Tuesday and Wednesday experiences

Yesterday (Tuesday), we went to St. Clare's feeding program. Started by Father Jena-Juste, the program feeds 1200 children a day. Father Jean-Juste is well known leader in Haiti having been a political prisoner who was falsely charged after the last coup (when Aristide was forced to leave). The feeding program is in an extremely poor part of Haiti. In the United States, we are disconnected from this level of poverty. It was overwhelming to see 1200 children standing a gate waiting to get their only real meal of the day.5 yeaar old children stand on line with their two year old siblings to get fed. The five year olds feed the younger children. Still they are children and full of wonderment. Their curiosity about us was great. They wanted to touch our white skin because they were curious about it. For some one who has worked in low income communities in the U.S. most of my adult life, there is nothing to compare to this level of extreme poverty. This is the result of a country with a history of being exploited by the U.S. and other wealthy countries. There are an increasing number of children who are dying of starvation recently because of the increasing food prices.an

Today (Wednesday), we went to visit with Mario Joseph of the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (International Lawyers Office). I have such respect for his courage in organizing Haitians and challenging horrendous imprisonment of political prisoners in Haiti. He has been successful in getting the release of high profile prisoners within Haiti and challenging Haiti's unfair legal and prison practices in the International Court in the Hague. BAI partners with organizations in the U.S. to get judgements against former Haitian military and political leaders who have been at the center of oppression and torture. In such a volatile political atmosphere, and Mario Joseph shows great courage in leading these challenges.

This afternoon we met with a couple, Ari and Carla. Ari is Haitian and Carla came from the United States. They educate foreigners about the history of Haiti - especially what slavery, racism and oppression has done to the culture and society. The talked with us about voodoo and how it is central to Haitian identity, culture and world view. Missionaries and others who have asserted their power in Haiti used it to suppress voodoo.

Oddly enough we went to lunch at restaurant that was just like a subway sandwich shop. Marcy