Having been stopped (as usual) to show my US passport [because with my appearance they are convinced that I must be Dominican, therefore attempting to sneak into the USA, so even though not necessary I have to carry a US passport as they think that NY state ID might be fraudulent] ...
I have similar problems in reverse. Since I look European, and go by an Anglo name, I have no problem travelling from PR to the States. But when I return to the U.S. from a foreign country, the immigration guys see from my U.S. passport that I am from PR, and suspect something because of my speech and appearance. Sometimes they ask me to "say something in Spanish." Sometimes they look me up in their database and my original name pops up. Although it is legal to have your passport issued with a name that you commonly use, rather than your original name, it convinces them that there is some skulduggery afoot. I guess anything out of the ordinary raises red flags with the authorities. My problem is trivial compared to yours, of course, because I return from foreign countries much less often than I return from PR.
caribj wrote:
In the DR every black is a Haitian and in Puerto Rico every black is Dominican.
Now that is funny. Sad but funny.
I was actually going to ask you if people (those who know you are Hspanic) ask you if you are Cuban, given your phenotype. Another stereotype in te US is that "all Cubans are white".
I can certainly relate to the socalled red flags your appearance gives to those ignorant of Puerto Rico. Indeed when I was there I discovered that having an Anglo Saxon name (or Italian or French) is by no means exceptional.
A Dominican I know who is light skinned, in a stereotypical Puerto Rican kind of way, told me that he often has to justify EVEN TO OTHER DOMINICANS in New York that he is Dominican and not Puerto Rican. They tease him.
Cimmerian can you cite any Caribbean country (other than the DR) where people born there of Haitian parentage are denied citizenship?
Let us first be very clear about what you just stated. DR has it's own citizenship laws that are applied to all, not just one particular group. DR does not have any official policy or citizenship rules that are targeted specifically to just Haitians. If what you just stated was factual, then how do you explain Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, who was of Haitian parentage and adopted by a Domincian family, become a multi term mayor of the capital city and virtually win the presidential election? The following is just one example of non-Dominicans, including Haitians obtaining citizenship:
SANTO DOMINGO.- The Central Electoral Board’s (JCE) Administrative Chamber president yesterday revealed that most of the foreigners living in the country lack the certificate of residence, whereas statistics show that Cubans lead all foreigners in adopting Dominican citizenship.
Robert Rosario asked the consulates and embassies to instruct their citizens to conclude the accreditation process.
He said the situation has become a problem since those foreign citizens don’t figure as registered in the JCE archives. “The majority of the foreigners don’t finish by retrieving the residence certificate and many foreigners simply don’t obtain it and this is a time for us to identify to those foreigners."
He said the process of gathering biometric data seeks to register the fingerprints, the signature and the photo in a single document is a great opportunity for the foreigners to register and regulate their situation.
According to Interior and Police Ministry statistics 2,234 foreigners have decided to adopt the Dominican nationality in the last four years, this amount: 580 Cubans, 481 Chinese, 348 Americans, and 147 Venezuelans.
Oddly, only 18 Haitians have taken the oath to become a naturalized Dominican citizen.
^
The fact is that Haitians make the overwhelming bulk of illegal immigrants. Said immigrants come from the poorest sectors of Haitian society which is another factor. It is a very different story for a Haitian doctor, engineer or diplomat and their families. DR is a LatinAmerica nation and socioeconomic class & connections are the biggest factors in determining ones lot in life. Can you cite any Dominican law that prevents people born in DR to Haitian parentage citizenship?
And allow me to expand a bit more on this issue with a bit of history and practical reality:
1- Don't forget that these stingent rules against haitians stems from the fact that the DR has already lost territory to Haiti's uncontrolled demographic growth (3,165 km2, the so called Central Plateau of the island) on the "final" border negotiations of the 1930's. Dominican territory was bigger before this, but Haitian encroachment onto that area influenced those negotations.
2- Given that Haiti has ZERO medical facilities to attend the needs of its growing population, the haitian women have to give birth in the dominican facilities of borderlands. You can reference this yourself, medical care given to illegal Haitian immigrants who can make up to 30-40% of patients in those hospitals. If we committed the lunacy of following a strict "jus soli" rule like you, caribj propose, then every child born from a haitian woman would be dominican from now on, setting the stage for DR to become a satellite of Haiti because of the huge haitian ethnicity in a not so distant future. Similar events are happening right now in the Bahamas. Like in the abolition of slavery made by the french commisioners Sonthonax and Polverel (1793), the haitian parents of the children born on our hospital would simply force the dominican state to give them the dominican nationality by default, and that, we can't allow. Sonthonax tried to limit the abolition to the slave military chiefs, but the latter forced him to grant it to the rest of the population.
So to add to the past historical aggresions, there is also the issue of constant Haitian encroachment onto Dominican territory. These are just opinions as to what Dominicans suggest could have influenced to stringent migratory laws.
can you cite any Caribbean country (other than the DR) where people born there of Haitian parentage are denied citizenship?
Like I said, there are no citizenship laws that specifically target Haitians in DR, but the following is a brief snapshot of a similar situation they face in the Bahamas:
http://www.haiti-info.com/spip.php?article240 Haitians living in limbo Mr. Sedione was born here 22 years ago. But he’s not a Bahamian citizen because his parents are Haitians. He’s not a Haitian citizen either. He’s never been to Haiti. And though he has applied three times for Bahamian citizenship and spent about $4,500 on paperwork and lawyers, he has nothing to show for his efforts.
This community is here because of discrimination," Mr. Sedione says. "When you’ve been treated so bad, so long, you don’t feel for the Bahamas. I don’t know why the Bahamians hate us so much." In the Bahamas, the burgeoning Haitian population is openly referred to as the "Haitian problem."
http://www.minorityrights.org/2189/bahamas/haitians.html Anti-Haitian prejudice and resentment
Anti-Haitian prejudice and resentment over continued Haitian immigration is common. It is felt that anti-Haitian attitudes are the result of efforts by the authorities to stem the steady influx of illegal Haitian migrants, and public positions adopted by local politicians to try to appear tough on immigration.
Haitians are conspicuous and have frequently been targets for harassment and forced repatriations
http://www.bahamapundit.com/2005/09/the_haitian_mig.html
Continuing to exclude, denigrate and exploit the Haitian community will have serious repercussions.
http://www.bahamascommunity.com/blog/archives/000236racism_rampant_in_the_bahamas.html Racism Rampant in The Bahamas
It is a fact that, too many Bahamians harbour anti-foreigner, racist attitudes and the government is only fueling that fire by blaming everything that's wrong with the country on whites, foreigners and Haitian immigrants. While there is certainly a problem with illegal immigration, it is not the root of all evil in the Bahamas. Haitian immigrants have nothing to do with the many deeper social problems affecting the country and they should not be used as a scapegoat to fuel anti-foreinger or racist attitudes.
http://consciousvibration.blogspot.com/
We in the Bahamas traffic in ugly and hateful language when speaking about Haitians and Haitian Bahamians. Our government policies on “illegal” immigration and the detention of Haitian migrants in the Bahamas is too often inhumane and violates the most basic notions of human rights.
http://www.theipinionsjournal.com/index.php/2005/03/the-plague-of-haitian-refugees-in-the-caribbean/ The Plague of Haitian Refugees in the Caribbean…
Caribbean nations are becoming extremely exasperated with the seemingly endless influx of Haitian refugees into their countries. Nevertheless, some countries are facing an immigration crisis that poses a severe challenge to national governance. This is especially so in countries like the Turks and Caicos and Cayman Islands where Haitians threaten to outnumber natives unless immigration controls are enacted and enforced zealously
All Caribbean governments must recognize that this is not a crisis that can be managed with political rhetoric - as the Americans have done with their Mexican immigration problem. But at least the United States can assimilate its 12 million undocumented Mexicans (and, indeed many more) without suffering any noticeable impact on its national resources. By contrast, however, Caribbean countries cannot sustain the shocks to infrastructure and siphoning of resources that the uncontrolled influx of Haitians would inflict. Therefore, our governments must take aggressive action to seal our borders and repatriate Haitians who cannot present a legal or equitable claim against deportation.
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/news/130/ARTICLE/14063/2007-09-07.html Recent Haitian Arrivals
Haitian society is very different from Bahamian society. In many respects Haiti has had less European influence than say a former British colony like The Bahamas where British institutions were established. The socialization of the Haitian took a different stance, hence the Haitian approach to societal issues is very different to the approach taken by Bahamians. A prime example is child labour and domestic work.
The Bahamas is experiencing a relentless influx of illegal immigrants.
Answers have to be found; if not, we run the risk of events similar to those of the late 18th century. History could repeat itself.
http://researchjournal.cob.edu.bs/index.php?journal=files&page=index The Stigma of Being “Haitian” in The Bahamas
In
common with migrant groups elsewhere, a stigma has become attached to being a Haitian migrant in
The Bahamas. Primarily through the use of census data and newspaper articles, the paper attempts to
explain this stigma. Haitian migrants are associated with illegal status, poor education, and poverty.
Language is a barrier which prevents Haitian migrants from fully participating in society and makes
them distinct from the general population. Children born in The Bahamas of migrants may face the
prospect of being stateless. The paper stresses the need for the resident community to ensure that the
stigma does not result in marginalisation and lead to a breakdown in relations between the Haitian and
non-Haitian groups.
Bahamians
have been found to exhibit a strong sense of
national self-identity and consequently are more
inclined to exclude “outgroups” and exhibit
xenophobic tendencies.In Guadeloupe, the Haitian
population has suffered structural exclusion,
symbolic denigration, economic and residential
marginality, suspicion and stigma by the hostsociety (Brodwin 2000, 2001, & 2003).
In addition, many
Bahamians claim to be able to distinguish Haitian
nationals by their dress and physical appearance
^
Please note that I do not make any overly simplistic generalizations of Bahamians regarding how they self-identify and wether or not they're suffering from 'anti-Haitianismo" based on this migratory issue they're having. I referenced various sources to give a basic compare and contrast with DR.
I asked you to discuss Balaguer's book on the Dominican identity, much quoted by many to cite the problem that Dominicans have with acknowledging their African roots and the supposedly race based animosity to Haitians. Do you plan to do this? Maybe other Caribbean/Latin American heads of state haveent been as explicit in recent years about ther views around race and ethnicity which is why DR gets tagged with the stigma that bothers you..
1. I have never read the book you mentioned by Balaguer. Perhaps one of the Dominican posters here has and can discuss this with you. I do see it referenced alot by those who follow the train of thought you mention, it seems that you attach alot of influential importance to it, but I cannot discuss something simply on google knowledge. Balaguers book is not a standard school text, and neither is it considered the be all of Dominican culture.
Quote:
BTW I went to youtube and focused only on comments made by people of Dominican descent, those presumably born and/or raised in NY who spoke English. There was some laughter at "racial" attitudes of the older generation. Some comments about some who looked "Haitian" (I guess meaning unmixed SubSaharan African appearance as Haiti carries a braod range of phenotypes) yet became enraged if called "black". Not scientific I agree but interesting as these comments were not being made by either African Americans, Haitians or West Indians (or even Cubans) who often scratch their heads when trying to figure out Dominican attitudes to race/color.
1. Like I said, Youtube is like the internet. Some gems of knowledge buried under tons of garbage. A haven for all types of extremist (racist, racialist, color struck, cultural hijackers, historical revisionist, etc.). I can pretty much find anything on Youtube to support a variety of viewpoints.
2. You seem to imply that Dominicans are somehow unique in that they suffer from sometype of 'racial confusion' regarding their Afro admixture.
Cubans often 'scratch their heads' trying to figure out our attitudes on race?
I am 100% Dominican, born in DR and raised in the USA. I also went back to school there. I live in the Northern NJ/NYC area, meaning I was pretty much raised aroung Puerto Ricans, Cubans & Dominicans. Cubans, Dominicans or Puerto Ricans see me along the same lines (neither black or white). A black Dominican is black in DR, black in PR, and black in Cuba. I have no idea what you're trying to make Dominicans out to be. Half my family is Puerto Rican and my step father was a black Puerto Rican (RIP). I've also travelled to PR tons of times, no one there is shocked or surprised by my appearance. The truth is that there is a large overlap in terms of phenotype between the two. Of course Dominicans have more Afro admixture on average, but the Puerto Ricans in PR do not merely go by just 'having Afro admixture' to determine if one is PR or DR.
I have similar problems in reverse. Since I look European, and go by an Anglo name, I have no problem travelling from PR to the States. But when I return to the U.S. from a foreign country, the immigration guys see from my U.S. passport that I am from PR, and suspect something because of my speech and appearance. Sometimes they ask me to "say something in Spanish." Sometimes they look me up in their database and my original name pops up. Although it is legal to have your passport issued with a name that you commonly use, rather than your original name, it convinces them that there is some skulduggery afoot. I guess anything out of the ordinary raises red flags with the authorities. My problem is trivial compared to yours, of course, because I return from foreign countries much less often than I return from PR.
These incidents are pretty common among different nationalities and ethnic groups. For example, here on the East Coast majority of Mexican immigrants come from states of Mexico like Puebla. These tend to have very strong Amerindian influenced features. Whenever a Mexican from another state with more Euro admixture shows up, these very Mexicans just assume him to be either Italian or some other LatinAmerican.
Regarding Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, the dynamics between the two is very different to the one between Haitians and Dominicans. I make mention of this due to the anecdotes I see referenced here.
Due to the overlap between the two in phenotypes, and the similarities being both, along with Cubans, Spanish speaking Caribbean islands. here on the East Coast one can't just tell by simply looking at a persons' outward appearance. Speech patterns, accents and any other cultural give away will confirm this, not mere outward experience.
In PR I've been confused by Puerto Ricans for bieng Puerto Rican. They are not 'shocked or surprised' when I tell them I'm Dominican. The stereotype regarding having more visible Afroadmixture is fueled by the fact that on average Dominicans do have more Afro admixture than Puerto Ricans. And neither did Puerto Ricans see me as an illegal Domincian immigrant. People in real life are much more fluid than what's portrayed on the internet.
Puerto Ricans and Dominicans have the usual conflicts found among different nationalities, but I would never call it racism or colorism. Here on the East Coast there should be a 3rd group in addition to PR's & DR's, PuertoDominicans or Dominiricans. That's how extensive the marriages are between the two.
French political scientist Aymeric Chauprade said that the Dominican Republic would not be able to implement a development strategy to improve the lot of millions of its poor citizens as long as it continues to tolerate uncontrolled Haitian migration. He added that issues surrounding this problem are also generating negative publicity in the European Union. He said that, "all policies that try to get the poorest class into the middle class are going to be affected by this migration, and President Fernandez understands this perfectly."
Accompanied by Rosanna Pons, the Coordinator of Geopolitical Studies at the Global Democracy and Development Foundation (Funglode), Chauprade, a critic of United States foreign policy and a defender of the move towards the left currently under way in Latin America, said that the solution to the Haitian problem is not in the hands of the Dominican Republic or the United States, or even France. He said that "the problem in Haiti is one of identity... and they won't find their political stability until they find their identity."
http://dr1.com/news/2009/dnews100909.shtml#6
Haitian migrants a heavy load for Dominican Republic, OAS chief says
Santo Domingo. - OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza yesterday acknowledged that the problem of Haitian migrants is a heavy burden for Dominican Republic, and requires the international community’s support.
“Although Dominican Republic’s level of development is far beyond Haiti’s, it’s still a country of the developing world, with its needs and problems in education, health,” among others, Insulza said, speaking in the 2nd Meeting of Security Ministers of the Americas.
Interviewed by news source listin.com.do, the OAS official noted that for a developed country to receive that number (between 700,000 and one million) of immigrants is already a problem. “It’s a burden (for DR) that the international community somehow must help mitigate.”
He said the aid has worked, but little, “so there must be more support since there’s the notion that some of the Haitian population’s problems or a part of them are solved in Dominican Republic.”
Deputy Victor Bisono (PRSC-Santo Domingo) has spoken out in support of a recent statement by Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), who acknowledged the heavy burden the DR carries as a result of Haiti's internal problems. Speaking in Santo Domingo, Insulza said that the DR does not have the resources to meet the demands that illegal Haitian migrants make on the country's public services, as reported in Hoy.
Insulza says that international organizations do not understand that Haiti's problems lead to increased migration to the DR, increasing the burden on Dominican public services. He said that when discussing support strategies for Haiti, their impact on the DR also has to be taken into account. He added that support programs are also needed to deal with the problems caused by this increased migration.
Insulza was speaking following the opening session of a recent conference on regional security held in the DR.
Bisono said: "It is the first time that an international representative and its representative admit the burden that the Haitian problem represents for the DR in terms of health, education and border controls. Haiti is a regional problem and as part of the region we have our own part to carry, but not all".
http://dr1.com/#10
The perception of the average Dominican is that DR is somehow being made to absorb Haiit's poverty, sometype of 'pivot state' if youwill, by a hypocritical international community and all the NGO's (supposedly helping Haitians) rampant on both sides of the border.
[ If what you just stated was factual, then how do you explain Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, who was of Haitian parentage and adopted by a Domincian family, become a multi term mayor of the capital city and virtually win the presidential election? The following is just one example of non-Dominicans, including Haitians obtaining citizenship:
I am sure that you are aware of alleagtions of racism and anti Haitian prejudice against Juan Pena Gomez.
Maybe he got his citizenship because he was adopted. Odd that Cubans lead those awarded citizenship and not the children of Haitians born in the Dom Rep?
I asked you to discuss Balaguer's book on the Dominican identity, much quoted by many to cite the problem that Dominicans have with acknowledging their African roots and the supposedly race based animosity to Haitians. Do you plan to do this? Maybe other Caribbean/Latin American heads of state haveent been as explicit in recent years about ther views around race and ethnicity which is why DR gets tagged with the stigma that bothers you..
1. I have never read the book you mentioned by Balaguer. Perhaps one of the Dominican posters here has and can discuss this with you. I do see it referenced alot by those who follow the train of thought you mention, it seems that you attach alot of influential importance to it, but I cannot discuss something simply on google knowledge. Balaguers book is not a standard school text, and neither is it considered the be all of Dominican culture.
tep father was a black Puerto Rican (RIP). I've also travelled to PR tons of times, no one there is shocked or surprised by my appearance. The truth is that there is a large overlap in terms of phenotype between the two. Of course Dominicans have more Afro admixture on average, but the Puerto Ricans in PR do not merely go by just 'having Afro admixture' to determine if one is PR or DR.
I would think that Balaguer, President of the DR for a long time, would have had much influence and ability to implement and is hardly a marginal player in determining opinion or policy in the DR. It is also not some ancient text either. So if his book is considered by some to be anti Haitian, racist and an attempt to negate the influence of Africa on the Dominican culture or identity then it can easily be understood why it is so often cited.
A Dominican named Torres-Saillant has had loads to say about the Dominican idnetity. I will look up some references later suffice to say that my recollaction of his articles paints a different picture of the Dominican identity than you do.
The perception of the average Dominican is that DR is somehow being made to absorb Haiit's poverty, sometype of 'pivot state' if youwill, by a hypocritical international community and all the NGO's (supposedly helping Haitians) rampant on both sides of the border.
Cimmerian why not refocus your comments from Haitians who illegally arrive in the DR to those of Haitian decsnt who have come from many generations of people born in the DR and yet are allegedly denied Dominican citizenship. Surely you think that its some what odd that your post says that only 18 Haitians have been awarded DR citizenship when w eknow that there are hundreds of thousands of people of Haitian descent born in the DR who are denied this.
This addresses the situation with citizenship. It states that all persons BORN in the DR are citizens but yet hospitals and other DR institutions deny this right ti the Dominican born kids of Haitians. Discuss.
What is interesting is that your posts suggest a significant body of opnion within The Bahamas which condemns discrimination against Haitoans in that nation. Is there a similar group in the DR who condemn discrimination showed towards Dominico- Haitians, i.e. people BORN in the DR.
You may not know this CIMMERIAN but in the scheme of migration within the Caribbean Haitians are at the bottom and Dominicans one step above. Dominicans face all sorts of negative stereoptypes throughout the Caribbean, Dominican women derided as prostitutes, etc.
Deputy Victor Bisono (PRSC-Santo Domingo) has spoken out in support of a recent statement by Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), who acknowledged the heavy burden the DR carries as a result of Haiti's internal problems. Speaking in Santo Domingo, Insulza said that the DR does not have the resources to meet the demands that illegal Haitian migrants make on the country's public services, as reported in Hoy.
Insulza says that international organizations do not understand that Haiti's problems lead to increased migration to the DR, increasing the burden on Dominican public services. He said that when discussing support strategies for Haiti, their impact on the DR also has to be taken into account. He added that support programs are also needed to deal with the problems caused by this increased migration.
Insulza was speaking following the opening session of a recent conference on regional security held in the DR.
Bisono said: "It is the first time that an international representative and its representative admit the burden that the Haitian problem represents for the DR in terms of health, education and border controls. Haiti is a regional problem and as part of the region we have our own part to carry, but not all".
http://dr1.com/#10
Cimmerian already stated that the DR has the unfortunate situation of lying next to Haiti and having that nation's problems being foisted on them. The issue I am raising isnt about Haitian immigration, which BTW might be illegal but is sometimes encouraged by unscrupulous folks in the DR army and employers. I am not aware of Bahamian employers systematically recruiting people within Haiti as some Dominican employers and army personnel do.
The issue is about Domincan children BORN in the DR denied citizenship even though it appears as if your laws state that any person born their is a citizen.
I asked you to discuss Balaguer's book on the Dominican identity, much quoted by many to cite the problem that Dominicans have with acknowledging their African roots and the supposedly race based animosity to Haitians. Do you plan to do this? Maybe other Caribbean/Latin American heads of state haveent been as explicit in recent years about ther views around race and ethnicity which is why DR gets tagged with the stigma that bothers you..
1. I have never read the book you mentioned by Balaguer. Perhaps one of the Dominican posters here has and can discuss this with you. I do see it referenced alot by those who follow the train of thought you mention, it seems that you attach alot of influential importance to it, but I cannot discuss something simply on google knowledge. Balaguers book is not a standard school text, and neither is it considered the be all of Dominican culture.
tep father was a black Puerto Rican (RIP). I've also travelled to PR tons of times, no one there is shocked or surprised by my appearance. The truth is that there is a large overlap in terms of phenotype between the two. Of course Dominicans have more Afro admixture on average, but the Puerto Ricans in PR do not merely go by just 'having Afro admixture' to determine if one is PR or DR.
I would think that Balaguer, President of the DR for a long time, would have had much influence and ability to implement and is hardly a marginal player in determining opinion or policy in the DR. It is also not some ancient text either. So if his book is considered by some to be anti Haitian, racist and an attempt to negate the influence of Africa on the Dominican culture or identity then it can easily be understood why it is so often cited.
Joaquin Balaguer served under Trujillo and shared similar anti-Haitian sentiments so it would not surprise me if the book has any anti-Haitianismo. Again, I have not read this book therefore I cannot comment on it based on others opinions and hearsay.Let me remind you that "anti-Haitian" does not equal 'anti anything & everything black' or 'anti-black Dominican".
Quote:
Dominican named Torres-Saillant has had loads to say about the Dominican idnetity. I will look up some references later suffice to say that my recollaction of his articles paints a different picture of the Dominican identity than you do.
Better than YouTube commentaries I guess, but Torres-Saillant is not considered the top tier in Dominican culture and history. I've read some of his flawed works. I don't need to 'paint a picture' of Dominican culture, I can prove it with indisputable facts, not some authors own personal slant.
BTW race is often cited as a reason for the differential treatment of Haitians by the US govt compared to refugees from Cuba and Central America.
This very popular assertion would carry more weight if Cuba didn't have so many people migrating here who look like Haitians (and may even be of Haitian descent as well) or if one could show that black Cubans were being sent back to Cuba and non-black or white ones allowed to stay.
Cuban refugees, regardless of color, are given preferential treatment due to Cuba's communist government being held in disfavor by successive U.S. administrations. If anything, the policy towards Cuban refugees should be consistent with those dealing with refugees from other countries.
I'm not aware of any differential treatment accorded to Central American refugees compared with the treatment of Haitians. It's conceivable, however, that Haitian boat people are easier to apprehend and send back than small bands of Central Americans who scurry across the border with Mexico or who are smuggled into the U.S. by organized crime syndicates.
I am sure that you are aware of alleagtions of racism and anti Haitian prejudice against Juan Pena Gomez.
Maybe he got his citizenship because he was adopted. Odd that Cubans lead those awarded citizenship and not the children of Haitians born in the Dom Rep?
Having a one dimensional color struck viewpoint on every single issue will only lead you down the wrong path...and the wrong conclusion. Please review and ponder the following facts:
a) Pena Gomez's parents were Haitian. He was 100% of Haitian ancestry.
b) Pena Gomez was adopted by a Domincian family.
c) Pena Gomez rose to become mayor of the capital city, Santo Domingo for multiple terms.
d) Pena Gomez actually won the presidential elections but lost to fraud. Losing to fraud is not unccomon in LatinAmerica.
e) Pena Gomez's political enemies and detractors used his Haitian ancestry to attack him. Key word is political enemies, they tried to use his ancestry against him by saying he'll open the borders, etc.
d) We've had top leaders, national heroes, and presidents of Afroancestry even when there was still slavery in the surrounding areas.
e) And finally, look at who Pena Gomez married. He married a white Dominican from an elite family.
Each one of those facts weaken you're whole reductionist 'racism' charge. Let's be more specific and say his Haitian ancestry was a target for his political enemies who tried to use it by playing on any historical anti-Haitian sentiments. It is not uncommon for countries that share a border and have had a tumultous past have some animosity towards each other.
And regarding your Cuban comments, are you suggesting that all of these Cubans obtaining citizenship were "white" and thus making it an issue of racism? Please be advise that illegals of many countries as far away as China have been deported from DR. It just so happens that Haitians make up the bulk of illegals.
BTW race is often cited as a reason for the differential treatment of Haitians by the US govt compared to refugees from Cuba and Central America.
This very popular assertion would carry more weight if Cuba didn't have so many people migrating here who look like Haitians (and may even be of Haitian descent as well) or if one could show that black Cubans were being sent back to Cuba and non-black or white ones allowed to stay.
Cuban refugees, regardless of color, are given preferential treatment due to Cuba's communist government being held in disfavor by successive U.S. administrations. If anything, the policy towards Cuban refugees should be consistent with those dealing with refugees from other countries.
I'm not aware of any differential treatment accorded to Central American refugees compared with the treatment of Haitians. It's conceivable, however, that Haitian boat people are easier to apprehend and send back than small bands of Central Americans who scurry across the border with Mexico or who are smuggled into the U.S. by organized crime syndicates.
^
The above represents what I call a multi-angle/dimensional approach to various issues and events. The whole Cuban immigration policy is fueld by political reasons which go way beyond the Haitian issue.
The bulk of illegal immigrants come via Mexico and this includes many Brazilians which may surprise some here.
BTW race is often cited as a reason for the differential treatment of Haitians by the US govt compared to refugees from Cuba and Central America.
This very popular assertion would carry more weight if Cuba didn't have so many people migrating here who look like Haitians (and may even be of Haitian descent as well) or if one could show that black Cubans were being sent back to Cuba and non-black or white ones allowed to stay.
.
The overwhelming majority of Cubans exiles, and certainly those with clout, are white. Clearly the US govt cannot formulate one policy for one group of Cubans and another for a different group. That would be too obvious.
Central Americans refugees have been given more opportunities to regularize their status, or at least to extend their stay here than Haitians.
And regarding your Cuban comments, are you suggesting that all of these Cubans obtaining citizenship were "white" and thus making it an issue of racism? Please be advise that illegals of many countries as far away as China have been deported from DR. It just so happens that Haitians make up the bulk of illegals.
I find it interesting that you are unaware of complaints, not the least by Gomez himself ,that the other party (Balaguer) was using not too thinly disguised attempts to draw attention to his Haitian origins in order to deflect votes away from him.
You will note many references to racism and anti Haitianism as impacted Pena Gomez. This paper is printed in teh DR I believe, not Washington DC.
You raised the issue of Cuban citizenship. I didnt. So how come only 18 Haitians obtained citizenship. Note that thousands of people with haitian parentage are born in the Dominican Rep. Now there have been frequent accusations that persons are denied birth certificates by the hospitals in which they were born, thus not having any proof of Dominican birth. If you disagree with those assertions refute them but tehse claims have been made by many.
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