I was taught two things my first day working at a mental health hospital. First, if someone tells you they are crazy, they are not really crazy. The people who are convinced they are completely sane are the ones to keep an eye on. Second, you can not motivate another individual. Individuals motivate themselves. You can provide information, advice, persectives, and encourage a dialogue, but real change is internal. What we try to do at HII is identify areas where Haitians and Friends of Haiti can make a difference....these are predictable enough such as reforestation, building a civil society, fighting corruption, meeting unlimited needs strategically with limited resources. Real change in Haiti will come from Haitians living in Haiti - but I feel that we can help create an environment more conducive to social change. As you noted, the Cubans, although small in numbers, have a disproportionate ammount of clout by being organized and fighting voraciously for what is most important to them. The Haitian Diaspora does not have a Castro as a common enemy, but I hope that the social problems facing Haiti can at least give common cause. Thank you for being involved and not giving up!

Very interesting blog. How to create an effective Diaspora in Haiti...I have been asking myself, my family and my friends that question for years. Growing up Haitian in Miami I know first hand what it is like to live in community surrounded by your Haitian brethen and not feeling trust or leadership amongst any of them. I found myself resenting the Cubans because of the political and soical lockdown they held and hold in Miami. AS I got older that resentment began to fade as I realized I can't hate a people for standing together..for being united...but I could learn from them and admire their resolve. Here is the main difference between Haitians and Cubans...Cubans were and are unified in their love and hate for Castro and most importantly their country. They took that blinding latin jihad like fervor to bat every or anytime a fellow Cuban was in need...Elian Gonzales...need I say more? Haitians on the other hand though filled with pride, we as a people lack drive...by that I mean we more apathetic then your typical blue hair partrotic North Shore Granny. Why? I think that Haitians in America feel guilt at having left their homeland, send money back home from time to time, but find the whole situation in Haiti so daunting they, we just don't know where to begin...so we forget...we go back to haiti to visit, but never to stay...to build....to reimagine...because to do this would more surely result in an undesirable end. Now not to say that the diaspora can't return, My father built a church and a school in his childhood village in Haiti...but let me tell you it was and is not easy. Goverment payoffs, crooked people...sometimes...I just want to walk away from it all... but I won't and neither will my father...we have a trip planned next year to help rebuild the school, buy new supplies, etc...it's all pretty exciting it has been 3 years since I have been back. I am just being honest, there has to be some serious re-programming in the Haitian psyche for that to happen...you can't just force a people to care enough to take and active stance in their community's well being ...or can you?