To the Editor:
I write this letter with great appreciation for The Herald for covering my talk last Thursday. While much of that article clearly presents the points made that evening, the following statement is inaccurate:
"‘There's a lack of truth' about the role Western governments played in the earthquake relief process, Moynihan said. By impeding the autonomy of the Haitian government, international powers interfere with the Haitian people's homegrown efforts to improve their situation, he said."
First, the term Western, especially when used in the case of Haiti, is anachronistic — maybe even misleading. It certainly ignores Haiti's importance as the birthplace of what is classically referred to as the New World. It is my hope that the dialogue around Haiti will one day be less dominated by its unfortunate health issues and economic status and more focused on this great nation's importance in our hemisphere and our own history. Haiti and its people have been and continue to be important contributors to the culture of freedom in the Western hemisphere. This is the first thing I would like to come to mind when discussing Haiti.
Second, Haiti would only benefit from more state-to-state interaction. The very point of my talk is to encourage that Haiti be interacted with as a nation. At a presentation of this same talk in Birmingham, Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, D-AL, asked me who I would most like to discuss Haiti's situation with. I responded, "Secretary Clinton, in order to encourage a more consistent interaction with Haiti."
Finally, it is in fact the large international non-governmental organizations which, to use the author's words, "(impede) the autonomy of the Haitian government" and the "Haitian people's homegrown efforts to improve their situation." These organizations are neither equipped, nor do they have the expertise, to help Haiti develop the social institutions that are necessary for Haiti to advance as a nation. Unfortunately, they were repositories of the lion's share of money given by individuals from around the world to help Haiti.
Deacon Patrick Moynihan '87
President of the Haitian Project
