The membership of ITS is made up of a group of first and second generation West Indian women and we are proud to include 10 members of Haitian descent. Those members or our parents came here to make sure that we would have a better life. They left the land that they loved and came to the the land of opportunity (America). They left the warmth of the Caribben sun, the comfort of family and came to New York, in many cases. In some cases, they left a good life back home, but knew that they had to escape the political instability of the country for their own sake, but especially for the sake of their children. In America, they took jobs to support their families, learned a new language, and nurtured those families always stressing the importance of education. All members of ITS have that in common, the fact that education has been the key to success in our lives. We will highlight this fact in a series of upcoming posts.
Another thing that my parents personally instilled in me is love for Haiti. I was born in New York, but love the country of my parents because it made them who they are and thereby formed me as well. It was the land that we were no longer able to live in because the opportunities for advancement were not there. But it was the land they remembered fondly because it held a promise of greatness due to its history as the only slave nation to win independence from colonial rule. My parents conveyed to me what the country had the potential to be. As the child of Haitian immigrants, I have developed a love of democracy because that is the Haitian dream deferred.
I now grieve for Haiti, but I cannot let that grief stop me from fighting for the future of Haiti. It is imperative that we give NOW to organizations such as the American Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and Yele Haiti, as ITS is doing. But we must also never forget Haiti and become vested in the long term recovery of the country. It is now our responsibility to achieve the dream of the Haitian revolution.
Thanks Patty for the post. This is devastating to many of us. At times, I am speechless, or I begin to shed tears for my family, my country and my people. We must continue to pray as well as strategically plan on how we will support Haiti financially in the long run. I.T.S may be in a good position to help support Haiti’s women and children through fundraisers, donations, and helping organizations identify ways to support the country we all love so much.
I can not begin to express my feelings toward the tragedy in Haiti. This has affected the lives of the members of I.T.S. as well as many of our friends and acquaintances. The rebuilding and revitalizing of Haiti will be a focus of many for years to come and I charge every one to take an active role in helping those who are less fortunate near and far. Let’s continue raising money in support of these victims for every little bit counts!!!!
While we commit ourselves to support Haiti via major organizations, we must also establish a one on one relationship with Haitian individuals who can immediately touch the lives of the affected. Investing in the financial growth and rebuilding of Haiti is a longterm affair which must be managed at every rung of the ladder. ITS and our audience stand at a prime position to make that difference.
Haiti, Ma chère patrie!
Te voila, par la fureur de la nature,frappée, meurtrie,
Tes enfants martyrisés, ensevelis!
Quand donc se redressera ta beauté,
par les poètes,tant chantée?
Quand donc tes murs seront-ils redressés?
tes entrailles rapatriées?
J’entends encore la chanson des oiseaux au plumage luxurieux.
Je vois la mer bleue qui houle ses chaudes vagues d’eau
La brise des arbres qui caresse ma peau
et le sable mouillé chatouillant mes pieds!
Oh, Haiti, mon cher pays!
Il nous faudra du temps pour te redonner vie.
Ce triste évènement nous appelle à l’unité.
Haitiens, debout! cessons nos inutiles querelles.
Mettons les mains ensembles à la charue,
et Haiti renaitra de ses cendres, plus belle,
plus solide que jadis.
by Claudie