Debating Haiti’s situation with integrity, free thinking, spirituality, morality, humanity, dignity, patriotism and courage.

As children, we go to school because education is the fundamental way to acquire knowledge, to be productive and to explore our potential as human beings. Fundamental conventions must be established in order to build societies. Traditions, culture, belief system and history do influence enormously the way we conceive life and coexistence.  Since, from our own corner of existence, as a race, we are enduring the wrath of the western civilization, it is important to review and revise on our own the fundamental conventions highlighted by the latter.  It is the step that is taking us from education to formation. Whether we go along with those conventions will prove how well formed we are from the education we have received.

Fundamentals of the structures of a society: Religion for belief system; Politics for managing the well-being of a people; Economics for securing prosperity of a nation; Culture and traditions for maintaining continuity.

For me, in order to exalt a civilization, technological progress is far from being a valid criterium for all civilizations, past and present, have clearly shown that ingenuity is inherent to humans’ existence. I strongly reject the notion of survival. So, I have to follow the blood that has caused the demise of all civilizations of this planet. Let’s consider the current one: the western civilization.

Regarding religion, the Westerners claim their faith as Christians under warrior’s codes: For God and the King: For God and the Queen; For God and Country–Blood has spilled all over this planet.

Regarding politics, the notion of empires has blurred and is blurring still the vision of countless leaders among them. With the same warriors’ codes–Blood has spilled and is spilling still all over this planet: wars, invasions, conquests, annexations, and coups.

Regarding economics, looting has become the ability of ripping off others–slavery and virtual slavery; exploitation with oppression. suppression and dispossession; the ability of imposing “international sharking”–lending money with conditions and under humiliating and extreme difficulties to repay. Blood has spilled and is spilling still all over this planet. Malthusianism is being strongly considered.

Regarding culture and traditions, race superiority and supremacy are being secured through racism, discrimination, segregation. Two belief systems prevail—the adamic heritage of the white race and the “God’s chosen people” belief system of the Jews. A classic clash between two tribes or groups which history has proven to be bloody but they manage to coexist with extreme difficulty under both a tacit and open complicity to rule this planet. Blood has spilled and is spilling still all over this planet.

As one can see, violence not only seems but is the prime directive of the western civilization. Even, their own fundamental designation and definition of their humanity does not encompass any moral and spiritual values: “I think then I am.” This faculty of thinking is not inherent only to humans on this planet. Animals do think. The level of their thought process is not as complex as humans’. But they do think. So, with the absence of moral and spiritual values under that designation, one must understand why it was so easy for Westerners to kill with the bible in their hands, to kill on the name of God, to enslave, to discriminate, to segregate, to lynch, to rape, to sodomize, to exploit, to oppress, to suppress, to dominate, to conquer, to exterminate. One must understand why even today, weapons of mass destruction will be blessed as if those who will be killed are not humans and even less God’s children.

This primitive and barbaric mindset offers many facets of their way of life. While politics remains deeply immoral and amoral from their actions and points of view, one must not be swayed by the technological progress. It is being achieved even today by the fundamental and palpable result of violence as one can clearly notice in many parts of this planet and specially on the African continent which contains most of the natural resources that could propel the western civilization far during the 21^st century.

Our ancestors have stood up and claimed their divine right—freedom. Yet, under the fundamental designation of their own humanity, the western world could not cope with the independence of Haiti. Ransom had to be paid to France. Severe embargo and three attempts to invade by the USA have maintained Haiti under a state of national crisis until the successful invasion by the USA. Today, after more than 100 years of systemic occupation, Haiti is on her knees.

Robbed was her vision for freedom. Haiti, however must reclaim her existence among the nations under a new fundamental designation of our humanity–it is the goodness of our heart that defines our humanity. Locked into their survival mode, the westerners have mostly neglected the essence of human existence—eternal life. Indeed, we are confronted with the daily needs of our physical existence. But, life itself is not limited to personal self-gratification. Freedom is the highest form of responsibility. One must understand why our ancestors were so prompt to supporting those who were fighting for it throughout the world without distinction of race, ethnicity, religion and origin—Latin America, Greece and even Israel have benefited from the stand of the Haitian people for their freedom.

We are not stupid. We are humans. As humans, we understand, and we show the goodness of our hearts. While we clearly respect everybody’s freedom, should their interpretation of the latter threaten our own existence, it is only logical for us to fight back. But we have been enduring the wrath of a civilization which knows no restraint when it comes to power and wealth on the basis of glory and profit so much so that 5 of the richest billionaires on this planet have more money than half of the population of this planet—5 people on this planet have more money than 3.5 billion people. This wealth is not the fruit of hard labor, but rather the result of the implementation of laws, means and ways where morality and even decency are not taking into consideration. Like the Swiss say: money has no smell.

In 2019, survival ought not to be a choice or an option for humans–living is and ought to be effective. If 71% of this planet is water covered, and a civilization is aiming at making water a commodity, one should not question the intelligence of the latter, but rather her level of malice and wickedness. If colonization is a such a bloody word, and yet space technology is motivated by space colonization more than the simple curiosity of extra-terrestrial life, one must not question the level of intellect of such a civilization, but rather her strong persistence in maintaining violence as her prime directive which obviously will be used inter-planetary encounters. Where does it end? I know when it will end for empires come and go and most of all, the blood of the innocent must be will be redeemed. This is one among of the immovable and fundamental principles of life and coexistence.

Freeing Haiti from the grip of the Westerners is not going to take only and at all the respect of their conventions, ideas, or using their technology also. It is going to take the formulation of a new way of life where morality and spirituality become our prime directives. One ought to confuse morality with puritanism or imposition of Christian values, including sins and dogma. An atheist can be an extremely decent human being. This is not either about religion. It is about accepting our humanity in the basis of respect for life, which the western world has simply denied when it comes to wealth and power by instituting their own standard of values in taking race, ethnicity,religion and even traditions and culture into account.

In order to free Haiti, we need to be free thinkers, able to see our lives as human gods without spilling any blood, especially human blood for gain–wealth or power. With such a vision, violence can become only legitimate. We have the right to be free and prosperous, the right to explore our potential as human beings and as human gods, free from intimidations and provocations.

Peace!

Pour lire ce texte en français, cliquer ce lien ci-dessous
+ Hymne national

To read in English, click the link below:
+ National Anthem

Mwen sonje lè mwen toupiti lekòl, m ap resite imn nasyonal nou an
« Ayiti » ladan li, mwen pa ka twouve li.
« Pour le pays » te dwe : Pour Haïti
« Pour les ancêtres » te dwe : Pour nos ancêtres.
Se menm nonm de pye mo sa yo ye, li pa t ap deranje melodi a ditou.
Kòm toujou, nan obsesyon pou fè tankou Blan an, deja genyen gwo entelèktyèl ki fè m konnen nan «La Marseillaise,» mo « la France » pa la dan.
Enben, pou wen, istwa tou pou libète nou ban nou dwa pou nou panse diferamman. Pouki nou dwe swiv Blan an an tout sa l ap fè ? Dayè, kòm nou ka wè, sistèm kapitals la se ekstansyon sistèm kolon an li ye. Detoutfason, pou nou rete sou zafè imn nasyonal la, fòk nou remake ke peyizan nou yo pa resite imn nasyonal sa. Se pa paske yo pa edike, se pa paske li an franse tou, se paske peyizan an pa santi imn nasyonal la vre.
Mizik nou chita sou gam pentatonik, e li genyen anpil senkopasyon ladan li. Non sèlman malgre li an franse, imn nasyonal la « endefini » tankou jisteman majorite politisyen Ayisyen pran plezi ap di « ce pays a besoin » olyede « notre pays a besoin », men tou mizik la pa yon « mizik Ayisyen vre ».
Bagay sa se pa de diskisyon li pray soulve. E se lè sa n ap pray wè « jan nou sanble nou pa menm. » Jodiya pou 215èm anivèsè endepandans peyi Dayiti, peyi orijin, pwiske nan jounen jodiya mwen se yon sitwayen Ameriken, mwen pwopose yon lòt imn nasyonal pou peyi Dayiti.
Mwen kwè li enpòtan anplis kritik, fòk yon moun oubyen yon sitwayen konsène prezante altènativ oubyen solisyon nan detèminasyon pèp Ayisyen an pou soti nan mera yo ye la anndan peyi Dayiti. Ap pray genyen anpil reyaksyon refraktè, reyaksyonè tankou reyaksyon Minis Fanm sa sou Lavalas la kite frape men li sou tab pou li di « Pitit mwen pap pale menm lang ap bòn ki lakay mwen » lè yo te prezante projè lwa pou Kreyòl la vin yon lang ofisyèl. Majorite entelèktyèl malpouwont te toujou montre Kreyòl la pap mennen Ayiti okenn kote pandan yo menm tou ap bafwe pèp la an franse pou prezante gwo diplòm yo kòm siyn rèspè ak kapasite pou yo fè domèstik Blan an sèlman ka yo pa janm fè anyen vre pou pèp Ayisyen vre nan gwo lang franse y ap pale a.
Desizyon pou aksèpte imn nasyonal sa pa nan men mwen. Se senpleman yon sijesyon k ap anbwate yon vizsyon kote klas peyizan an ka resite li ak tout fyète nan lang manman li ak papa li e ak tout konviksyon ke sètfwasi tout bon vre se yon kòmansman kote yo genyen plas vre e yon plas ki merite rèspè tankou tout moun nan peyi Dayiti.

Imn sa rele « Pou Ayiti Douvan »

e men pawòl yo :

Ayiti bèl manman
Pitit ou la
Ayisyen Nèg vanyan
Nou gen lafwa
Libète dwe pwospere
Bonè nou dwe asire
N ape travay pou nou byen viv o
Onore tout zansèt yo
Sakrifis yo limen flanbo
Libète nou kòm eritay sakre
N ape defann ak tout fyète
Ak tout kouray san nou
Kole zepòl n ap fè konbit
Pou Ayiti douvan anye!

Hymne National

Je me rappelle que durant mon enfance, lorsque je récitais notre hymne national, j’y cherchais désespérément le mot “Haïti” et je ne pouvais point le trouver.
Nous disons “Pour le pays “au lieu de “pour Haïti” et “pour les ancêtres” au lieu de “pour nos ancêtres.” Comme vous pouvez le remarquer, le nombre de mètres ou de syllabes dans ces vers si on remplace ces deux mots ne change pas.
Déjà, nombreux sont nos intellectuels qui m’ont dit que le mot “France” ne figure pas dans “La Marseillaise.” Je n’arrive pas à comprendre cette obsession de leur part de tout faire comme le Blanc. Notre indépendance n’a point effacé cette mentalité servile vis-à-vis du Blanc que manifestent nos intellectuels jusqu’à présent bien que nous savons que le système capitaliste se définit bien comme l’extension du système colonialiste et esclvagiste.
Je crois qu’il ne s’agit pas seulement de critiquer. Il faut aussi apporter des suggestions pour trouver des solutions tangibles lesquelles puissent aider nos compatriotes à sortir de cette situation honteuse et déplorable indigne de nos gloires du passé.
Pour revenir à notre hymne national, nous constatons aussi que nos paysans ne le chantent pas. Ce fait n’existe pas parce qu’ils ne parlent pas seulement le français, mais aussi parce qu’ils ne sentent pas cette mélodie et celle-ci ne dégage aucune émotion laquelle puisse les toucher, les émouvoir. Notre musique se développe sur la gamme pentatonique et elle est très syncopée. De plus, les paroles en l’absence du mot “Haïti” et de l’emphase sur le “nous” comme élément collectif, comme prennent un malin plaisir à le faire nos politiciens quand ils disent “ce pays a besoin” au lieu de “notre pays a besoin” n’engagent pas vraiment une désignation effective de notre patrimoine national.
Aujourd’hui, pour le 215ème anniversaire de l’Indépendance de la République, en dépit du fait que je détiens un passeport américain, je suggère un nouvel hymne national. La publication de ce texte ne manquera pas de soulever un tas de critiques. Ces dernières viendront de ces réactionnaires qui ont toujours dit que la langue créole ne causera que la misère de notre peuple comme si la langue française, en elle-même, pas l’usage dont on a fait, ne l’a point aggravée. Ils n’ont jamais cessé de bafouer notre peuple et on peut même se référer à cette Ministre sous le Gouvernement Lavalas qui, en frappant violemment sa main sur le bureau de la salle de consultation des Ministres, a dit d’une voix forte et exaspérée que sa fille ne parlerait pas la même langue que les domestiques qui vivent chez elle.
La décision d’accepter ce nouvel hymne national ne sera point la mienne. Ce dernier n’est qu’une suggestion laquelle coïncide avec une vision d’inclure nos paysans dans la vie socio-économique, socio-politique et socio-culturelle de notre pays où ils pourront chanter avec fierté l’hymne national dans leur langue maternelle et le respect qu’ils méritent en tant qu’enfants légitimes de la République d’Haïti et au nom de la dignité humaine.
“Pou Ayiti Douvan” est le titre de ce nouvel hymne national.

et voici le texte:

Ayiti bèl manman
Pitit ou la
Ayisyen Nèg vanyan
Nou gen lafwa
Libète dwe pwospere
Bonè nou dwe asire
N ape travay pou nou byen viv o
Onore tout zansèt yo
Sakrifis yo limen flanbo
Libète nou kòm eritay sakre
N ape defann ak tout fyète
Ak tout kouray san nou
Kole zepòl n ap fè konbit
Pou Ayiti douvan anye!

National Anthem

I remember very well how I could not find the word “Haiti” in our national anthem when I used to sing it in school– “For the country” instead of “For Haiti”, “For the ancestors” instead of “For our ancestors.” Saying “our” does not change the number of syllables of those versus in French. Yet, many Haitian intellectuals argue that the word “France” is not listed either in “La Marseillaise”, the French national anthem. I cannot understand why they demonstrate even today such a servile mentality toward the Occident though they know that the capitalist system is an extension of the colonialist system. Our freedom as early it could have been in the history of this planet cannot erase in their minds such an attitude of emulating Occident’s vision of progress and development.

Our peasants do not sing the National anthem not because they are illiterate or because it is written in French only. It is mostly because they do not feel the melody. Our music is based on the pentatonic scale and it is very syncopated. Moreover, this vagueness about “the country” and “the ancestors” does not assert a strong conviction in expressing real patriotism. It is not enough to criticize. It is also important to submit suggestions which could alleviate the pain and misery of our Haitian fellows in this shameful and deplorable situation not dignified by our glorious past.

So, tough I am an American citizen today, for the 215th anniversary of Haiti’s independence, I’m proposing a new national anthem. Heavy criticism may follow. Years of fooling the Haitian people with the French language which most Haitians could not speak have gone by. Many are those Haitian intellectuals who still claim that the use of Creole of a national language will maintain and even worsen the conditions of the masses in Haiti as if their own use of French language have improved the lives of the latter. Moreover, prejudices still plague Haiti even at the very high level where one of the former Lavalas female Ministers reacted angrily to the proposition of making Creole Haiti’s official language by saying–My daughter won’t speak the same language as the servants living in my house.

The decision to make this piece Haiti’s new national anthem is not mine. However, it envisions clearly an inclusive society where at last, the peasants can stand with pride sing their allegiance to their country like every Haitian citizen who is a true patriot, claim the dignity they deserve as Haitians and as human beings and participate at every aspect of the political, economic and cultural life of the Republic of Haiti, their country.
“Pou Ayiti Douvan” is the title of this new national anthem.

and here are the lyrics:

Ayiti bèl manman
Pitit ou la
Ayisyen Nèg vanyan
Nou gen lafwa
Libète dwe pwospere
Bonè nou dwe asire
N ape travay pou nou byen viv o
Onore tout zansèt yo
Sakrifis yo limen flanbo
Libète nou kòm eritay sakre
N ape defann ak tout fyète
Ak tout kouray san nou
Kole zepòl n ap fè konbit
Pou Ayiti douvan anye!

Yep!
“Latibonit o” is among the most famous Haitian traditional songs. I originally arranged it for clarinet and piano. But, on this video clip, it is being played by a cellist and a pianist. Enjoy!

“Latibonit o” est l’une des chansons traditionnelles haïtiennes les plus connues. Je l’avais arrangée d’abord pour clarinette et piano. Mais, dans cette video, elle est jouée par une violoncelliste et un pianiste. Bonne écoute!

L’un de mes meilleurs arrangments musicaux!

Latibonit o