Throughout the year, UNESCO had organized many commemorative events in close cooperation with its member states" and governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the launching of the research and information program "the Forgotten Slaves," an exhibit at the UNESCO's headquarters in Stockholm Sweden entitled "Lest We Forget: Triumph on Slavery," the Ceremony of the Award of Toussaint Louverture Prize, the International Conference on the theme "Issues of Memory: Coming to terms with the Slave Trade and Slavery," and the International Symposium on the Slave Trade Archives Project in Havana, Cuba, and so on. The worldwide, yearlong commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Haitian Slave Revolution Victory was very important for Haitians and Blacks all over the world. The 1791 revolution, which took place during the 18th Century, beside the American Revolution of 1774 and the French Revolution of 1789, was excluded for years from the pages of world history textbooks, despite its contribution to the abolition of slavery in the world.
New York: Cruising into History was the theme at a luncheon last Wednesday, hosted by editorial director of Essence Magazine, Susan Taylor onboard the Serenade of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean luxury liner. To commemorate Haiti's bi-centennial anniversary of independence, Ron Daniels, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, developed the concept of Cruising into history. On August 12-21, 2004, `Cruising into History' will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Haitian Independence.
There is a bit of hope on the horizon. According to the Associated Press, self styled "General Toutou," one of the most powerful armed gang leaders linked to [Aristide], said he'd be willing to give himself up if United Nations peacekeepers would guarantee his safety. "If the (U.N. mission) is ready to guarantee our security, we'd be ready to give up the fight," said Toutou," whose real name is unknown. Government officials have accused "Toutou" of involvement in the slaying of prominent Le Matin journalist Jacques Roche along with dozens of other killings and kidnapings. "Toutou" has denied any connection with Roche's death.
Who is it that speaks for our private face? Those of us who take communion at Mass on Sunday morning still intoxicated with the echoes of beating drums from the Vodun ceremony the night before. You know the saying: We are 95% Roman Catholic and 95% percent Vodun. What is it that makes a former Catholic priest more apt to run a country than say, a Vodun priest, a Hougan? To most of us, this would be an atrocity. The country would certainly fall into the wrath of hell if this were to take place. We are trying to move forward not backward, the voices of decency would say. And besides, you would not find a well-educated, well-traveled Vodun priest in the mountains of Ayiti. Ayiti's vision is found in Vodun. Not the religion that it has become, but the very essence of the spirituality. It is the essence of the Ayitian people. After all, these were the conditions under which Ayiti gained its independence. Our country was formed in a ritual - a ritual that called on the guidance and protection of our ancestors who survived the journey from Guinea, as they say in Vodun, and those who were indigenous to the land. The essence of Vodun is to give honor to those whose shoulders we stand on. It is a reverence to the unseen forces that truly determine our fate as a country and it is a time-tested method handed down to us to ensure a successful life.
