Let me tell you a story!

island cassie · 11-09-2009, 07:37 PM

In 1938 the Dominican Republic was suffering under the rule of the dictator Trujillo. He had killed thousands of Haitians, and in order to atone for his human rights abuses, Rooseveldt made him agree to take in a number of German Jews, and he was paid US$50 a head. They were given the land recently vacated by the United Fruit Company in the Sosua area.

Recently an elderly Dutchman whose father had sheltered 4 Jewish families for 4 years during the second world war, wanted to improve the road leading up into the hills where a quite large number of people live, and which had been in a bad condition for a long time. He wanted to straighten the road and eliminate a very dangerous s-bend, and using the expertise he had from working for the UN for many years - he approached the landowner.

The result was that the landowner - one of the original Jewish refugees - allowed him to reroute the road across his land and donated the area within the loop to be made into a park.

And today (9th November - Kristalnacht) - sorry for the spelling - we opened the Herman Strauss Community Park with Dominicans, Haitians, Dutch, Germans, English, Belgians, Americans and Canadians in attendance. The glass plaque said on one side - Kristalnacht and the date - and on the other side - Freedom brought us here.

I had tears in my eyes! and I had to share!

Jananas Bananas · 11-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Beautiful!

capthof · 11-09-2009, 08:08 PM

That is very cool!

momoese · 11-09-2009, 09:56 PM

We need more stories like this. Thanks for sharing!

Patty in Wisc · 11-10-2009, 03:16 AM

Love it Cassie!

CValentine · 11-10-2009, 03:41 AM

Wonderful!!!

~Cheryl

Eric · 11-13-2009, 05:17 PM

Guess i think about my own Country so much, I forget to remember there's people who fought for Freedom in other Countries too. Super story, Cassie!

Bob · 11-13-2009, 09:35 PM

Thanks for posting this CR. I almost had tears in my eyes as well........thank god for the single malt , I was able to remain composed. People being nice to each other for the sake of doing the right thing is one of the best and simplest things on earth......we all should.

11-09-2009, 07:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 383,354 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Let me tell you a story! In 1938 the Dominican Republic was suffering under the rule of the dictator Trujillo. He had killed thousands of Haitians, and in order to atone for his human rights abuses, Rooseveldt made him agree to take in a number of German Jews, and he was paid US$50 a head. They were given the land recently vacated by the United Fruit Company in the Sosua area. Recently an elderly Dutchman whose father had sheltered 4 Jewish families for 4 years during the second world war, wanted to improve the road leading up into the hills where a quite large number of people live, and which had been in a bad condition for a long time. He wanted to straighten the road and eliminate a very dangerous s-bend, and using the expertise he had from working for the UN for many years - he approached the landowner. The result was that the landowner - one of the original Jewish refugees - allowed him to reroute the road across his land and donated the area within the loop to be made into a park. And today (9th November - Kristalnacht) - sorry for the spelling - we opened the Herman Strauss Community Park with Dominicans, Haitians, Dutch, Germans, English, Belgians, Americans and Canadians in attendance. The glass plaque said on one side - Kristalnacht and the date - and on the other side - Freedom brought us here. I had tears in my eyes! and I had to share! Last edited by island cassie : 11-09-2009 at 07:42 PM. Reason: spelling

11-09-2009, 07:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jananas Bananas Jananas Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: Austin, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: JaNan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4,438 BananaBucks : 396,332 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,341 Times Was Thanked 7,059 Times in 2,683 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 133 Times	Re: Let me tell you a story! Beautiful! __________________ Jananas Bananas

11-09-2009, 08:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
capthof capthof's Photo Gallery Location: Jupiter; Fl Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Scott Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 408 BananaBucks : 14,108 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 45 Times Was Thanked 367 Times in 103 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Let me tell you a story! That is very cool! __________________

11-09-2009, 09:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 3,793 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Let me tell you a story! We need more stories like this. Thanks for sharing!

11-10-2009, 03:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc tropical nut Patty in Wisc's Photo Gallery Zone: 5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,115 BananaBucks : 346,515 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,946 Times Was Thanked 2,510 Times in 1,203 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 69 Times	Re: Let me tell you a story! Love it Cassie! __________________ Got a lite? Patty ____ Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

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11-10-2009, 03:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
CValentine Prolific Epistemologist CValentine 's Photo Gallery Location: Bell County, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Che Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,846 BananaBucks : 155,768 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 7,127 Times Was Thanked 1,782 Times in 625 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 362 Times	Re: Let me tell you a story! Wonderful!!! ~Cheryl __________________ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

11-13-2009, 05:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Eric Banned Eric's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,759 BananaBucks : 141,981 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,364 Times Was Thanked 855 Times in 421 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 163 Times	Re: Let me tell you a story! Guess i think about my own Country so much, I forget to remember there's people who fought for Freedom in other Countries too. Super story, Cassie!

11-13-2009, 09:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 208,847 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Let me tell you a story! Thanks for posting this CR. I almost had tears in my eyes as well........thank god for the single malt , I was able to remain composed. People being nice to each other for the sake of doing the right thing is one of the best and simplest things on earth......we all should. __________________

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