Wi Nou Kapab

We were on the way home from the clinic about a month ago when my eye caught a very familiar looking logo on the back of an SUV sitting next to us in traffic - a blue circle with rising white sun over red and white stripes. While at first glance it looked like a typical campaign bumper sticker, looking closer I read "Obama/Biden Wi Nou Kapab" (Haitian Kreyol for "yes we can"). I've been doing my best to track one down as a little memorial of a historical election and a big birthday here in Haiti. I think they may have been produced by Young Haitians for Obama but haven't managed to find one yet.

As in much of the world, Obama is very popular in Haiti. There were pre-election pro-Obama rallies here in Port-au-prince. The unfolding of the US election results was broadcast live on local Haitian television. I even saw a flyer advertising a concert in his honor. At 12:30am on Nov 5, my co-worker sent me a celebratory text message with the electoral college vote tally. Later that morning at work, after she finally saw Obama in person for the first time on the TV in the waiting room, she told me that she thinks I look like Obama. A very blue eyed, blond haired North American friend later told me that one of his Haitian colleagues said the same thing to him. I can definitively say that my friend does NOT look anything like Obama but I'm still just going to take my colleague's statement for the compliment I am pretty sure it was intended to be!

While it's not surprising that many Haitians were pro-Obama; what is more interesting is that back during the primaries a good portion of the Haitian population was very afraid of Hillary Clinton becoming president. There is a complex history between Haiti and the Clintons. (A warning - I do not know as much about this as I should and thus this explanation is likely oversimplified) This 2003 Wall Street Journal article gives you some quick background on why Bill Clinton is considered by many Haitians as a friend and supporter of former president Arisitide. Aristide, who had been democratically elected in 1990 but then overthrown in 1991 in a military coup, came back to power in 1994 with the backing of the Clinton administration. In more recent years, there have been lawsuits filed in the US accusing Aristide of receiving kick-backs from corrupt deals with US telecommunications companies that have ties to high-level officials from Clinton's administration.

Aristide, now more or less in exile in South Africa after being forcibly removed from office in 2004 (once again with US government involvement) remains an incredibly divisive personality here on the island and among the Haitian diaspora. As an outsider, it's almost impossible for me to know of what to think of him. He started as a liberation theologian priest with a strong voice for the poor and social justice. By the time he left office, Aristide's tenure was clouded by allegations of inciting political violence and kidnapping, involvement in the drug trade and generalized corruption. A certain percentage of the population still hopes for his return to political power. Many others, including most of the middle and upper class, see him as a corrupt and dangerous person who furthered Haiti's decline into poverty and violence. They fear his return.

Given the associations here between the Clintons and Aristide, it will be very interesting to hear what rumors start floating about if Hillary does indeed get appointed Secretary of State. I would not be surprised if it fuels some whisperings again about Aristide's return to Haiti - a fairly common rumor that surfaces at almost any opportunity. It's so interesting (and quite scary actually) to watch how dominant a role US politics and policies can play in a place that so few of North Americans ever even think twice of - except when it comes to mission trip support letters or fund drives for the latest disaster relief effort. The truth is that your US electoral vote may be more of a contribution to Haiti's wellbeing (or not) than a jump-a-thon pledge to support such causes ever could.

Back to an Obama note..to the right is a picture of my favorite piece of Obama propaganda. A fabulous set of chairs on display at a store in NYC. The print actually reminds me quite a bit of fabrics common in Central and West Africa that feature bright pop art-esque images of political candidates, musicians and other famous folks that people proudly sew and sport as shirts and dresses. Would not be surprised if some people are already decked out in Obama's image there too.