Haiti

Tomorrow will be another school day in Haiti. Hopefully more peaceful than in the past---that is if the rich can allow Rene Preval, the apparent democratic choice of the poor, to take power. By supporting him, it appears the folks from what The New York Times hopefully calls, "densely populated slums," are once again putting their faith into the vision of popular empowerment raised by Aristide more than 15 years ago.

For now the elections have seemed to be fair and violence free. That has to be a good sign no matter what side you're on.....

As Haiti's Votes Are Tallied, a Fragile Peace Breaks Out
"No matter what the outcome, the elections have been a major accomplishment, without the fraud and bloodshed of this country's previous political contests.

"Much of the political hostilities stirred by activists among the poor and leaders of the business elite have been drowned out by the nation's pride in pulling off an election that started out shaky but ended with heavy, some say historic, voter turnout, and without a single serious incident of political violence.

"As the nation waited for final results, there were scattered apprehensions about what was perceived as the probable victory of Mr. Préval, a man so closely linked to Mr. Aristide, who was forced from power by an uprising two years ago and lives in exile in South Africa. "