AbateHate.com — 217 years after Haiti gained its independence, the nation struggles in poverty. That's in spite of billions of dollars in aid from the USA and private donations. Haiti received $13-billion in the wake of the 2010 earthquake alone. The country shares its island home with The Dominican Republic, a socialist state that thrives in comparison to Haiti.
What is it about Haiti that makes it the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere?
Japan emerged from World War II as an economic powerhouse. South Korea broke through an impoverished economy within a generation after the Korean War. China remains a communist state, but managed to flourish economically after The Cultural Revolution. Germany lost two world wars to become Europe's largest and strongest economy.
What is different about Haiti? Is it a series of misfortunes?
A clue may be found in a recent kidnapping. 17 missionaries, including children, were kidnapped by a Haitian gang, reports say. The victims are Americans.
Ironically, the missionaries' mission was to build an orphanage in Haiti and the Haitians showed their gratitude by stealing their children.
Kidnapping for ransom has been something akin to a cultural tradition in Haiti, whereas innovation, technology, and work seems to be elusive. The opposite is true in America's White suburbia. It is there that those awash with White guilt fueled by accusations of unmerited privilege and of progenitors of (ironically) meritocracy molt their shame and signal their virtues by traipsing off to some god-forsaken foreign land where gratitude is as rare as an IQ above 85.
Risking one's life by wasting time, talent, and resources to shelter ingrates who will, in turn, snatch you away in the night to be held for ransom betrays the very intelligence that made America great.
And if the kidnappers succeed, I wonder if they will use the ransom to fund orphanages? Or will they squander the proceeds on selfish indulgences?
If they don't care to care for their own, why should we?
[Haiti gang kidnaps US missionary group, including children, Associated Press, foxnews.com, Oct 17, 2021]