If we would be a responsible society, it would be useful if reportage and commentary on immigration by and the detention and expulsion of Haitian, Central American, Mexican and African refugees – and also victims of natural disasters, economic deprivation, violence or fear of violence – alluded to why they come here. Too often, it is a consequence of violence.

President Trump’s aversion to Haitians and Haiti is not unique. Haitian slaves mounted the only successful slave revolt, infuriating Napoleon and initiating a French policy of denying Haitians dignity and the Western European practice of humiliating and robbing Haitians as opportunities occurred. Until recently, Haiti’s obligation to pay France for freed slaves hobbled its economy. Fearing a contagion of slave revolt here, we recognized Haiti only after the Civil War and have continuously interfered in Haiti since.

Both Bush administrations abetted the overthrow of freely elected Haiti governments and the subsequent slaughters of Haitian democrats, in 2004 joined by France and Canada and then served by U.N. “peacekeepers.” Bill Clinton has admitted effectively destroying Haiti’s agricultural self-reliance. The Hillary Clinton-led State Department ensured that Haiti’s role in our firmament is to have the lowest minimum wage in the hemisphere.

Haitians are here largely because we sponsored or approved their abuse – as are Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Mexican farm family millions ruined by the North American Free Trade Agreement, many Africans, and now Honduran victims of the violence following a coup that only we (Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama) licensed.

Trump’s challenge is clear: Will we champion white supremacy or be spurred to recognize that billions of humans must share this planet – share, all, fairly, Earth’s plenty wherever it is found?

More immediately, will the Republican Party – and will we – tolerate racist denigration that would force the resignation of any European government’s head?

William H. Slavick

Portland

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