The Elite Class in Haiti and their cognitive dissociation with the current Haitian reality

haiti is currently facing one of the worst situations in its history. haiti has never been void of political instability but the unjust murders and kidnappings had a recent strike that has left many of us paralyzed. our life in this country has taken a completely different toll and day by day, we see the fog of a complete nightmare unraveling to clog the air. the news never seem to carry anything positive and only ever seem to announce the nearing of our doomsday. going out is no longer the same and cannot be carried with the same carefreeness and freedom that we used to have. many areas are to be avoided and the advice stays the same everywhere: only go out for what is strictly necessary. for most of us, going downtown means a day of uncertainty where most of our afternoons are spent rushing back home after a day of hearing gunshots and inhaling tear gas. going out for most of us means that coming back home is a blessing. whatsapp and facebook statuses are filled with grim news and even pictures of dead bodies being found around the city of innocent people who have been murdered for money or simply for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. psychologically, we are deeply wounded. trauma after trauma are triggering stress, panic and anxiety disorders. therapists are seeing a huge strike in panic disorders and their waiting lists are growing by the dozen. haitians are trying to flee by any means possible, even if it means a life of struggle and uncertainty in an unknown country. we seem to be living in some sort of hell but this reality is not the same for all of us living in haiti. whereas our daily lives are tainted by fear and anxiety, another group’s is filled with luxury and lavish activities. indeed, while our only place to go is school and our house, they are living as though they are vacationing on a private island in the mediterranean sea. Trips to the beach, hikes to the mountains, relaxing at resorts, going out at all times of the day, they seem to be living a completely different life from all of us even though we are in the same country and are supposedly living the same chaos. they are cocooned in their own world of safety. they are not short of bragging either. you would think that living in a country like this would make them less tone-deaf but their inability to read the room is often times staggering and almost comedic. it’s sad to say, but the reality is: they are living in their own bubble. they do not know the same struggles most of us do and most likely never will. they do not live the same fears we do, they do not experience the same anger and frustrations we do and frankly, they do not care either. it is not their problem. they do not feel as it is their place to speak because they have nothing to speak against. this is not their fight because they have nothing fight against. someone who doesn’t endure the oppressions of a certain system will not have a reason to fight it. but all of this is quite easy to understand, we can almost say that that’s okay and it makes sense. if they’re not affected by it, why should they care? but it does mean something and their disconnect from the haitian reality while simultaneously being at the top of the economic classes in this country can be quite dangerous for our future. so what does it mean to us?

when you take into consideration the fact that most of them are able to afford spots at the top Universities around the world, and most likely will. when you take into consideration that they will most likely be working at very high ranking jobs, whether it be in the economic or political field. when you also take into consideration that their power and rank in the haitian society will grant them many decision-making positions, where does this take us? how will a group that has never experienced our struggles work for our future? who will they favor in their decisions? what will they work for, or what will they fight against? what do they know about the haitian reality and how can they actively fight something that they have never quite to the time to connect to? what will they know to change or improve?

there are many more questions that remain, but i think i’ve made my point clear; this sort of disconnect and depersonalization from an economic class that sits at the top of the haitian society can be very dangerous to our future. we will never see true change as long as they are not aware of our current reality. we will never see change as long as two groups living in the same country are living two tragically different experiences; one where the country is threatening and uncertain, one where the country is their playground and a gateway to exotic vacations — the latter being, in a way, our future leaders.

let’s be clear; i know that everyone’s experience is different and it must be, because everyone’s upbringing is different. we all cannot possibility experience something at the same level. after all, i cannot relate to the struggles of a young girl growing up in Cité Soleil, but i am surely conscious of her reality and aware that the system that oppresses her at this level is the same that is holding me down at mine. i am not talking about those differences, i’m talking about the disconnect, the detachment of certain people to a tragic situation that is surrounding us all. it only breeds more instability and disconnect.

we see them enjoying all the country has to offer but when it’s time to speak or advocate for this same country that is struggling they are radio silent and continue to post pictures of their most recent trip to Mexico.

by the way, i know not at all of them that are like this, but it’s enough of them. and it’s too many of them.