There is a song that was popular in the 90’s. One of the lines from the end of the song is, “You know where it ends, though it usually depends on where you start”. This is relatable to the world in general. It is myth to say that everyone can accomplish the same things in life if they work hard enough. This is an American made myth. “We” as Americans often try to apply this myth to other situations around the globe. I have personally heard people say “the reason all of those people live in poverty like that is because they don’t want to do any better.”
After I walked away for a while so that I could count to ten (before I went to jail for assault), we began a discussion about the chain of poverty. We hear and see things all the time that prove that generational poverty does exist. Then, I went on to that the root is education. It takes money to educate people. When people are educated, they know more about how to take care of their bodies. When people are properly educated, acts of pure hate and discrimination are less likely to happen. When people are educated, society sees themselves as useful. When people are educated, they feel better about themselves and feel inspired. When people feel inspired, movements and revolutions happen.
I agree that education can do all of those things for people, and even with my American privilege, I would not be quite the same person without the education that I am receiving. Having said that, I've struggled with this section of our class. I have thought on how education will benefit Haitians without the resources to better themselves with what they have learned. Their schools are dilapidated, and their living conditions are a sad sight to see. All the cards seemed to be stacked against them, and they seem to need a drastic change to occur, and quickly. A new government insistent on building up Haiti and it's people would seem like a great start, but how can they achieve that? Why can't powerful nations of the world step up to make the difference that is needed? Why must all the people of Haiti be treated like a national pariah? The more I try to imagine solutions, the more questions I have. There is no quick and easy solution which is the daunting part of it all. Haitians seem stuck, and yet I do honestly feel that change is possible even if it is incremental and slow-going.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I do not mean for it to sound as if better education will do them no good. I know that would be an untrue statement. It might be that step towards the incremental change needed. The situation in Haiti just seems so dire that I want there to be an easy solution, something that will fix it quickly, because slow-going means continued suffering and a continued struggle. Unfortunately, maybe "slow-going" is the difficult reality that lay the road ahead of them without the proper involvement needed to instigate positive change.
Yes, I completely understand where you are coming from. I hate how in America when it comes to poverty we think, generally, that those that lack a good education or are homeless is solely because of their lack of motivation and nothing else plays a role in that. I beg to differ. Just as it is happening in America, it too is happening in Haiti. As I analyze the general education level of Haitians it saddens because it makes me feel, that no one cares about Haiti. Yet not only that no ones cares about Haiti's future. Is it that others don't put energy into building schools because they believe there is no point? What does this message give to the children in Haiti?
ReplyDeleteThis conversation reminds me of the article concerning the culture of poverty. These stereotypes you mention about poor people extend to other nations. I hear the same remarks made in discussions about nations, such as Haiti, that do not resemble American society . An example: "They don't want progress. They enjoy living their primitive lives; it's their culture." So many problematic statements exist here. Just because someone or a community do not live Americanized lives or seek to attain education set by our standards does not mean that they are inferior. It also does not mean that they are deserving of unfair treatments. Stereotypes, like the ones mentioned, perform the work of normalizing unjust practices and policies by blaming others for their own poverty.
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with the fact that America uses the myth of meritocracy as a way to justify that everyone has the same opportunity if they just work hard, which we all know is not true and very problematic. As stated by several of you, education is the brightest hope for breaking the cycle of generational poverty. It troubles me after seeing and reading about the hardships that are faced in Haiti daily. With the lack of resources just to meet basic living requirements, I come to learn that Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The fact that Haiti lacks education and job opportunities, how is it that many feel that they are looking for a handout? If Haiti lacks the necessary resources to prosper and rebuild, what else other than poverty do you expect to see? I am aware that things do not change over night, but Haiti has and continues to face many years of oppression that should've been resolved to a certain point by now.
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