STANDING UP FOR SOMEONE'S FREEDOM

 Many of us are familiar with July 5, 1810, known as the "Gran Columbia Independence Day."   However, Haiti's assistance was actually necessary for it to occur.  On February 19, 1806, Francisco De Miranda traveled to Haiti at Simon Bolivar's request, to seek assistance in freeing the Gran Columbia, a region of Central America.  There, he encountered General Magloire Amboise upon arriving at Jacmel, one of Haiti's Southeast cities, who introduced him to Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines.     

Francisco De Miranda received weaponry from the Emperor after multiple meetings so that he might battle to free the Gran Columbia. Francisco De Miranda decided to design a tricolor flag (yellow, red, and blue) on March 11, 1806, the day before he returned to the Gran Columbia. The flag symbolized the brotherhood between the Gran Columbia and Haiti. Francisco De Miranda flew the first flag of the Gran Columbia on his ship on March 12, 1806, just before departing Haiti. Sadly, Simon Bolivar's initial uprising was unsuccessful. Bolivar then decided to go to Haiti to find a solution freeing Gran Columbia from Spanish rule.        

Upon arrival to Les Cayes, Haiti's third southern city, the Haitian President, Alexandre Petion, met with Simon Bolivar to discuss his needs.   After many days of talking, the Haitian President, had offered to help liberate the Gran Columbia if Simon Bolivar would, "liberate the Slaves as well."  Bolivar did not hesitate to agree with the Haitian President.  Then,  Alexandre Petion ordered that 200 Haitian men be trained and ready for the journey to liberate the Gran Columbia.  

After years of fighting, Simon Bolivar and his men finally liberated the Gran Columbia and its slaves on July 5, 1810.  In the process,  Bolivar also liberated Bolivia and Panama.  After being divided, it would take Venezuela another year to proclaim its own independence, on July 5, 1811.  Then, Bolivar had vowed that, "the Gran Columbia would remain indebted to Haiti forever."  

However, only Venezuela has been doing so.  Many Venezuelan Presidents have traveled to Haiti to pay their respect to our fourth Fathers.  Venezuela and Haiti have been bonding since 1806.  Haitians are very grateful to Venezuela for always standing by their side, regardless of what they are going through.  For those who do not know, Haiti's second international airport is called, "Hugo Chavez International Airport." To date, although divided into three different countries, Columbia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, all these three countries still have the same flag.  




As I mentioned before, Haiti does not discriminate regarding freedom.  My next blog will be about Haiti's voice and contribution toward a European country's independence. We should always remember to stand up and fight together for every country's freedom because every country's freedom contributes to "our" better world.         

   

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