How Some Haitians Want to Save Port-au-Prince: Leave It Behind
By JAY NEWTON-SMALL / PORT-AU-PRINCE AND JIMANI Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010 A dozen young men jostled one another waiting in line on Jan. 24 for food and water in Cité Soleil, one of Haiti's poorest neighborhoods. One wore an Obama campaign T-shirt, and when asked about it, he and his comrades grinned and chanted, "Obama!" But when asked if they would stay in Port-au-Prince and help rebuild the devastated city as the Obama Administration is encouraging Haitians to do, they all shook their heads. "As Obama said, all Haitians are Americans, and all Americans are Haitians," said Bertrand Aboite, 31. The U.S. President never actually said this. He did pledge that Haitians wouldn't be "forgotten" or "forsaken," but many Haitians appear to have taken away another message.
"I want to go to Cap-Haitien as soon as possible and take a boat to Miami," said Aboite, referring to the port city on Haiti's north coast facing the U.S. "Me too, me too," piped up Sello James, 15, who lost an aunt and a cousin in the earthquake. A chorus of agreement followed as the men and boys lapsed into dreams of Miami and plots involving stolen boats and much rowing.
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Poster Comment:
In other news, as of yesterday, the Dominican Republic no longer grants citizenship to the children of illegal aliens.