By Ilio V Durandis January 1st, 2006   The Sacrifice of Being an Independent State   On January 1st, 1804 the slaves of Haiti had accomplish a feat deemed impossible at the time. They became the first to successfully put an end to the worst tragedy of human existence. The habitants of Haiti have lived under this cruel, inhuman style of life for over two centuries. The French colonists denied them access to almost all the basic human rights, from the pursuit of happiness to the rights of freedom. We could only imagine what life was like for our great-grand-fathers. In order for them to win their freedom, and the right to self-govern, it was not done without sacrifices. People, who are knowldegeable about Haitian history or for that matter black history know the penalties paid by a slave who tried to escape from the white men's plantation. The "marons", name given to the slaves who tried to escape, would often get burned, shot, getting their ears cut off and so on, for such acts. The white men want to label us as uncivivilized, canivores, asocial, inferior to their race, where in fact slavery taught us that it was them who clearly fit those abjectives. In any case, there are not enough words to describe the torments that slavery has put upon us. It is our job to let the World know of the sacrifices done, in order to establish the first black republic of modern era. On this day,  a little more than two centuries ago, we won our independence. Many of the people who started the fight did not get a chance to see the promise land. Boukman, Makandel, Toussaint, and many others have lost their life so that we could be freed. We are not in chains today, it's all  because of their bravery. The greatest thing about our independence is that it was not given to us out of pity, but we fought for it, and defeated one of the strongest army at the time. Often, because of our current socio-political situation, I would hear dear compatriots talk about not to dwell on our past. My only answer to them always is, what? Are you crazy? we are our past, and we are paying for our past. And why shouldn't we take great pride in it? We have to understand why Haiti is called Haiti, and not French Antilles. I'm so proud of being Haitian that I would give my life to protect the country. The white men want us to take little pride in the sacrifices of our ancestors, they want us to forget January 1st as our independence, but instead celebrate July 4th. They want us to forget about January 2nd as the day of our ancestors, but instead celebrate February 20th. They want us to forget about May 1st, and May 18th, but instead celebrate last monday in May, and June 4th. They want us to forget October 17th, and November 18th, and so on. That's what they want, and in that they are succeeding. No way, will we ever forget who we are, for once we try to establish ourselved in their midst, they will be the first to remind us that our parents use to sell "pistache" to put food on the table. Our ancestors sacrificed their life, so we wouldn't have to be humiliated in foreign lands, but today we have failed them. We are being humiliated weherever we go. In the Dominican republic, Bahamas, USA, Canada, France, etc...we are persona non-grata. How can it be? and we seem to accept that way of life. They refuse to let us enjoy the fruit of the plant of Toussaint Louverture. They tell us that we hate each other, where in fact that's not true. They use their evil money to pit us against one another. They use their high luxury hotels to lure our leaders into corruption. Haitian people, we are smarter than that. January 1st, is our day of birth, and no one should ever make us forget that. Our umbrillical cord is tied forever with that day, and on that day I want to wish you all fellow countrymen, countrywomen Happy Birthday, and Happy Independence day. Dessalines, Toussaint, Christophe, Charlemagne Peraltre and all the others who shed their blood in the name of Haiti, rest assured that you did not die in vain. Haiti will rise once again, and kick out all those who are stopping its children to enjoy the fruit of freedom, and happiness. Haiti forever, Haitian for ever. Long live my beautiful Haiti. Ou ka met pye sou kou nou, men ou pap jan'm ka refize'n leve. Yon jou nap leve a-te a kan mem. Viv Ayiti, nan nom tout lwa yo ak lespri ak granmet la. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHERLAND!!!   If you want to contact the author of this article click here The views expressed in this article is not the view of all the members of the www.zanmi.com nor is it the standing of zanmi.com. The author is fully responsible for this writing, and its contents.

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