Dominican Republic, spanish is tha native language, because the island was populated by spanish people, in this part of the island the color of the skin is clearer.
Haiti, Creole is the native language which represents the origin of the people living in that part of the island, african slaves whom were brought to perform hard work. Creole language is a mix of about 7 languages: French, Spanish, English, German, Italian, Latin and African. French is also one of the two official languages in Haiti, because that part of the island was populated by the frenchmen. Most of the people are dark skin.
In 1822 the haitian part of the island guided by Jean Pierre Boyer took over the dominican side of the island, he tried to unified the island, have one language “french”, giving the origin to the dominican-haitian conflicts. Some in the haitian side did not agree on unifying the island and they united force with the dominican side commanded by Francisco del Rosario Sánchez “Father of the country” to fight against this new system. It led to declare the national Independence of the dominican side of the island in February 27th of 1844.
From that moment on the evil seed was planted in the hearts of both sides of the island. In the years of the dominican dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, he used to pay a good amount of Money for the head of a haitian "30 dominican pesos".
The evil seed planted in the dominican side consisted and still consist on believing that haitians will take over the dominican side one more time. Children are tought that haitians are demons and they eat human flesh. In 2007 brother Lazard Medilien commented to me that while he was teaching at a primary school one of his student of about 7 years old and ask tell him “but you are not a demon, you are not bad”, Lazard Medilien asked the Little boy why he was saying that and the student answered: because my father says that haitians are bad, they are deamons and they eat people …
The evil seed planted in the haitian side consisted and still consit on believing that dominican will always mistreat haitians whereever they meet and more than that, the fear that dominicans might kill them.
What’s been happaning and it is still happening in both sides of the island we cannot name it racism, it is more like an evil seed that destroys everything it touches in unjustice, unequity, mistreats and grudges.
I believe that Belahr Confession provides us with the necessary tolos to put into practive the truth of the Gospel of reconciliation, social justice and equity among humans.
These historic events have not escaped from the churches; there are dominican churches at the border where haitians are not allowed to assist and vice versa. I recently met with a haitian pastor Napoleon; he is lin charge of a haitian community with around 75 members. Napolean explained to me that he and his congregation were expelled from the Church building, because the building belongs to a dominican church.
the dominican leaders kicked them out, because they did not want to continue sharing the building with the haitians … it happened on may 2009 at Herrera, Santo Domingo. In the same month at the same area appeared in the news that a haitian decapitated a dominican and then the family of the dominican decapitated the haitian in revenge. It is like in the law “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooh”. WE NEED RECONCILIATION …
The only solution to the dominican-haitain problems is the Word of God; just the Holy Spirit can heal the hearts of both nations. Just God can work in the hearts of the dominican and haitian leaders for reconciliation and mutual coollaboration. The Belhar Confession is the link for us to achieve this hard task.
There is an inter-denominational organization called “Dominican-Haitian Dialog of the Evangelic Churches”. This organization has 9 christian leaders in the dominican side and 9 christian leaders in tha haitian side, I’ve been working with them for over 3 years, incredible advances have been performed for both nations, but it is not enough, we need more people touched by God willing to work for the reconciliation of both nations.
Social community projects are ellaborated and then the recommendations are sent to the goverment of both nations to improve the situation and relation among the two nations.
In February of 2009 Rev. David Dethmers from Global Missin RCA, asked about the imporance of the Belhar Confession for the IRD; a similar response to this one was given.
What is the importance of the Belhar Confession for the Dominican Republic and Haiti?
Eveidently, the Belhar Confession is the tool that in the first place will help us unify the thoughts of our leaders, pastors and laymembers in the Christian community regarding the truth of God. Secondly, it will help us present to both goverments and countries the importance of reconciliation and social equity.
The Belhar Confession encourages us to defent the truth, justice, unity, reconciliation and peace; not based on the color of the skin of the race of the person. It teaches that these differences are sins and that as christians we must advocate for the abolition of any type of unjustice.
My Lord and Saviour, help us to proclame justice and peace whereever we’d be. In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen! »...
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