Gizmo previously said:

*NationBuilder
Listen folks, I'm not denying there are national/cultural differences between both nations. What I am suggesting, however, is that they are more similar than not. Perhaps I am oversimplifying it, but from where I sit, that island is occuppied by descendants of Africans from various ethnic groups on the continent of Africa, as well as the creolized African descendants from neighboring Caribbean islands AND mainland America; Europeans - mostly French and Spanish, but American and Jewish et al as well; and the Amerindians - Arawaks, Caribs, Ciboney etc. It's one huge melting pot.

While the respective colonies held allegiance to differing European powers at one time or another, the crux of the matter is that BOTH looked to Europe. In both colonies, the European, his physical characteristics, culture, mores and values occuppied the top of the totem pole. He was planter, businessman, clergy, whatever. He was followed by the mullato, who, for the most part, emulated him and jealously guarded his totemic position in the society. Notwithstanding the other levels of the totem pole, the visibly African Blackman was at the bottom of the totem pole in both countries, and he continues to occuppy that rung of the social ladder.

Europeans hailing from various nations lived in BOTH colonies, as is the case today. After all, business is business. In reading your history, I see that some of your leaders hailed from (of their parents) what is today Haiti. I see a continual cross cultural pollenation occurring on that island from early times until today.

I know this is oversimpliflying, but this is how I see it. I've witnessed the stark anti-Blackism by many Dominicans. And have been the object of it from my friend's Haitian mother that hails from that molatto class. She instantly disliked all of his "Black" friends that were not "high yellow" like them.
I meet Dominicans that will tell me that they are Spanish, and Haitians that will tell me that they are French. It appears that in both countries the 'light, bright, and damn near white' elite rule BOTH countries and are ideological twins. BUT the rhetoric is more vocally played out by the wannabes and those of the lower social classes seeking some 'status symbol' to elevate themselves above those society deems undesireable. Unless they open up their mouths, one could not readily differentiate between a Haitian elite and a Dominican one.

Guys, I'm really learning a lot by reading the various posts on this site. And I will continue to seek to learn and try to keep an open mind. But, right now, many of these posts bring me back to my same conclusion.

OK. Let her rip! (lol)



*Gizmo, Are you serious! Dominicans and Haitians are two distinct groups of people. Haitians are mostly pure africans with a 2% mulatto population. There's only been one president of Haitian extraction in the D.R.'s history, a bad one at that Ulises Hereaux. He put the country in debt, the main reason why the U.S. invaded D.R., most Dominican leaders hailed from Santiago. The province that fought more against the Haitian military and defeated them, in fact the assassin that killed Hereaux hailed from Santiago. And the president that took power in that great period was from Santiago also Good riddance..... Try a little harder Nation Builder.

*Cibaeño75
There were several other Dominican heads of state who were of Haitian extraction. Woss y Gil is one, Trujillo another, and balaguer another still (as a matter of fact Lilis and Balaguer were actually related by blood).

Gizmo, EVIDENCE PLEASE!