from!?!?!..very slick