Haiti: The Aftermath

I find the display of these images disturbing. Rather than representing facts on the ground they reinforce the ingrained stereotypes of Haiti as chaotic, catastrophic, in an unending state of turmoil. Whether it is by natural forces, human made or “supernatural”. In the first case we have the hurricanes and now the earthquake–the latter being of historic proportions. The human-made mayhem has become the Haiti archetype, perpetuated by coup d’etats, dictatorships and the ghastly violence under which these have being acted out (recall the violent Tonton Macoutes), and the violence and fear caused by an unstable government. And the “supernatural”, the sensationalized constructs of Voodooism, Zombi-ism and Black Magic.
Some visuals:
Instability and violence: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2006/01/23/international/24haitiCA01ready.html.
Voodooism: http://www.grandperistyle.com/Voodoo_praest_ild_i_munden_Haiti.jpg.

Lets view the other historical side of Haiti
Our role in Haiti’s plight:
If we are serious about assisting this devastated land we must stop trying to control and exploit it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/13/our-role-in-haitis-plight