By Mande Wilkes || Destroyed this week by a massive earthquake, shell-shocked Haiti has found salvation in American goodwill. In addition to Barack Obama’s $100 million pledge, U.S. corporations and citizens also continue to commit extraordinary resources to relief efforts.
A testament to our humanitarian spirit, Americans – even when in dire financial straits at home – understand intuitively the theory of relativity: We have it so, so good, and, even now, we can afford to share. And because we can share, we must. So we do – to an astronomical extent.
That’s America at its most flattering angle, and it’s a most welcome sight.
But we also need to see that other angle … the enterprising, opportunistic side.
Here we all are repairing from the ground up a place that’s been destroyed and a people who have been devastated. But while goodwill has its place, this must be about something beyond charity. This – like any red-blooded American endeavor – is an investment. American dollars – tax, corporate, and charity – will piece together the jagged shards of a shattered place. It’s the unofficial purchase of a fifty-first state, and, if we’ve the guts – the vision – to make it official, it’s a chance to expand our influence, ideals, and sovereignty.
It’s timely to such an extent that it could be considered fated: The Haitian government, too, was wiped out by the earthquake. Now, then, Haiti is ripe for adoption as the next American state.
It sounds seismic to suggest it, but why? Nobody said we have to stop at 50 …
By votar January 15, 2010 at 11:53 am
Are you suggesting that the US be colonized by Haiti?
By Just a good ole boy January 15, 2010 at 12:03 pm
FITS–if this is your attempt at funny, it doesn’t work. If your serious, please, however much coffee your drinking in the morning…cut it back by half…
By Katherine Jenerette January 15, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Why does adopt a state sound like adopt a highway?
Tell you what; we’ll let Obama and Obama care adopt Haiti if the administration in Washington will let those separate, sovereign states adhere/adopt the 10th Amendment that the Administration is so willing to subvert with programs like Obamacare, etc.
The Haitian people should have a voice in ‘adoption,’ otherwise it becomes imperialism – oh my bad! We already have imperialism – it’s called socialism – Obamaism and Washingtonism.
Individual self government and individual liberty is determined by individuals, not by some big brother sitting in an Imperial Palace in Washington DC.
Send help to Haiti, they need it.
And send the Tenth Amendment back to each and every state, we need it.
That’s all for now,
Katherine
By FITSNews January 15, 2010 at 12:18 pm
It’s not our attempt at anything … it’s Mande’s attempt at something.
By countryboy January 15, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Yeh, let’s go ahead and offer statehood to every broke backwater country in the world why don’t we? That would hasten America’s demise instead of dragging it out by electing idiots like Obama and most of the members of Congress. Charity is one thing but this idea is stupid.
By Mab January 15, 2010 at 12:33 pm
It would be more practical to shut the island down and bring the Haitian people here. They will be coming anyway. This might slow down the open borders AKA “immigration reform” with Mexico that the Catholic Church is proposing.
They’re all Catholic anyway, right? The Catholic Church is bent on a power grab at every given moment. First it was inducting all interested Anglicans. Then it was let the Mexicans in, however they get here.
Well – the Haitians should get first dibbies, don’t you all agree?!?
By Ohmaar January 15, 2010 at 12:45 pm
People need to realize that Haiti’s humanitarian crisis was caused by their political disaster — not their natural disaster. Without political relief, any humanitarian relief we send will only be temporary.
By Elmer January 15, 2010 at 12:49 pm
We don’t have the resources to add Haiti at the moment. We are still acclimating Afghanistan and Iraq as the 51st and 52nd states.
Haiti could old promise as another alternative torture island though come to think of it.
By PasserBy January 15, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Mande:
I’ll pass on Hatian statehood, thank you very much.
Glad to have you back, even if your postings still drive me crazy!!
By Hmmmmm January 15, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Haiti has long lived under the rule of a family of dictators. They put the country in the shambles its in and now the rest of the world has to clean up after them.
I think some country/person needs to oversee all of the money that is being sent there and make sure its going to the people who need it and NOT to keep the dictators in power. Dont give the leaders free reign over any of the money.
I dont think we need Haiti as a 51st state (PR deserves that honor).
By Rick January 15, 2010 at 1:00 pm
They’ve been getting here for the past 50 years anyway they can including setting to sea in overloaded leaking boats. Doesn’t mean we have to take them anymore than we have to take any other bunch of illegal immigrants. Mande, somedays you need to refrain from execises your right to communicate and pull the covers back over your head. What a dumbass idea.
By Todd January 15, 2010 at 1:05 pm
We do need to help the people of Haiti. I think just buying Mexico and cutting it up into 6 states would be a better idea in the long run, however.
By colleen January 15, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Not a great idea to have Haiti as the 51st state but it is okay to help them when they need us. That country is so backwards due to the politics-most of those people are uneducated, very superstitious (voodoo nation), and many are not healthy. We were there couple years ago and since we are blood donors, the blood banks would not let us give blood until a year has passed since we visited the island.
By smart Kid Grant January 15, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I have actually been thinking the same thing… it isn’t out of the question that they could become a territory like Puerto Rico, or they could ask for state hood unlike Puerto Rico, kind of like Texas did.
By OhNoNotAgain January 15, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Would we be inflicted with God’s Curse for their Pact with the Devil, by extension?
Just wondering.
By EM January 15, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Well said Mrs Jenerette
By SnakeMD January 15, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Ditto to Mrs Jenerette. No slam on the Haitian people, but if we were to take over Haiti it would be like pouring sand down a rat hole. There is not enough ink, nor paper to print the amount of money required to bring this country up to our basic standard of living. Haiti would be like the 9th Ward all over again. How do you save Haiti? God, only knows. At least the good old US of A will give it her best shot. Cheers for the “All Americans” Our prayers are with you, 82nd.
By BIN News Editorial Staff January 15, 2010 at 10:15 pm
MAB, we’re still waiting for you to post nude pics of you decorating your Christmas tree. You promised! ;) You little devil.
Kombat Katherine, you’re just a sad political pimp like sick willie. But you could join MAB in her photo shoot. sic(k) willie would love him some posting of y’alls pics on his little porn blog. Hint, feature your painted toes.
Last, poor Mandee. Our Funding Editor can still get her a waitstaff job at Cagney’s, but the offer will not last. Get a job poor girl. Any job.
By No Way! January 15, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Three Questions:
1) Did President Bush cause this to happen? (I am awaiting Obama to birth that idea.)
2) Why on NBC Nightly News tonight were so many of these Haitian people just sitting around on their duffs? Seems that there is so much to do there in trying to help each other. However, NBC repeatedly just showed photos of people sitting around and even commented that one group had been sitting under a tree all day. This reminds me of the “free handout” American who sits at home all day awaiting the postal service to deliver a check for the month, or food stamps, or Obama money. Get up and help recover your country and fellow man. Don’t await a free handout!
3) I am proud that the United Nations has put together 10 million for helping in the relief effort. The Girl Scouts of American could do better with cookie sales in a week. What a joke! The UN should just do the honorable thing and close their doors.
By The Man January 15, 2010 at 10:28 pm
What The Hell is with all the quoting Amendment Krap??? Who cares, your all outlaws? Federal hate crimes, Mafia/KKK lynchings, corruption and tax evasion. The list goes on……..
Who Gives a Krap if you can quote/citate “The Tenth Amendment”? What’s law?
By jrc January 16, 2010 at 9:54 am
I think offering statehood to Haiti would be an excellent idea if we had a better fix on the wealth gap and its associated socio-economic implications which exist in the current 50. And I love how people selectively take aspects of constitutional amendments which suit their political beliefs. The quasi-conservative movement in this country will be the first to invoke the 10th Amendment the moment a liberal administration takes control of our elected bodies, but ignore the 10th Amendment when it comes to social reform at the state level.
What the hell is Obamacare? America is a liberal democracy, and in no way similar to a socialist model. The current administration was duly elected by the American people, just as the previous administration. You don’t always get your representative in office, but to respond by politicizing and stimying our legislative processes is truly criminal. This country is an idea, and you can’t stop its evolution.
By MAB January 16, 2010 at 10:54 am
BIN – you continue to transmogrify me with SilkyMom.
Puritans don’t do Christmas trees!
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/pilgrims/puritan-woman.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/pilgrims/puritans.htm&h=602&w=460&sz=39&tbnid=-mSYXgHHNLBWTM:&tbnh=257&tbnw=197&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dphoto%2Bof%2BPuritan%2Bwoman&usg=__C-5Q7GPq0NzubSPDRIPL6Bd0OV0=&ei=l99RS7mMNoaWtger8oTACQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&ved=0CAcQ9QEwAA
By Pat Hendrix January 16, 2010 at 11:26 am
Mande,
Stop goofing off on fits and go take the bar. Nobody wants to adopt Haiti as the next 3rd world freeloader living off the American taxpayer. We already have SC and West Virginia occupying that role.
Katherine’s statement – “We already have imperialism – it’s called socialism – Obamaism and Washingtonism.” – might take the prize for the silliest on fitsnews in months. What does it even mean? Socialism, Obamaism and Washingtonism are all forms of imperialism? The inanity of it boggles the mind.
By Jon e Bonsignor January 16, 2010 at 11:59 am
Mande has a good point..BUT the Government of Haiti will not allow this to occur. Haitians wants to be a free soverign Country, ruled by their people, they kicked out the French to be free of foreign rule and influence. They (Haiti) have a government elected by the people, BUT still controlled by the thugs in the streets. The United Nations troops who have been patrolling the streets of Port Au Prince can not bring law and order to the country, annexing Haiti will cost the U.S. many billions of dollars to just get it off the ground, and sill the rule of the streets will prevail, Good try Mande however it will not work. The U.S. tried to get the Country free of dictators and corruption when Ex Pres. Bertrand Aristride (B.A.) was sent to exile. B.A. was the peoples President who tried to rid the Country of corruption and mob rule.. President Prevale has none a poor job as President, he can not account for the 3 Billion dollars poured into Haiti these past few years.. Former Pres Bill Clinton is the UN’s representative to Haiti and he seemed to do very little to move the Nation progressively forward. No Mand we don’t need to annex Haiti, let the British or one of the Nordic Countries do it.
By Serrrano January 16, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Haiti is a failure because its people have a completely worthless and toxic culture, including Vodou. DO note that the Dominican Republic next door on the SAME island is doing reasonably well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic
The US has plenty of slums it can piss money away on without adopting Haiti, which has absolutely zero potential to contribute anything to the US.
As an American, I want MY money to work for AMERICANS, and not tribal trash who wallow in degeneracy. If Vodou is real, let them call upon the spirits and test their faith.
We should aid Haiti enough to limit emigration to the US, that is all.
By Soft Sigh From Hell January 17, 2010 at 9:04 am
I love the idea. We in the backward, feudalistic (if our legislators aren’t barons what are they?), woefully undereducated, unhealthy, polluted, conservative-run hinterland (redneck redoubt) of South Carolina would have someone to look down on and point at laughingly, a buffer at the bottom of the national barrel. The benefit extends backwards in time. Poppa Doc and Baby Doc were somehow more ludicrous clowns than even “Pitchfork” Ben and Joe Wilson. We gain all around. Heck, Haiti makes Mississippi look first world.
By Clarke T. January 17, 2010 at 1:18 pm
I think Haitian statehood makes a lot of sense for them, and potentially a lot of sense for us. It we can help stabilize it politically by making it a state, we have a new market of 9 million people, which will not only benefit the people of Haiti but will also benefit our own corporations and eventually our bottom line. It takes a long-term view to understand the benefits, but they’re real.
Also, as it stabilizes, we’ll spend LESS on future crises there – like it or not, Haiti is our responsibility when something goes wrong there. If we look the other way, the world will judge. We can throw a hissy fit and whine about how we are throwing money away, but that doesn’t change the fact that the need is real and we can offer something good.
By Michael January 17, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Ms. Jenerette’s comment was quite possibly one of the funniest things I’ve read in quite some time.
By DBFS January 23, 2010 at 10:58 pm
It would be an honor and a privledge to have Haiti request statehood from the USA. However, It would truly need to be their request. Haiti’s people are the embodiment of all contributions by people from all over the globe. As difficult as it would be, it would truly make our country stronger and better. After all, are we not prepared to step up to our boast of strength through diversity.
Who is the Catholic basher? lighten up dude, How do you feel about Muslims, and Chinese? They enter the USA daily on student visa’s – gosh you are a bigot.
By Jobe January 26, 2010 at 10:03 am
There is nothing wrong with the U.S. offering Haiti statehood; however, the U.S. should not coerce Haiti to join. The U.S. should only offer statehood, and the Haiti people should decide whether they want to join and adopt the U.S. Constitution or not.
Myself, I don’t have a problem with offering Haiti the prospect of becoming a state and benefiting thereof as long as it is not coercive. There would be many benefits for the Haiti people if they were to become citizens within our union:
1) Their rights would be protected under the Constitution of the United States. As a result, they would be able to buy, sell, and develop, and they would be able to invest their money and have it protected, as well as private and foreign investments would enjoy the same protections as they enjoy in the United States, resulting in more investments.
2) Haiti’s infrastructure, education, and governance would drastically improve.
3) they would be able to move freely within the United States.
4) They would have wild life and fishery and rain forest conservation and access to energy and U.S. waterways.
5) The Tourism industry would boom in Haiti; as a result, creating more jobs.
For people who think that it is a bad idea to offer statehood, just think of this:
1) We’re dealing with thousands of illegal Haitian immigrants each year washing up on our shores.
2) We have already spent billions upon billions of dollars there propping up various corrupt governments where the money just seems to disappear.
3) We’re forced to buy sugar from Cuba, when we could as easily revitalize Haiti’s sugarcane industry.
By Jobe January 26, 2010 at 10:32 am
There is nothing wrong with the U.S. offering Haiti statehood; however, the U.S. should not coerce Haiti to join. The U.S. should only offer statehood, and the Haiti people should decide whether they want to join and adopt the U.S. Constitution or not.
I, Myself, I don’t have a problem with offering Haiti the prospect of becoming a state and benefiting thereof as long as it is not by coercive means. There would be many benefits for the Haiti people if they were to become citizens within our union:
1) Their rights would be protected under the Constitution of the United States, and As a result, they would be able to buy, sell, and develop, and they would be able to invest their money and have it protected, as well as private, foreign investments would enjoy the same protections as they enjoy in the United States, resulting in more investments.
2) Haiti’s infrastructure, education, and governance would drastically improve.
3) they would be able to move freely within the United States.
4) They would have wildlife and fishery and rain-forest conservation and access to energy and the U.S. waterways.
5) The Tourism industry would boom in Haiti and as a result, would create more jobs.
For people who think that it is a bad idea to offer statehood, just think of this:
1) We’re dealing with thousands of illegal Haitian immigrants each year washing up on our shores.
2) We have already spent billions upon billions of dollars there propping up various corrupt governments where the money just seems to disappear.
3) We’re forced to buy sugar from Cuba, when we could as easily revitalize Haiti’s sugarcane industry.
By Walter February 1, 2010 at 10:44 pm
We should colonize the place, we’ve been there so many times already we might as well stay. If we build some factories and take advantage of the super cheap labor available, we could tell the chinese to take a hike and import cheap hatian made goods produced by American owned companies. That way at the end of the day the money stays in our hands rather than the PRC’s.