Contrary to what one might think, I’m not trying to minimize the Dominican situation nor - because I’m Haitian - playing down its importance. At times, however, mere words are insufficient and you have to use everything at your disposal to ensure the message gets through and arrives on time. Let me therefore offer you three short tales to illustrate my way of thinking.
“A Byzantine Dilemma”
This expression dates back to 15th century Constantinople when the prelates met to debate the gender of angels, taking as their starting point “well-prepared commentaries” about extremely subtle theories. While that was happening, the Turkish warriors who were invading the city had time to scale the walls and kill all the inhabitants. In this way the lives of these wise men ended tragically. I hope our minds are not distracted by tactical ploys so that we do not end up like those ecclesiastical dignitaries.
“The Wolf and the Lamb”
Translation from French into Spanish:
(Fable by Jean de La Fontaine)
The reasoning of the strongest is always best and I’ll show you why below:
A young lamb was quenching her thirst in a stream of sparkling clear water when a hungry wolf on the hunt arrived unexpectedly.
- Are you, impudent sheep, the one who has been roiling my water, keeping me from drinking in peace?
- When I got here, I didn’t notice your presence, Your Majesty. Don’t be upset, Your Majesty, and allow me to go down river 20 paces, so your water won’t be roiled.
- They tell me around these parts that you despise me and don’t want anything to do with me, that you’ve been trying to cause me problems since last year!
- But that’s impossible, for I was just born recently.
- Well, if it wasn’t you, it was your brother!
- But I have no brothers.
- Well, it was one of your kind. I must take revenge to salvage my dignity!
And without further ado the wolf took her to the woods and ate her.
The Dominican Republic is a multi-racial country. Socially, men and women of all colors can be found in all classes of society, so no one can feel their progress is being held back due to the color of their skin. Those who accuse the country of having racial barriers are unaware of Dominican history and forget that less than 10 years ago one of its greatest leaders was a black man.
They are diverting our attention toward other ends.
“The Scientist and the Intelligent Flea”
An American scientist who was carrying out experiments on a tropical flea found it to be very intelligent, since every time he ordered it to jump the flea did so. Suddenly, looking for more responses, he amputated its two back legs and ordered it to jump. Logically, the flea remained indifferent to the command. In his report, the scientist concluded: The flea is intelligent, but when you remove its two back legs it becomes deaf.
It was a conclusion divorced from reality and I hope they’re not turning the Dominican Republic into a big open-air laboratory.
We’re awaiting the reports.
“A Byzantine Dilemma”
This expression dates back to 15th century Constantinople when the prelates met to debate the gender of angels, taking as their starting point “well-prepared commentaries” about extremely subtle theories. While that was happening, the Turkish warriors who were invading the city had time to scale the walls and kill all the inhabitants. In this way the lives of these wise men ended tragically. I hope our minds are not distracted by tactical ploys so that we do not end up like those ecclesiastical dignitaries.
“The Wolf and the Lamb”
Translation from French into Spanish:
(Fable by Jean de La Fontaine)
The reasoning of the strongest is always best and I’ll show you why below:
A young lamb was quenching her thirst in a stream of sparkling clear water when a hungry wolf on the hunt arrived unexpectedly.
- Are you, impudent sheep, the one who has been roiling my water, keeping me from drinking in peace?
- When I got here, I didn’t notice your presence, Your Majesty. Don’t be upset, Your Majesty, and allow me to go down river 20 paces, so your water won’t be roiled.
- They tell me around these parts that you despise me and don’t want anything to do with me, that you’ve been trying to cause me problems since last year!
- But that’s impossible, for I was just born recently.
- Well, if it wasn’t you, it was your brother!
- But I have no brothers.
- Well, it was one of your kind. I must take revenge to salvage my dignity!
And without further ado the wolf took her to the woods and ate her.
The Dominican Republic is a multi-racial country. Socially, men and women of all colors can be found in all classes of society, so no one can feel their progress is being held back due to the color of their skin. Those who accuse the country of having racial barriers are unaware of Dominican history and forget that less than 10 years ago one of its greatest leaders was a black man.
They are diverting our attention toward other ends.
“The Scientist and the Intelligent Flea”
An American scientist who was carrying out experiments on a tropical flea found it to be very intelligent, since every time he ordered it to jump the flea did so. Suddenly, looking for more responses, he amputated its two back legs and ordered it to jump. Logically, the flea remained indifferent to the command. In his report, the scientist concluded: The flea is intelligent, but when you remove its two back legs it becomes deaf.
It was a conclusion divorced from reality and I hope they’re not turning the Dominican Republic into a big open-air laboratory.
We’re awaiting the reports.
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