Thought for the Day

[bcholmes]

Darren Ell: What message would you like to pass on to Canadian and American readers? In your view, what should they be thinking about if they want to help Haiti?

Patrick Elie: Become citizens in your own countries. You're nothing but consumers. You've lost control of your governments. Open up your eyes and ears to the lies you're being fed about other countries. Also, Canada should stop robbing, literally looting Haiti of its better minds that are so needed here, especially in the last five or 10 years.

— Interview between Darren Ell and Patrick Elie

I've seen Patrick speak; he's fascinating and nuanced in his presentation of the political situation in Haiti.

Comments

[sarah-dragon.livejournal.com]

What does he mean by the "...stop robbing, literally looting..." comment? I have an idea I suppose, but not being as conversant in the situation, that seems like a very interesting statement.

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

I think he might be referring to something like what Canadians call 'brain drain', where our best and brightest in certain fields go to the US because there are more job opportunities.

In the case I'm the most familiar with, which is science and medicine, Canadians complain about brain drain to the US but don't vote to put money into research at home. If there's less funding available in the field, people who work in that field will go where the money and jobs are.

I'd like to know exactly what kind of thinkers he's talking about, and why they leave, and why they go to Canada specifically.

[sarah-dragon.livejournal.com]

Here in the States we have an interesting phenomena, or one I find interesting. On the one hand we consider ourselves still the land of opportunity (whether its true or not I leave up the individual) and so are not surprised folks come here for education or to escape oppressive regimes. However, I think our interpretation is that once educated, they will go home and help their own people. So if they stay, we complain. I know many a folks who complain about 'foreign' doctors and yet the people saying it are themselves immigrants or sons/daughters of immigrants.

But thats the common man's POV. As for the government, I think the tendency to lure the brightest from other lands is a leftover of the Cold War, where everyone was divided into sheep or goats, and if you lived in a land of goats the West welcomed you with open arms if you wanted to leave.

So for me I am just curious if these folk are targets of opportunity (i.e. the Canadian campaign to lure American liberals away during the Bush years) or if he means this is something more long term and planned?

[drakkenfyre.livejournal.com]

That's often bothered me, that we pick and choose the best and brightest from around the world, preferentially choosing those who are most desperately needed in their home countries. I understand the rationale, but I don't think it's right at all.