In his book Change Yourself and Change Your Country, Henry Marge Dorléans raises a question that should resonate with each of us: "Do you want to change your country? Then, leave your country in peace. It is not the problem. The problem is you, it is me."
This reflection is particularly relevant today.
In an interview, Ariana criticized certain bloggers, journalists, and influencers who, through their publications, spread an overwhelmingly catastrophic image of Haiti abroad, while they could easily highlight our beautiful beaches, tourist sites, heritage, culture, and the many riches of the country.
On this point, I share this concern. I believe that the primary defenders and ambassadors of Haiti should be Haitians themselves. This does not mean we should hide our difficulties, deny insecurity, poverty, corruption, or the other ills our society faces. On the contrary, we must have the courage to face our realities and work to correct them. But denouncing problems should not mean systematically selling a bad image of the country. Every country has its strengths and weaknesses. Even the most developed nations experience crime, inequality, poverty, or political and social crises. Yet their own citizens do not diminish their country’s image to its only difficulties. Look at how the Burkinabés promote their country’s image. Also, look at how the Dominicans promote theirs. These people do not deny their difficulties, but they have chosen to highlight their strengths, their culture, their hospitality, and their potential. This is the same approach I advise my compatriots: change course.
So, why can’t we also show another facet of Haiti? Why not promote the image of a Haiti of peace, security, prosperity, work, creativity, love, dignity, and respect for the principles of development?
I often hear this expression in Creole: "Jan blan mandé l la," meaning to do things as "the white man wants." But I ask another question: why not build Haiti according to the way we, Haitians, want to see it?
It is time to project another image of Haiti and Haitians—an image that shows we are capable of justice, love, loyalty, dignity, responsibility, solidarity, respect, and discipline.
This is not about masking reality but understanding that the image we project has consequences. Promoting our potential, valuing our successes, highlighting our tourist sites, encouraging responsible behaviors, and supporting positive initiatives—these are all levers to strengthen our country’s confidence and attractiveness.
Conversely, continually presenting Haiti in its darkest light can heavily weigh on how others perceive us.
So, dear compatriots, let us honestly ask ourselves the question: is this really the choice we want to make?
And what if we decided to act differently?
What if each of us became, at our level, the ambassador of a different Haiti—a Haiti that acknowledges its problems without being reduced to them, that does not hide its wounds but also shows its strengths, that does not only ask for assistance but also shows what it can offer the world?
For, ultimately, our choices have consequences. Choosing to promote the best of our country or to show only its worst; choosing cleanliness or dirtiness, dignity or indignity, responsibility or irresponsibility, respect or humiliation, development or underdevelopment: these are, in the end, societal choices.
So, what image do we want to portray of Haiti? The answer does not solely depend on our leaders. It also depends on us. Let us change ourselves, change our behaviors, change our way of seeing our country. And gradually, we will contribute to changing Haiti.
