Tragedy in Haiti - Coursework Example

Running Head: Tragedy in Haiti Tragedy in Haiti [Institute’s Tragedy in Haiti History The history of this island goes back to the late 15th century when Christopher Columbus actually discovered this island. Soon after that, this island caught the attention of the many Spanish settlers because of the rich mineral resources that this island had. However, the French did not take much long to colonize this island and named it as Saint-Domingue. The economy of this colony was doing quite well, with the production of tons of sugar, coffee, and cotton. However, as expected, these colonists exploited the labor, which were the African slaves, to the extreme possible levels. Their French masters had no concerns for the health, safety, food shelter, human rights, mortality rates, education, and freedom of these slaves (Abbott, 1988). These slaves were living a life, which was even worse than animals and this eventually lead to rebels from them. Many slaves tried to escape away and settle in nearby mountainous areas where they can live alone and without interference from their so-called masters. Later on, many individual in an attempt to get freedom tried to mobilize these escaped slaves with the mission of destroying and killing the whites, and force them to go back, however, these movements always ended up with the French taking the lead and maintaining their dominance, but not until 1791. The year of 1971 marked the birth of Haitian revolution, which obviously aimed at abolishing slavery (Graves, 2002). This revolution was a result of many immediate and former factors. This paper actually cannot discuss that in utmost detail but would try to build a brief picture of it. Until that date, Haiti had actually developed three different castes of the people. The first cast was of the French, who were in minority. The second caste was of the people called “free of color.” This actually was a mixed caste, which came onto the scene due to the marriages of French masters and African slave women. These “free blacks” were in a better condition than the African slaves were, were literate, had positions in government and administration, could own land and property. Lastly, there were the African slaves were more ten times in population that the whites. Important here to note is that there was immense tension between all of these three castes of people. The second most aspect was the disparity in loyalties. Haiti had never been a free land. As the former paragraphs suggest that it was in the control of multiple masters, and more importantly, there former masters, the British, and the Spanish still were very much interested in this piece of land. Moreover, elements loyal to French, British, and Spanish were there and the later history would witness conflicts amongst these groups as well. It was due to the efforts of Francois Mackandal and Dutty Boukman that slaves finally stood one platform to fight their former masters (Ngcheong-Lum & Jermyn, 2005). Important here to note is that while this revolution is against the French masters, the British and the Spanish elements are also trying dreaming to establish their own dominance in the island. Toussaint L’ouverture was one of the greatest military leaders that the Haitian community could ever have (Arthur, 2002). He had a vision in mind, he knew that unity, and discipline is the key. Surprisingly, he took the side of the weak French forces to make sure that he eliminates the British and Spanish elements. Then he began to rule the island as an autonomous leader. However, the war was not over yet. Under the idea and instructions of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French army again marched towards the island trying to take control away from Toussaint. He became weak because of two important factors. Firstly, it was due to the support of “free blacks” to the French army. Secondly, few of Toussaint friends and strategist like Jean-Jacques Dessalines defected on the French side thinking that they would not establish slavery this time. Toussaint died and then Dessalines took the charge of the Haitian army because he had realized that French have the intentions of reestablishing slavery (Arthur, 2002). A very important event, which finally led to the Haitian independence, was the purchase of Louisiana by Napoleon to the United States. The US president Thomas Jefferson bough it in exchange of 15 million dollars, and experts believe that Napoleon took this surprising decision because he was loosing interest in the western hemisphere. On the other side, it benefited the US to such an extent that without even shedding a single drop of blood or human life, he doubled the size of the US and gave them control over the Atlantic Ocean. Napoleon after selling this area to the US did not send any further armies to Haiti for the war and Dessalines finally and officially declared Haiti as an independent country on January 1, 1804. Earthquake and its after effects January 12, 2010 would remain as one of the darkest days in the history of Haiti, the reason being the earthquake of 7.0 magnitudes that struck Haiti causing more than 0.2 millions deaths and has left more than 1 million people homeless. The economic and financial damage is there but health care experts are now concerned about the mental and psychological damage that this earthquake has caused. "Stay away! I dont want you to touch me,” Hugo Emmanuel, a 49 year old, educated male said these words when a nurse was trying to clean and wash his leg, which had many injuries. He says that everybody (the doctors) is trying to poison him. Emmanuel is just one of the thousands of the people suffering this huge trauma (Bajak, 2010). The reasons due to which, Emmanuel behaved this way and is thinking this way is pretty much understandable and explainable. The Haiti people for the past few days have only seen dead bodies, shattered buildings, blood and bones, cries and mourning and destruction. Medical care experts understand that what would happen to a person if he sees his loved ones and his empire, property, or community ending in front of his very own eyes. Moreover, all of this happened without any previous signal or clue. How can you expect a person to live a normal life with good mental balance when his support is no longer there with him? It takes at least weeks for us to recover from the shock of losing any of our family members. Imaging it is quite traumatic, that how would the surviving Haitian would be feeling when he has to live with his broken arm, injured eye, lost job, homeless, weathless, under open sky, without proper sanitation facilities, with no or less food and with surrounding that present a view of complete disaster. Experts believe that all this would have a long-term impact on the health and minds of the Haitians. In fact, they would carry this baggage of fear, mental disturbance and nightmares with them and only the next breed of the Haitians would be free from this if these parents would not tell them the stories of this destruction repeatedly. Doctors believe that fear, stress, anxiety, violence, depression, lack of self-confidence, and other problems would be common in this breed of Haitians. Providing Mental Health care Providing Haitians with mental health care would be one of the biggest challenges for the organizations that are working there. In fact, let us admit, that whatever we do, the life of Haitians and their mental conditions would never ever be the same. However, there is the possibility to improve it significantly. The strategy for the same would have to be comprehensive. The first step in this regard would be to put a hold on the storm and overwhelming feelings of the Haitians that are actually developing inside them. The best way to give them internal satisfaction would be by religious prayers and ceremonies. Haiti is country with majority of Roman Catholics Christians and many Protestants. In short, the dominant majority is of Christians. Therefore, by regular religious ceremonies and lectures, the fathers of the church and religious personalities can really provide them some help to absorb the shock and accepting the situation (Mcgrory, 2010). The second step would be provide as much recreational activities , games, sports and social sitting places to these people. This is because of the fact that most of these have nothing to do these days and with their empty brains, they get a lot of time to think but that incident which is further hampering their mental condition. Sports would bring them together; bring them some joy and something to cheer. The third step would include immediate restoration of the reconstruction of the buildings and other facilities. Despite the fact that the reconstruction and recovery work is not possible to complete within a few months but at least by removing the dead bodes, blood, destruction signs and garbage, the Haitian minds would slowly start to forget the destruction or at least the impact would lessen. Moreover, the Haitians are in intense and immediate need of ample psychologists and mental care experts to provide them counseling and take corrective actions. References Abbott, Elizabeth. (1988). Haiti: the Duvaliers and their legacy. McGraw-Hill. Arthur, Charles. (2002). Haiti: a guide to the people, politics, and culture. Interlink Books. Bajak, Frank. (2010). Mental Health in Haiti: Nation Copes With Trauma. Retrieved on February 26, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/08/mental-health-in-haiti-na_n_453061.html Graves, Kerry A. (2002). Haiti. Capstone Press. Mcgrory, Kathleen (2010). Earthquake takes toll on mental health of Haitis children. Retrieved on February 26, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02/04/1948604/earthquake-takes-toll-on-mental.html Ngcheong-Lum, Roseline, & Jermyn, Leslie. (2005). Haiti. Marshall Cavendish. Read More