So Yon Ayisyen has some competition now, and it's in English. Ayititoma (aka Alexandra) posted her first post this morning. It is superbly well written and leaves you with a complex set of emotions that might as well be the equivalent of a snapshot of my own brain sometimes: a mishmash of every emotion humanly possible all for this one place (or really its--errh my-- people). Much like Jamaican Francis Wade, she chose to return home against the tide and is particularly emotional today about the killing of former President Dumarsais Estime's wife last week:
I am from the Diaspora and have returned to Haiti to work, responding to that Haitian call, wanting to make a difference, sacrificed my family, my independence, my way of life, to living the difficulties of Haiti. I have myself fell in the hands of bandits but like the Estimé family, I stayed on. When will it be my turn? when will they ship my corpse to my mother? I ask myself. My mother with her daily calls constantly tell me Alexandra, you will not do that to me, YOU WILL NOT have them bring me your corpse, come back!
Also familiar is the blogger's annoyance at the one-dimensional image that just cannot begin to mirror the complexity of the Haitian mosaic:
When will our worlds stop colliding for the recognition of a Haitian society that is multifaceted and the acceptance that the real Haitian is composed of a mosaic of differences and not this homogeneous being that people want to portray us to be?The post is obviously a rant and thank God for the blogging medium because it's obvious AyitiToma needed to vent. I just wish she'd read this article I saw in AlterPresse the other day about a group of Haitians from all over the world who got together in Miami to revive Haitian tourism having understood that Haiti's crime problem is not worse than its neighbors' with thriving tourism industries. (Ask Trinidad's The Initiative Against Crime Blog.)
haiti - caribbean - crime - tourism - trinidad - jamaica
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Lots of people are really trying to help, to bring fairness, justice, and progress - and equal treatment to us all. They serve as examples. Recently Met Paul Novack called upon Haitian American youth to get involved, to participate in civic life, to help make things better.
Met Novack, a long standing and steady friend of Haitians and Haitian Americans.
HOPE SURVIVES, MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS ....
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD CARE ABOUT HAITI AND THE HAITIAN PEOPLE
Former Mayor Paul D. Novack
Attorney at Law
Miami, Florida
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There truly are individuals throughout the world who have demonstrated, time and time again, that they care deeply about the people of Haiti and that they are dedicated to helping produce progress and improvements in the quality of life for the Haitian people.
Former Surfside, Florida Mayor Paul Novack, an attorney at law, after serving as an elected official for 14 years, the last 12 as Mayor of the Town of Surfside, decided not to seek re-election for another term in 2004. Mayor Novack had been overwhelming elected 7 times (once as Commissioner, 6 times as Mayor), and in the last election received over 80% of the vote in the largest municipal election turnout in many years. Novack also served with honor and distinction on the State of Florida's Oversight Board for the Miami-Dade County Public School System. Following his extraordinary service, an official Tribute was made to him by the Florida House of Representatives.
Since leaving his official posts, he has focused on his legal practice and in continuing a wide variety of public service activities. He remains one of Haiti's true friends around the globe.
Attorney Novack has been honored by the United States Congressional Record, by the Haitian American Nurses Association, by the Haitian American Society of Engineers and Scientists, by the Haitian American Law Enforcement Officers Association, by the 1000 Friends of Florida, by the Florida League of Cities, by the Haitian Organization of Mayors, the Haitian American Students Foundation, and by many other groups on a local, national, and international level. His legal service, public service, and humanitarian relief efforts for Haiti, Honduras, and many other locations have been resoundingly welcomed, recognized and appreciated.
Met Novack has established new standards for productivity and accountability in emergency and disaster and humanitarian relief projects that can be operated locally and internationally. Those particular efforts have been recognized by officials in Haiti and the United States, and by National Public Radio, Voice of America Radio, and international press and media organizations.
Met Novack was by far the longest serving mayor in Surfside's history. He earned a reputation as one of Florida's most earnest, hard working, respected, ethical and productive leaders. Paul's six terms as Mayor was twice as long as anyone had ever served in that position previously. He is also known as one of the area's most competent, dedicated, and concerned attorneys, and he has received the highest professional rating possible from the national legal review organization Martindale-Hubbell.
Attorney Novack has diligently and successfully represented people from all over the world, and particularly many Haitian Americans, in many types of significant legal matters and cases since 1985. The Novack Law Firm focuses on individualized representation of clients in cases involving serious and permanent injuries, deaths, and also in providing efficient, reliable, professional assistance to homeowners seeking the financing and refinancing of properties throughout Florida. His staff includes case managers, legal assistants, mortgage brokers, and associates with a wide variety of expertise; they are fluent in English, French, Creole and Spanish. They may be contacted 24/7 at 305-947-3000.
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