<p>^I lol’d at that post. I don’t think you intended it to be funny, but still. We are pretty similar, as much of the African Diaspora comes from West Africa. But Etritrea isn’t in West Africa–it’s in the East. That’s not where the majority of the Diaspora comes from. Ahem. Now on to freewheeling commentary.</p>
<p>There was an article about a Haitian community in Savannah that bought a statue to commemorate the ~500 Haitians who fought at Savannah, GA, during the American Revolution. All my relatives like to bring this up to discuss how Haiti is the reason we have a United States of America today. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Here it is: [Hundreds</a> Turn Out for Unveiling of New Haitian Memorial Monument - WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports |](<a href=“http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=7184862]Hundreds”>http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=7184862)</p>
<p>Just my own $.02: I am Haitian. Not Haitian-American, not African-American, but Haitian. And until the INS approves my application for citizenship, that’s what I’ll be. 
America has given me a lot of opportunities, far more than I would have had in my native land. And, like Barack Obama likes to say, only in this nation would my story be possible. However, I owe Haiti for all the lessons it has given me, both in courage and in the power of human endurance, and what I learn in the U.S. will be used to help those in my homeland. For were it not for the grace of God, I could have been one of those that remained.</p>
<p>It’s nice to think of things in terms of unity and all, but let’s take off the rose-colored glasses, shall we?</p>