The following post is a letter written by my brother Sam Jean regarding my interest in running for president of Haiti.
On the evening of July 1, I got a cryptic phone call from my sister urging me to fly to New York for a family meeting. Days later, my brother Wyclef assembled us all in his living room to announce he was considering running for president of Haiti.
It's not every day that your brother tells you he's considering running for the presidency of a country. I think we were all overcome with emotion at the prospect of a grueling and potentially dangerous campaign and the personal stress it would cause our family. When we were finally alone, I asked him if he was sure about running; I wasn't sold. I said, "You are probably the only candidate who is going to have to run a campaign in two different places. Everyone's eyes will be on you alone." He looked at me and said, "I have to do this. It wouldn't be right not to. How could I look myself in the face and say, 'I could have done something more and didn't'?"
Then he began rattling off facts and statistics, and his vision for what Haiti could become. He talked excitedly about the possibility of the diaspora returning home and making a real contribution to Haiti. Reconstructing the educational system so that every child had a real chance of success. Reinvigorating the agricultural community, creating jobs and changing the face and perception of Haiti around the world. I questioned him for what seemed like hours, and his answers were honest and focused. I came around and told him I was willing to do whatever I could to help him get elected.
Though I had braced myself for the onslaught of media attention (both positive and negative), I was surprised at the singular focus on my brother as a candidate. Many of his critics demonstrated a shallow knowledge of our home country and its political system and history. A dear friend of mine posted the following as her Facebook status: "Fill in the blank: No to Wyclef Jean even running because Haitian presidential candidate ________ is so much better prepared. [Your Candidate's Name] is not only a lot less corrupt, he/she successfully (1)_________, (2) _________, and (3) _________,* which is just the sort of experience that Haiti needs. *Speaks French, not an option"
No one who responded could fill in the blanks successfully. My brother might not be a traditional candidate, but his qualifications are many. He's a natural-born leader, has demonstrated time and again that he can successfully build coalitions with others, and every time he has been counted out in the past, he has risen to the occasion. I know he will do the same if he's elected president of Haiti.
My family and I care very deeply about Haiti. But Wyclef has always been particularly committed to changing the lives of the 9 million Haitians in Haiti, many of whom live in poverty and despair. My brother has tried very hard to be a positive voice for Haitians--from the 350,000 child slaves to the 1.5 million displaced by the earthquake.
I think we all know that it takes many committed and serious souls to make a real change--something Haiti has desperately needed for a long time. One person alone cannot change Haiti. But sometimes one person can be the catalyst for all the other pieces to fall into place. And if my brother cannot be that catalyst as president, I know he will continue to contribute to Haiti in any and every way he can. Of that, I am proud.
--Sam Jean
I'm very glad to know following "he will continue to contribute to Haiti in any and every way he can. Of that, I am proud. "
It is not about Wyclef himself, his heart/ his will is for New Brighter Haiti!!
As you know it is important to have a strong right leader but also it is very important to have everybody having the same goal and work together for the goal wich is "New Brighet Haiti!!"
Haiti really needs a drastic CHANGE and to do that Everybody Must Work Together!!!!
As he said when talking about how his NGO/NPO "Yele Haiti" Fundation started:
(Ref: http://youtu.be/95crrE5xGnA)
"Everybody had one thing that they all said which was the same that we want Haiti to change ,
we want better Haiti!.
For them to change, everybody must work together, like the people of the land, everybody must work together."
Good Luck to Wyclef and Haiti and ALL!!
God Bless!