[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1210
 
                     REMEMBERING THE PAST IN HAITI

  (Mr. PETRI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, it is arrogant for the Administration to 
think we can quickly overturn the centuries old culture of another 
country. And it is foolish to try.
  We have been in Haiti before--for 19 years. And I refer you to the 
Forbes Commission which, in 1930, reported on our earlier escapade 
there.
  The report discusses Haiti's poverty, Haiti's bandit gangs, and 
Haiti's tiny political and economic elite--factors which all reasserted 
themselves after 19 year of American rule.
  And this report from 1930 states:

       The failure of the Occupation to understand the social 
     problems of Haiti, its brusque attempt to plant democracy..., 
     its determination to set up a middle class--however wise and 
     necessary it may seem to Americans--all these explain why, in 
     part, the high hopes of our good works in this land have NOT 
     been realized.

  For those who wish to know more, I have placed the entire Forbes 
Commission report in the September 30 Congressional Record on page 
E2017.
  Our current administration won't have 19 years, but I am afraid it 
will fail as dramatically, and at an unacceptable cost in American 
lives and treasure.
  As George Santayana put it, ``Those who cannot remember the past are 
condemned to repeat it.''
  Mr. President, Haiti is not our problem. Bring our troops home.

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