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Written by Woodring Saint Preux Why is it OK for us to send money to Haiti but it's not OK for us to run for office? I know that whenever a person decides to talk about an issue people say you are taking sides but this issue is important to me and it important to Haitian living outside the mother land. Even if you are an illegal immigrant, even if you only have a green card, you better take this issue seriously or you may find yourself in Dumarsais Simeus� shoes. We all left Haiti as kids or as adults in search of a better life. We should not all be punished because our leaders, so far, have been too weak and too incapable of managing our country and creating opportunities for us and our parents. If they were doing their job, perhaps we would not have left. Why is dual citizenship important? I will tell you why it's important to me then perhaps you can relate. I came to the United States when I was 14. I am sure you will agree that at the age of 14 I didn't make the decision to come here. My father, at that time, though it was necessary for me to get an education and open my eyes to new opportunities. Thanks dad, this is the best thing you ever did for me, but did you make a mistake? Your decision may cost me the presidency of my country. Did you work hard here to take care of us for no reason? Mom, did you clean all these hotel rooms for no reason? I was not born in the United States so I can never be president of the United States. [[ Statement Withdrawn: See https://www.haitielection2005.com/board.php/55 ]] Did my parents make a mistake? You see, coming here in the US was their decision not mines. What right do you have to take away my children�s right to represent me in my own country? What right do you have to take away my right to represent my mother and my father after all the sacrifices they made to raise me? Article 135 of the Haitian Constitution serves no purpose and needs to be amended. When I become a US Citizen, are you telling me that I forfeit my right to become president of Haiti? What about the 16 years I spent living here illegally dreaming of returning home one day, will you compensate me for that? All the embargos and all the money my parents sent back home so the kids they left behind could purchase goods and services from Haitians who never left. All these Haitians who benefited from my father�s sweat can be president but he cannot be president and neither can his kids simply because he chose the only option he had in order to guarantee the survival of his children. What kind of country denies a man the right to carry his flag? This is a stupid law, and it needs to be changed. If this law stays in effect then what�s in it for us young Haitian Americans and illegal immigrants who have been away from home for too long? If this law stays in effect then what happens to all the children of Haitian citizens who are born in captivity? The Haitian Diaspora is the number one source of income for all walks of life in Haiti, including the rich. If we don't supply money to the masses, who will buy your rice? If the Diaspora stop sending money to Haiti then Haiti�s economy will shut down, you all know that. Pardon the arrogance but you need us and you need our money! If I am not fit to be president, then I should keep my money in my pocket, what do you think? Wyclef Jean carries a symbol of Haiti pride with him everywhere he goes but he cannot be president? So what�s in it for him go around the world inspiring young Haitian kids that it�s OK to be Haitian and be proud of it? What purpose does pride serve we are not equal under the Haitian banner? We are so proud of his accomplishments, we would be so upset if he denied his heritage, but he cannot be president. Who wrote this constitution? That�s not written for the people. When you scream "P�p La" I am one of them. Why should we pledge any allegiance to Haiti, why should we be proud of a flag that is ashamed of us. Why should I waste thousands of hours of my precious life to promote Haitian culture on the internet when my government is letting go when I am trying to hold on? Most of us left to find opportunity, a better life, education, fame, fortune, experience, wisdom. Now that we find it, there is a law that makes it illegal for us to return home and share with our fellow Haitians what we found. I do not have any intentions to run for president but I would very much like the option to be widely open to me should I decide to do so. It is not fair for those who never left the country and those who could not leave the country to be so mad that they are trying to keep us out. It is not fair for those who are trying to look out for their own personal interest to put an indefinite embargo on haitians living abroad. The constitution has been written by Haitian men, it has been modified by Haitian and non-Haitian men overtime it needs to be twisted. It�s time you untwist it and give me back my right. Do not vote for anyone who is against Dual Citizenship Haiti is for Haitians, All Haitians including those who buy a calling card to call home. I will always be the son of Joseph Galbeau Saint Preux and Elianie Fameux no matter how many citizenships I have. My birth place will always be Hinche, Haiti, no matter where I live. I am Haitian for life, don't nobody try to take that away from me. I deserve the right to go home and run for whatever office I so choose. Are you telling me that I can build as many websites as I can to benefit the Haitian community, I can send as much money as I want to family and friends, I can go back there and blow my life savings, and no one will stop me, but I cannot go back there to benefit Haiti by becoming the commander in chief? What is this law here to protect? What is this law here to serve? What is it there to prevent? This law is in my way, it is in your way too even if you only have a visa, even if you never left the country. It is in the way of everyone who left Haiti in search of a better life. This law is unconstitutional; it needs to be changed now, right now. I am 32 years old and I am tired of seeing Haitian people complain in their living room while nothing gets done. We can do something about this one so let's fix it. If you are in Haiti and you have at least one family member who resides outside of Haiti, you better start asking your candidates where he stands on the issue of Dual Citizenship If you live outside of haiti, grab you calling card and call every family member you know and get the word out there. We want dual Citizenship! Chances are if a candidate is against it he is certainly against progress. We left Haiti and we are out there probing every culture you can think of. That's progress. Don't vote for anyone who is against me coming back home to tell you what I've seen! I certainly hope you put some pressure on Haitian supreme court to reverse Article 135 of the Haitian Constitution. I am Woodring Saint Preux and I said it.
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I Want My Right To Be President Of Haiti
