‘Here is what my #s-hole looks like’: African countries and Haiti react to Trump’s remark

The Washington Post ^ | January 12, 2018 | By Paul Schemm and Eli Rosenberg

[Oldeconomybuyer]

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — President Trump’s dismissal of Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as “s-hole countries” whose inhabitants are not desirable for U.S. immigration shocked people around the world and provoked swift condemnation.

“The African Union Commission is frankly alarmed at statements by the president of the United States when referring to migrants of African countries and others in such contemptuous terms,” said Ebba Kalondo, the spokeswoman for the African Union.

The reaction from the United Nations human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, was uncharacteristically blunt. He described the remark as “racist.”

In Haiti, people took to Twitter to share pictures of their country — verdant green hills, palm trees in the sunset, and sparkling turquoise water.

“Hey #S-HolePresident!” wrote Harold Isaac. “Here is what my #s-hole looks like.”

The deputy secretary general of the African National Congress, the party once led by Nelson Mandela, hit back at Trump’s comment during a news conference in South Africa.

“Ours is not a s-hole country. Neither is Haiti or any other country in distress,” Jessie Duarte said.

[arkfreepdom]

Then how come every church I know sends our kids to help!

[chimera]

That's the real challenge. It has to start with the people, and as we have painfully learned over the years, it is often the case the people of a given country are not ready for or capable of meeting the challenge of self-governance, which inevitably leads to despotism and/or anarchy.

In a previous life I worked in the academic realm and had occasion to instruct quite a few students from African and Middle Eastern countries. On balance they were tremendously intelligent and motivated to excel academically, and did so. But when it came time to graduate and move on, almost all of them were desperate to stay here, and not go home. I found that telling. Those that did go back I have kept in contact with and they all find that the political environments in many of those places don't lend encourage reform or innovation or progress towards what might be considered a modern, well-organized and relatively ethical societies. And any attempts at reform are suppressed, sometimes with extreme brutality.

So, you're right, the toilet has to want to be cleaned, and that is often lacking.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

If you like your sh*thole, you can keep your sh*thole.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It requires a vision. Otherwise people will just hang on to their bit of dirt.

[bigbob]

Fine, enjoy living in your shithole countries forever because you aren’t coming here. Fair?

[Stormdog]

That looks like a Clinton funded Haitian sewage treatment facility.

[nutmeg]

There’s a reason they are called the 3rd world. It’s because 3rd world sounds better than shitholes.

Exactly... Well said. Or as Mark Steyn said last night on Tucker Carlson's show: They're "dysfunctional" countries.

[nutmeg]

Wow. Sobering photos (#36, 37).

[Brian Griffin]

“Haiti is in a state of constant distress. Now, let’s talk about THAT.”

Haiti’s poverty problem has a lot to do with its unique Creole language.

The Haitians I’ve met in Florida do seem to be good workers and the one who took care of my aunt and spoke English was a very nice man too.

Haiti would do well to switch to English. French would be easier for Haitians, but English is probably worth the extra effort.

[smileyface]

Nope, not playing. I responded to Oldeconomybuyer’s statement after the article post (see below), and the idea is independent of what President Trump said/did not say. It is based on the article of what people from other countries, UN spokesmen, etc are quoted as saying. THAT is why it is WINNING...

---

It’s good to know that none of these countries are s-holes. We can begin deporting all refugees, illegal aliens, VISA overstays, and other effective IMMEDIATELY!

PS: Best. President. Ever!

[Sam Gamgee]

Ask them to name ONE country that is not a shithole in Africa. The communist policies have turned South Africa into a second rate nation. Ghana has been turning things around, but it is still poor as shit.

[aquila48]

If that’s not the definition of shit hole I don’t know what is.

I’m sure even (especially?) the people living there would agree. No wonder they want to get the hell out.

Problem is they recreate the shit hole wherever they go.

[chimera]

That seems to be the default position of humanity. It is rare that any significant number of visionaries come together to get a significant portion of the population going in the right direction. Even in our history it was, what, maybe a third of the population was on board with the Patriots? The other third were Loyalists and the other third didn't care either way. But fortunately for us, the one-third that found the vision of the Founders compelling was enough to make the difference.

[Gay State Conservative]

I've never gone to Haiti (and never will) but I've been to Kenya,Tanzania,Malawi,Zambia,Mozambique and South Africa.

Those countries qualify,IMO,as $hitholes.However,there one small suburb of Johannesburg,called Sandton,in which we stayed a few years ago and is,IMO,reminiscent of the wealthy parts of Southern California I've seen (Palos Verdes Estates,for example).

So in the parts of Africa I've visited only about 5 square miles doesn't qualify for that classification.

[FlingWingFlyer]

If these places are NOT s***holes, why is a major portion of their population fleeing to the “evil and racist” America as “refugees”?

[sergeantdave]

“The reaction from the United Nations human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, was uncharacteristically blunt. He described the remark as “racist.”

As a better wag than me noted: I didn’t know sh*tholes was a race.

[New Jersey Realist]

They don’t object to getting money from us. If they complain cut off the money!

[Brian Griffin]

There are many areas of New Jersey that are very nice.

You don’t seen them from the Metro New York portion of the New Jersey Turnpike.

[Old Yeller]

They are toral shitholes and if they’re not, they don’t need our money anymore.

[KJC1]

If these places are NOT s***holes, why is a major portion of their population fleeing to the “evil and racist” America as “refugees”?

And why are they trying to change OUR country to be more like their home countries, instead of trying to change their home countries to be more like ours?