re: Médecins ou mollusques?

To: Retort
From: KMc

Although Gupta admitted he didn't know why, by whom, or to where the  
medical staff were being relocated, it's possible that he was right in  
this case. But let's not take CNN coverage at face value.

Like most US media competing for ratings from this catastrophe, albeit  
with sympathy for the victims, CNN's version of reality is  
unencumbered by any knowledge of present or past Haitian reality.  
Intentionally or not, Cooper's portrayal of Gupta as US lone hero, his  
Honore interview, and the inference of his constant question, "Why are  
our (US military) efforts to get aid where it's needed still blocked?"  
adds to the UN-bashing and US adulation that is standard CNN fare.

In contrast to other Roland Hedleys, Cooper takes a stab at context.  
For instance, his explanation of the landslide linked to deforestation  
cites tree-cutting for charcoal, which does occur, but his subtext is  
that Haitians at least partially brought their troubles upon  
themselves. There's no mention of two centuries' shipping of tropical  
hardwoods to Europe or of Haiti's huge post-colonial payments to  
compensate France for loss of slave plantations, or the long  
international embargo of the country as punishment for the first  
successful back independence struggle.

Like other networks and op-ed pundits, CNN reporters refer to Haiti's  
extreme material poverty despite, they say, a history of US efforts to  
"help". None have any sense of who was actually helped by the 1915-35  
US occupation (US & French banks, agribusiness, and the small Haitian  
elite), US support of Duvalier and other dictators (same  
beneficiaries, plus sweat-shop owners), the US aid & trade policies  
that undermined staple food production and created dependence on US  
rice exports, or US-backed neoliberal "adjustment" loan conditions, or  
the ongoing undermining of the imperfect but legitimate Aristide and  
Preval governments by the US government and the Clinton Foundation.

US media now depict Haiti as a non-society with a non-government.  
Cooper keeps glancing over his shoulder in fear of the mass panic he  
says he expects. Other networks have gone out of their way to find  
evidence or report rumors of "looting", fighting over supplies, price  
gouging, and violence, occasionally punctuated by tales of "miracle"  
rescues, usually involving somebody from the US. Bill O'Reilly, having  
described Haitian society as "lawless" and entirely "run by gangs",  
was frustrated when Fox's on-the-ground reporters refused to follow  
his script, pointing instead to food being distributed by Haitians,  
their impressive efforts to dig people from the rubble, and the  
amazing dignity and calm of the wounded, thirsty, and distraught  
masses filling the street and parks.

Pat Robertson's claim that Haitians are being punished for the "deal  
with Satan" that enabled them to overthrow their French masters  
doesn't deserve comment. But even Fox couldn't outdo David Brooks,  
conservative "dean of DC columnists", who reminded NY Times readers  
that poverty such as Haiti's cannot be cured and is no way caused,  
lessened, or worsened by any US or other policies. Brooks wrote,  
citing Samuel Huntington, that the real problem is Haitians  
themselves: Haiti's "progress-resistant" culture, with its "voodoo  
religion", "social mistrust", failure to internalize responsibility,  
and neglectful "child-rearing practices, is the underlying cause of  
Haiti's tragedy".

Meanwhile, thousands of brave and generous Haitians and  
internationalists are doing what needs to be done, and we can help.  
For now, Partners in Health/ Zanmi Lasante, largely Haitian-run, seems  
to be one of the best-positioned, experienced, and trustworthy sources  
of emergency aid, so that's where my too-small donation has gone.  
Later, we can return to solidarity support for the indigenous Haitian  
organizations that have determinedly been building social strength  
from below and fighting the legacy of isolation and exploitation from  
abroad.