I dream of January 1, 2004. The year of a colorful Haiti with millions of people dancing in the streets or in their homes joyful, playful with a head band made out of the colors of the nation. It will be the year when thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of visitors from all over the world will come join us in our moment of joy. That year will be the rebirth of our country as a free nation. It will be the year of love and unity among all Haitians.  This is not the first article and certainly won't be the last to talk about 2004. It has been a matter of discussion among us for many, many years; we even have a famous park named after 2004 in Port-au-Prince ‘Bicentenaire’ which reflects our anticipation of the moment. It is also figured in the actual president writings and speeches. It is even located in various pages on the Internet. This is an extensively treated subject and is as important as any other matter regarding the sad situation of Haiti. We have to celebrate it big, we need to celebrate Big. We can't let 2004 pass by as if it were just like any other year. Many may think it's too early to talk about this. Well, I think we should have planned this a year or maybe 2 years back. Many may also think that we have nothing to celebrate about 200 years of poverty. I say you’re wrong, very wrong.  If we go back to history we’ll find that Haiti is known for its past and its culture. The earliest days of the Haitian nation, from 1804 to 1820, were fragile and this condition sadly remains in effect after almost 200 years of self-governing. If ever a historical moment stood out, Haiti's Revolution in 1804 is one such event and is Haiti's glory forever, and a major source of national pride. We cannot let this slip away from our hands like everything else that we fought so hard for.  2004 will not be just a party it will be a new wave of changes in the country. It will be one of the many triggers that we need to lift up our spirit and our will to work to have a better nation. It goes without saying that by celebrating our 200th year of independence we will commemorate the struggle that our ancestors had to go through to free our nation  A well-planned and celebrated independence day can also help boost tourism in Haiti and thus our economy. Remember tourism in our country doesn’t necessarily mean foreigners on our soil but also the visit of Haitians living abroad (Read the next article: 10th department ‘tourists’). To accomplish this of course it will be very important to work in collaboration with the government in place. While the government is working hard (against all odds) to make the country better by the year 2004 all we have to do is to cooperate and bring our part in the effort. Perhaps with the determination of today's progressive political groups, Haiti could be at the beginning of a new great moment.  In the last two pages of ‘Le Livre Blanc’ Aristide mentioned that we will have a wonderful year and rejoice as much as we can and I quote: « Ce bicentenaire, nous devons le peindre aux couleurs de notre caraibe, de ce bleu si intense qui fait éclore des étoiles en plein jour ! Feux d’artifice pour célebrer notre solidarité retrouvée, notre égalité de fils et de filles d’une même patrie, notre fraternité de citoyens du monde. Au-delà des couleurs et des races, l’année 2004 nous convoque tous et toutes. Au delà des partis politiques et des couleurs et des confessions religieuses, l’année 2004 nous convoque tous et toutes. Au-delà des frontières, donnons-nous la main pour chanter en chœur : Paix a cette Haiti que nous aimons tous.»  I am calling upon all my Haitian brothers and sisters to celebrate January 1, 2004 and keep the tradition FOREVER.  If you can't make the trip to Haiti then let's organize a parade here in New York, in Montreal, in Miami and in Chicago. My friends and fellow countrymen (Paisanos) living in Mexico, although smaller in number, are already planning their own fiesta  I will be there on Champs-de-Mars in 2004 with my red and blue head band watching the fireworks and the folks dressed in various costumes, some will be disguised to bring that extra vivid colors to the celebration, beautiful children singing in unison, others dressed in uniforms, musical bands playing all kinds of new songs like in the carnival: Racine, Kompa, new generation music. The success of this year’s Carnival marks the beginning of a new era in Haiti. I call it the beginning of a new and beautiful black nation.  Jou sa-a! jou sa-a! li va yon gran jou, li va yon jou beni.  I am waiting for you to make up your mind. Will you make the trip with me to Haiti in 2004? I promise that you will love it. Am I still dreaming? I hope not. Commenter sur l'article! | Lire les commentaires des autres.

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