All of you guys are destroying my thread with all these theatrics. I think it's important to get back to the topic at hand. We all know that both nations are heavily at fault for the history of malice relations between each other. Instead of wasting time arguing about events that happened long ago, why don't we find a way to improve our relation and showcase things that make us similar. The 1800's has long past. Let's not make the same mistake of our ancestors. Dwelling on the past is what gives birth to extreme nationalism and racism. For goodness sakes both countries have bleed enough. Hispaniola is a boat and if one side feels up with water, the other will rise and sink along with it.

It's still my opinion that Haiti would have a better chance presenting its case for reparations were it to make it jointly with other victims of french colonialism (heck, more like economic genocide IMHO), like Algeria, for example.

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I believe that would be a good case to demand reparations. But to be honest, it would catapult a massive repatriation epidemic across all colonized countries of the world. France and Spain ALONE colonized many countries. Ravaged and pillaged many different lands in the name of their current monarchy. I believe that if Haiti can get reparations, what would stop Mexico, Peru, and Colombia from getting paid back from all the gold taken away from the Aztecs, Incans, and other indians. In a way, I doubt any of the world powers would pay reparations.

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These topics are just a big circle. We have discussed the same topics in sooooooo many different threads. Ciby has talked about the monument so many times. I mean right now, DR is getting a lot of heat from people that don't know about the history of the island and between both countries. Haitian dispora alike like the international organizations are defaming DR without knowing the issues at hand.

I think right now, DR and Haiti are working closely together. We know that president Preval and Fernandez have a close relationship. Our Dominican and Haitians who contribute on this site and live on the island can confirm the relationship with both statesman and countries. Like Ciby said, we need to commerate the events with monuments to honor the innocents that have died on both sides.

Now in 2008, DR and HT relations:

1. DR is using cheap illegal labor to develop it's infrastructure
2. HT crossover the border illegally to fill these jobs in large numbers. (No jobs in Haiti)
3. DR wil have a free-trade agreement in 2009 with HT
4. DR will help Haiti with the civil registry by using the technology that JCE currently applies.
5. HT born in DR will be identified as HT on there Dominican ID card.
6. Free zone companies will be developed in the Haitian border areas to create jobs for Haitians.
7. DR has vouched in all international forums for aid for Haiti.
8. Haiti found offense for DR speaking out for Haiti.
9. Haitian President Rene Preval Garcia will visit the DR for Leonel Fernandez Reyna inauguration this Saturday August 16, 2008. Relations btwn. both are very close.

Dominican and Haitians alike add more to the relations in 2008

I agree the thought of reparations is a dream, and it makes little sense in any case. All the colonizers were once colonized themselves. Many of the ex-colonies will very likely one day be colonizers. Also, the citizens of the imperial nations would have a legit complaint in asking why their tax money is being spent this way.

Cib mentioned if we don't learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it. I would suggest that as far as the big picture goes we are doomed to repeat it in any case.

Cibaeño75
Your statement is so true, I believe we should learn from the past. Yet I feel that there are people from our respective countries that don't want to learn from the past. There's a saying that the truth sometimes hurt, if lies can sustains some people's nationalism and sense of superiority ideologies afloat, they will search for anything that can keep them content. Moreover, I have come to realize that emotions distorts our judgements. Right now, not everyone is on the same boat of being neutral and seeking the truth. We face some nationalistic people from each side of the island trying to plead their case with biased evidence. I have come across many dominicans and haitians throughout my lifetime. I think a problem with our history, is that too many people have a distorted view of history. I know some dominicans that think Trujillo was the man, and some who feel that he was a treacherous dictator. Its all about who you ask.



I agree with your statement. I believe haitians and dominicans both have done terrible actions to each other. The problem that arises here, NY4LIfe, is the influx of emotions involved in our debates. Despite popular belief, I do believe that haitians are willing to sit and listen if we both put our sense of superiority aside and talk about how to move to the 21st century together. Haiti and DR is truly like a boat, where one part is afloat, while the other is sinking. How are we going to fix this problem if we keep on saying DR or Haiti is the best, and us blaming each other. I feel that we should try to get the whole boat afloat. It would be to DRs best interest for a stable Haiti. A stable haiti, means more trade partnership, more stability less haitian migrants crossing the border. And I can speak for most people, that moving to the 21st century will be necessary for both countries to see eye to eye and try to work together.

Lautaro, Said
He played because he made his book while under Trujillo's payroll, and per a set of guideline points on instructions of the dictator (which made it obvious that he would not deviate from the official line of the regime, that is, to paint the haitians as a bunch of straight-out-of-Africa-good-for-nothing savages).

USADR Keep quoting Otto Schoenrich's masterpiece work, it's based on facts. Let me give you some facts on this book. It was published in April 1918, meaning that Rafael Leonidas Trujillo was not in power to influence this work. Rafael Leonidas Trujillo was in office 1930-1961. Let's get our facts straight people.

If haitians were such great administrator's of their own country. Why did Haiti become divided by itself Lautaro. Haiti became divided North by the powerful military black elites, led by Henry Christophe. And a small chunk of haiti's south peninsula, by the small wealthy mulatto elite's led by Alexander Petion. Then due to Alexander's death and Christophe's suicide Boyer unites Haiti as one. If you know history when Boyer invades the spanish portion of the island, the black majority was influential in dictating Boyer's administration not the small mulatto elite, the small mulatto elite was not involved in the occupation of the old spanish portion of land or Spanish Haiti. That's where the schism becomes a problem to his administration, Jean Pierre Boyer was a dark mulatto born in Port-au-Prince his father was a tailor his mother a congo negress. He adhered to his black generals in his decisions. He was a general that soon exposed himself for who he was a Despotic-Dictator.
Picture of Jean Pierre Boyer http://www.numismondo.com/pm/hti/Prez/Pres_Jean_Pierre_Boyer_.jpg Boyer's africanization-plan which in part was unsuccessful in creating a strong African-State, because he originally wanted to bring 100,000 former African-American slaves. Although he brought an unknown number, many returned back to the U.S. due to the fact that many could not tolerate the poverty found in the island. Because of Boyer's terrible administration, many of the descendants still live in Samana. But some settled Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo. He also emigrated black haitians into the old spanish portion of the island, it is well documented. http://www.robbinsbecher.com/Samana.html

The origins of Jean Pierre Boyer his father was a tailor, his mother was a Congo negress. http://www.samanacollege.com/dominican01.html