| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Haitian carnival anthems diss U.N. |
| 2007-02-20 |
| Man, nobody likes the UN... PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Songs lampooning politicians have always been a fixture of Haiti's carnival, but this year, musicians have a new favorite target: U.N. peacekeepers. The airwaves have been filled with satirical songs about the U.N. force, known by its French acronym MINUSTAH, which has been trying to restore order to Haiti since the 2004 rebellion that toppled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. MINUSTAH. I think they were the halftime show at the NBA All Star Game... "MINUSTAH, you're really just a tourista. You're holding back my country," the group Vwadezil sings in one popular song. "You're just lounging around so why don't you get ... out." The songs, known as "meringues," add a political dimension to the three-day carnival celebrations. The rum-fueled festivities bring even more chaos to the bustling streets of downtown Port-au-Prince, with tens of thousands of people dancing to live bands on floats. Haiti's government spent $2 million on this year's carnival, hoping to lure tourists, especially Haitians living in the United States. Wished I'd have known. Well, not really... The former French colony, plagued since independence with political upheaval and dire poverty, has a long history of skewering public institutions during carnival. U.N. troops are only the latest addition to a rhetorical menu that typically includes crooked government officials, outgunned police and kidnappers who prey on the population of 8 million. Sounds really hilarious... The peacekeepers have recently become more aggressive in battling the gangs blamed for rampant kidnappings. On Sunday, they captured a gang leader known as Ti Bazil in the Cite Soleil slum. But many Haitians feel that the force, which combines soldiers and police from more than a dozen countries, has been too slow in stemming violence."MINUSTAH, you've invaded our country, you must make things better," the popular group T-Vice warns in one of its meringues. Yeah. Not like we should be doing something about it... Other meringues accuse U.N. bureaucrats of spending more time dining in posh restaurants and sunning themselves on the beach than working to solve the poor country's troubles. So I guess it's not just us. Although I'd like to see what a "posh" retaurant in Haiti looks like.... "Since the U.N. is now a part of our society, I touch upon it in my music," the band Vwadezil's lead singer, Fresh La, said in an interview. "They're taking a long time to bring peace to the country, and that's keeping us from moving forward." In Haiti? Moving forward to what? The U.N. mission takes the jabs in stride. "I think it's part of the Haitian tradition of carnival to make fun of things, even serious things," said Edmond Mulet, the special U.N. representative to Haiti. "It's a way of conveying some sentiments which are genuine and I don't blame for them that. On the contrary, I think they should be welcomed." Ha ha ha...tell them to get in the very long line. But at the end of all this, I will be out of here and they will still be in Haiti. So..ha ha ha. Some singers have caused problems for the U.N., however. At last year's carnival, the group Demele performed a profanity-laced song that accused peacekeepers of stealing goats belonging to peasants. Despite denials by the U.N. mission, the accusation spread through the streets and became a common chant during anti-U.N. street protests. Goats, huh? Should I be reading between the lines here? "That song caused a lot of issues between MINUSTAH and the population," said that group's frontman, also known as Demele. He alleged that the offending lyric got him uninvited from this year's carnival lineup. U.N. officials and carnival organizers denied censoring any artists. "Musicians have the right to write any song they like," said Yanick Louis, a member of the carnival's artistic committee. And despite the harsh tone of some songs, other artists said they mean no offense. "I ridicule the U.N. in the spirit of carnival, which is about having fun and letting go," Vwadezil's Fresh La said. I ridicule the UN because...it's the UN. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #5 "You're just lounging around so why don't you get ... out." Hell, we have been saying that to the UN for years to get out of the US. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-02-20 11:11 |
| #4 I hereby move, at the 'burg, to issue a non-binding resolution to show our support for MINUSTAH, but denouncing their recent actions in cracking down on gangs. Either that, or a sternly worded letter™. Anyone second my motion? |
| Posted by: BA 2007-02-20 10:57 |
| #3 QUAGMIRE!!! |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-02-20 10:44 |
| #2 accused peacekeepers of stealing goats belonging to peasants. Any Pakistani troops stationed there? |
| Posted by: John Frum 2007-02-20 10:31 |
| #1 Although I'd like to see what a "posh" retaurant in Haiti looks like. Probably like one in Paris. The Haitian elite is very wealthy. When the wives want to go shopping they jet off to Paris. |
| Posted by: John Frum 2007-02-20 10:29 |