2010-01-20T10:27:00.000-08:00

Since the earthquake that shook Haiti on January 12, 2010, many of us who live outside of Haiti have experienced a sense of helplessness for our colleagues, students, friends, brothers, and sisters. We’ve donated money, water, food, bandages, but still we want to do more--we want to tell how we feel.

As writers, teachers, and artists, we believe our best gifts are those that channel our talents, so the members of Asili and faculty of North Campus gave our students an opportunity to express themselves with a five hundred word theme: “Nou led, Nou la.”

Please join us to listen to the students will be reading their essays at the Asili All Stars Haiti Relief at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 2010 in Room 2147, Miami Dade College, North Campus.

Asili All Stars Relief for Haiti
Friday, January 22, 2010
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Room 2147,
Miami Dade College, North Campus.

Featuring

Winners of the student writing contest: “Nou led, Nou la”
Kiki Sanchez and the Afro-Peruvian Project
Charles “Doc” Austin
John McBinn

Donna Aza Weir Soley
David Newby
Joseph McNair
Shango Dara featuring Redames Villegas
Rose Gourdet

Geoffrey Philp
Preston Allen
Max Pierre
Joann Brown

Asili will be collecting donations at the end of the show.

Here are some of the essays:

Always the Outcast

by Audrey Middleton

“Nou led, Nou la” [we are ugly, but we are alive].

The recent earthquake in Haiti has truly been devastation that reflects disaster of a great magnitude. For the country of Haiti and the inhabitants of that nation this is just another blow to their economy and infrastructure. One disaster after another one more devastation to deal with, one may say a country that is suffering from so much economic unrest and turmoil. Years of oppression and lack of economic instability seems as if this nation has gotten one bad blow after the other.

I can only imagine or try to begin to relate to a nation that has only been seen in the eyes of many as a third world country and some may say this may be worse than that perhaps fourth world if such a thing. A country whose citizens for many years have tried to migrate to other countries trying to seek an opportunity for a better life only to be repatriated back to the same unrest. Now once again the country has to deal with a disastrous earthquake. Another nail in the coffin to try and seal the fate of this country that has to deal with so much but lack so little resources.

Yet in the faces of those that have survived they are still holding on to that only if small hope and glimmer of better days are ahead. We may have been outcast but we are not forgotten. The voices of many still clinching to rays of hope and looking ahead for a brighter tomorrow. Perhaps now the world may begin to see the desperation of this nation and its citizens. Perhaps now the world and all its nations can pull together and lift this country up. There is a saying if you are down do not look down on me unless you are willing to give me a hand and pick me up. Maybe now we all can help Haiti pick up itself and become a nation of no more hand outs. Maybe now we can all help and assist Haiti to become a place where the people can become a part of one of those great nations versus a nation of outcast.

Maybe now when we hear Haiti we all can feel proud. Proud to know that the rest of the world at one point had forgotten Haiti but history can be extended to include those days of France and the days when Haiti became a flourishing nation, a country of many natural resources, economic stability and a prosperous country. A country that once looked upon as ugly but through the hopes and desperation and aspiration has proven that there is still life here. Do not count this country out as long as there are still citizens there with that hope and faith. Haiti is saying we need help, so help us so we may be able to help ourselves, and then say Nou led, Nou la.

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Nou Led, Nou La

by Zandria Johnson

In recent and tragic news, Haiti and the people within this place suffered from a devastating earthquake, shattering homes and buildings. Many of the Haitian citizens were unfortunately killed, while others are hidden beneath rubble. Hearing about this tragedy aches my heart and only make me hope for the best for the Haitians.

Though I am not Haitian, I heard a proverb. It is “Nou led, Nou la”. The translation for this proverb is “We are ugly, but we are alive.” To me, I feel that Nou led, Nou la represents Haiti. It is mostly destroyed by the earthquake and it will be difficult to rebuild. But the people of Haiti who are alive will prove to be strong and work together to fix it. It is a motivational quote that proves that the Haitians are a very proud people and strong. Even though this natural disaster came unexpectedly and Haiti is torn apart, the people prove themselves to be strong as one. They are making all the efforts to change things, no matter how much hard work it is.

I think this proverb should fill the people, Haitian and every other people in this world with knowledge, knowing that in life there will be many, many disasters that will happen. This should also let them know that no matter what unfortunate things may happen, they will have the help and kindness from others in this world. The Haitian people are not alone. We are one world that should always support those who are in need. It makes me feel good that others are helping Haiti in every way possible by sending money, clothing, food, medicine, and rescue teams.

With the earthquake that occurred in Haiti, it makes me think about September 11 that occurred here in the United States. Though part of the U.S. was destroyed and many lives of family and loved ones were gone, we still managed to get over what happened and fix things to make it better. So when I think of Nou led, Nou la, it gives me hope for the Haitians.

I know for one thing that the Haitians will overcome this catastrophe. I feel very sympathetic to all of those who lost family, friends, neighbors, and other loved ones. It is sad to hear the death toll. But those who are alive can tell future generations after them that they survived a tragic experienced as a nation.

Nou led, Nou la. Even those who do not speak Creole should take this proverb to heart. I feel that the Haitians are extremely strong in this desperate time of need. Though Haiti is in ruins and their capital is not there, I know that in a few years, slowly but surely, their towns and homes will be rebuilt. They just need to remember that they have to work together in order to get this done. So please, pass this powerful proverb on. I think this proverb can be applied to almost everyone’s life. Breathe, eat, sleep, and live these words.

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Nou Led, Nou La
by Alyssa Fernandez

Natural disasters are catastrophic events all across the world. Things like hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, and earthquakes have done much damage to the planet in the recent years. It could be global warming or maybe even the conspiracy of 2012, but no matter what the reason the outcome is always awful.

Last week an earthquake, one of the worst natural disasters, hit the island of Haiti destroying everything. Buildings collapsed, cars destroyed and thousands of people have died. Just saying it sounds so wrong but when you look at it on Television is so much worse. You see hundreds of bodies lying on the floor, in cracks on the street and in destroyed homes. So many people here in Miami are trying to reach their family members and they can’t even get though. Yes, it’s bad for the people who are living there, but their families that live elsewhere are so worried.

There are people in Haiti who don’t have homes or shelter; they are living on the streets. It is so amazing how the world comes together in times of trouble just as the United States has been doing. Now we are getting through but after it happened there was no way we could take planes there with food and water because there were no air strips for planes to land!

The Haitian people have a phrase, “Nou led, Nou la” and it means “we are ugly but we are alive.” To me, that means that the Haitian people are not necessarily ugly just that they might be poor, but they are alive in soul. No matter what their circumstances, they still have hope that all will be well. I believe that this phrase means so much to them because I’ve kept hearing it over and over from people in my school.

Nou led, Nou la gives the Haitian people expectation and optimism. Through this all they have no once said “why me?” they just pray that it doesn’t happen to anyone else. To me that is so respectful because if even the smallest bad thing happens to most people they start complaining and the Haitian people are just taking it and dealing with it. This is such a difficult time for them but they are not alone.

Everyone is putting their part and trying to help them, rescue will not be quick, but it is certainly happening. Wyclef Jean is a Haitian- American music artist that has been putting so many efforts to help his country. Our American solders are putting in their part and going overseas to Haiti to help. Just as when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and we helped as best we could, we will do the same for Haiti because America is a great country that looks over and beyond everything to help. The people in this country are what make it what it is today. We all just need to keep Haiti in our prayers and minds because they will triumph out of this and they will come out stronger than ever.

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Haiti Claims for our Help
by Manuel Herrera

Haitian people who suffer from the devastating results of the earthquake that took place a week ago can be associated with the proverb that says, “Nou led, Nou la” which means, “We are ugly, but we are alive.” When we think about the Haitian people, people could enumerate a series of unfortunate events and conditions that they have suffered since they started to emerge as a nation. For example, along with the Haitian Revolution, political disturbances, crimes, poverty, and hunger, Haitians had also suffered natural disasters like hurricanes, and earthquakes. The most recent of these disasters was the earthquake of January 12, 2010. Entire families were destroyed, and houses and buildings are not longer standing as part of the city’s architecture. The country is devastated; however, Haitians have learned to overcome their difficulties through the years, and they have become strong people who fall but know how to stand again.

First, what is really important right now is to preserve life of those who made it through the earthquake. The proverb says, “Nou led, Nou la.” Right now, Haitian survivors are ugly survivors because they come out from the ashes hurt and dusty, and they have lost everything they owned. Some of these survivors may even have to face the terrible reality that they lost part of their family. But like the phoenix which is reborn from the ashes, Haitian people can recover from their grief if the rest of the world offers help. The ugly survivors who live in despair claim for help, and they say, “We are alive; we are still here.” This terrible event have promoted the most lovely actions of humanity at a global level, and examples of this kindness show trough several donations of money, medicines and food that the people of the United States has offered. It is the time to make a positive difference and help Haitian people. It does not matter if we have never been in Haiti; we have the moral duty to help them. The reward for those who help could be to see in the news how a child finds his or her mother after the rescue team gets her from the ruins of a building. Another reward could be to see how elderly persons who survive the earthquake do not die a week after the disaster because they do not have anything to eat. Finally, Haitian people may not have anything to offer in return, and they may have different religious believes and costumes from some of us, but all this is not a reason for doing nothing. Haitian people ask for immediate help and let us know that their hearts suffer, and we must answer.

In conclusion, the proverb “Nou led, Nou la” made me think about the need to help the earthquake’s survivors who are in a really hard situation. I can feel their pain, and I joined to all of those who support in a way or another the Haitian people.

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Writing Contest: Nou led, Nou la

2010-01-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

Write a 500 word theme based on the recent earthquake in Haiti and the proverb, “Nou led, Nou la [We are ugly, but we are alive].” Explain what the proverb means to you and/or the Haitian people.

Guidelines

Contest open only to currently registered MDC students. Include your name, student number, and the name of your instructor.
All entries deemed publishable by the adjudicators will be posted on this site.
The writers of the top three entries will be invited to read at Asili All Stars Relief for Haiti on Friday, January 22, 2010 @ 6.00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Room 2147, Miami Dade College, North Campus.
Entries close at midnight January 19, 2010. Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Entries MUST be e-mailed to haiti.relief.mdc@gmail.com with the subject line: Nou led, Nou la.

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Photo: thebookman"thinking allowed."

Haiti Relief @Miami Dade College

Writing Contest: Nou led, Nou la