Mini-Review of “An Unbroken Agony” by Randall Robinson – A Troubling Look at a Troubled Nation

I respect the work that Randall Robinson has done over the years. As Founder of TransAfrica, he put enormous pressure on South Africa to end Apartheid. In the early ‘80’s, when we lived in the D.C. area, on several occasions my family and I joined him picketing at the South African Embassy. So, I was looking forward to reading his treatment of the recent history of the Republic of Haiti, a country I hold dear. Long time readers of The White Rhino Report are aware that in the 1970’s I spent a year living in Haiti working as the administrator of a village hospital in the mountains high above Port au Prince. I could not be more disappointed in the book, “An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, From Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President.”

That Haiti has had a tragic history is beyond dispute. That the United States has a checkered history in terms of its relationship with the island nation is also a well established fact. I was hoping that Robinson would document the history of the troubled republic with solid historical research and informed commentary. What I found, instead, was a series of personal anecdotes outlining the alleged kidnapping of President Jean Bertrand Aristide by Americans forces. Interspersed among his personal recollections, Robinson inserts frequent sardonic anti-American comments that are not supported by the facts. Aristide may have indeed been forced to leave Haiti in ways that should upset any true lover of democracy, but Robinson does not make a cogent or believable case. This is not a carefully reasoned book, nor is it even an impassioned plea for the return of true democracy to Haiti. It is, rather, a thinly-veiled diatribe against America and the Bush administration.

Haiti deserves better support and advocacy than the kind that Randall Robinson is attempting to give it in this ineffectual book.

Two Friends - Two New Blogs

Last week - within the space of 30 minutes - I received calls from two of my friends, David Schoenberger and Rich Adler. In each case, the message was essentially the same: "I am following in your footsteps and launching a Blog. I have just published my first posting." I was delighted at the double dose of good news. Both David and Rich have a great deal of value to say on a variety of topics, and I have already enjoyed reading their initial postings. so, I am pleased to introduce to the readers of The White Rhino Report these two new offering in the Blogosphere.

Here is Dr. Richard Adler's Blog:

The More Things Change

Welcome to my blog, which will explore ideas relating to change and decision-making. I intend to focus primarily on models for understanding, anticipating, initiating, and responding to change – be it social, political, or conceptual. Examples include simulations based on complex adaptive systems theory and models for public policy or organizational change. I invite you to join me in reflecting on how decision-making can be improved in the face of continual change.

http://themorethingschange-ra.blogspot.com/2008/01/political-change-part-1-2008-campaign.html

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Through this Guy's Eye . . .

http://throughthisguyseye.blogspot.com/


Enjoy them both!

Al