Equality vs Power

Reader Warning - today's blog covers Gerritt's mental musings and may make no sense whatsoever.

When you do something like move from the USA to a developing country with all its cultural differences etc., I have found that other people who have made similar moves or who have much more experience navigating between the Haitian and American cultures will almost immediately offer up lots of advice on how to manage the transition and digest the differences. For those of you who know me well, you will understand that for better and often worse, I am not a big fan of advice, especially unsolicited advice. My preferred method of understanding is try, do, succeed, or fail, and learn from my experiences. For the first few weeks we have been here (and even before we left) we received all kinds of advice that was meant to be helpful and was always well intentioned. One person told us we should never wear contact lenses. (too dusty in Haiti - don't want to risk scratching your eye) I immediately rejected that piece of advice, and have worn my contacts every day with no issues. Other pieces of advice have been great and very helpful in a practical way. One particular piece of advice was more philosophical and it has bounced around in my head ever since I heard it and I can't quite shake it. 

We met an American fellow here named Corrigan Clay. He and his wife Shelley run an incredibly effective artisan jewelry program that employs dozens or more Haitians at wages that can provide a real living here. Check it out if you want to know more   http://apparentproject.org/  We met Corrigan about two weeks ago and as we were talking he said  "If you want to understand the fundamental difference between American and Haitian culture, you need to understand this.... In America the highest value we have is equality - our entire culture is built around the constitutional concept that 'All men are created equal' Here in Haiti, the foundational value is power. All relationships, transactions etc. are organized around who has the power" I am paraphrasing, but he went on to say that this simple concept goes a long way in being able to wrap your head around the differences between Haiti and the USA. 

Now Julie and I have said all along that we were not motivated to come here to Haiti and "recreate the USA" down here. We desire to respect and honor Haiti's unique, if troubled, history and deeply complex culture. I see a lot of true wisdom in Corrigan's observation. This idea that power is the highest cultural value goes a long way in explaining the daily workings of Haitian society, and the patterns of Haiti's history. It gives me a straightforward framework on which to organize all the confusing things I see and hear about this strange new wonderful sad beautiful place I'm in. That said, I can't help but think of another culture 2000 years ago where a group of individuals with all the power used the institutions of religion, education, and cultural standards to consolidate power, and enrich/protect themselves. Jesus did not hold back in his criticism of their "power politics" mentality. He used phrases like "whitewashed tombs" that are beautiful on the outside but filled with darkness, death, and decay to describe the Pharisees. Then in the book of Matthew ch 23 vs 11 to 36 Jesus just unloads on them time and again calling them hypocrites, blind, and unjust. This leaves me in an uncomfortable position. There is a cultural norm I sincerely want to respect and not impose my own cultural standards against, but I also see how much things will stay pretty much the same here until certain ingrained and entrenched cultural values change. I do not take lightly the idea that I need to stand up and say "this is not right" to a long standing cultural and societal element that is pretty much universally respected and accepted here. But until hearts, attitudes, and values change here in Haiti, all the aid, support, and resources in the world will not change the desperate and distressing situations one sees every day here. It's not that I want to recreate "American ideals" here - far from it, the USA has its own issues. But I do feel called to be a small part in helping Haiti understand there is a better way - not an American way - to do things. A way that is right, just, and true. I have no idea how this will happen. We are starting with 17 young ladies who need to learn how to respect and love themselves and respect and love others. Julie and I will do everything we can to give them the gift of opportunity, the gift of faith, and the gift of hope. We may never see the change we hope to see in Haiti as a whole... who knows? But it sure would be a wonderful thing if we could see that change starting in the lives of 17 girls who have been told by the world they are of no value - or in Haiti that they are powerless and always will be. They are not powerless. They are children of the One who is all powerful, under whom we are all equal.