30550: Gilles : Re : 30540: Kathleen (reply) Pat Lucien (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Emmanuelle Gilles <manugi28@yahoo.fr>

I strongly disagree with Kathleen's posting yesterday.  I had given her much 
credit and hope that did she did not mean what she wrote.  In Haiti, there are 
no muslims, hindus or Jews.  From what I know, we grew up there being 
Christians, therefore we can only refer to what we know, not what we don't 
know.  If I understand right, this forum of discussion is on Haiti, a country 
where the majority of people is of christian faith - I don't quite understand 
this reaction.  Her statement "One of the problems in Haiti is its "Church 
going Christians Only" policy, yet these are the same people who steal and 
murder on command."  is unacceptable and wrong.  This is an insult to all of us 
christians and Haitians in this forum. First of all, there is no Church going 
Christians Policy.  There are those who go to church and there are those who 
don't go to church at all.  Note that I am a christian and I believe in doing 
good and following God's words - I go to church because the bible
 says "where two or three assemble in my name, I am present".  I have 
experienced this presence and it makes me feel good.  That does not make me a 
criminal or a murderer because I am Haitian and a church "goer".  I am much 
surprised that this statement is allowed to be posted.  Do we know any notable 
criminals who have been attending church on a regular basis or is she saying 
that all Haitians are criminals?   The problems of criminality that Haiti is 
experiencing is a political problem - we did not have that before.  There are 
more crimes in the United States and in Jamaica than in our country.  Being a 
true christian is precisely to chase away all divisions and love one another as 
brothers and sisters.  That is what we learned.  Atheist may have good hearts 
and do good deeds but there are some concepts that we learn such as 
forgiveness, tolerance and hope with faith. The posting of Pat Lucien did not 
even refer to Jews, Hindus or Atheist - it is not our concern what they
 are - we can only be concerned with our faith.  If we should talk about 
criminality, we can say that the world is sick and we can bring plenty of 
examples to prove that criminals are everywhere.  The fact that Haiti is 
experiencing a level of insecurity linked to all the political problems we have 
had in the past is not a reason to develop a stereotype vis a vis our people.