While other cable news programmers responded to the grim news out of Haiti by calling for emergency aid and furnishing directions for how to help, right-wing religious broadcaster Pat Robertson took to the air with commentary disparaging the earthquake victims in a way that could very possibly discourage needed aid to the stricken nation.
Robertson told viewers of his 700 Club (1/13/10) that Haiti has been visited by so much tragedy over the years because it had signed a deal with the Devil. As Robertson told his co-host, when Haiti was
under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever…they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, “We will serve you if you will get us free from the French.” True story. And so, the devil said, “OK, it’s a deal.” And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other.
Robertson’s audience reportedly runs into the millions, and many of them who might normally be willing to give support for disaster relief could take Robertson’s words to heart and close their purses rather than give aid to servants of the Devil. Unsurprisingly, Robertson’s history is also wacky: The Haitian revolution, which embraced the principles of the enlightenment and the American Revolution, achieved victory in 1804 against Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon III would not even born until 1808.
We weren’t expecting a treatise from Robertson about how Haiti, with the help of U.S.-backed tyrants, has become the one of the world’s poorest nations. But imagine how sick someone must be to respond to news of wide-scale death and destruction by saying, in effect, “Well, they got what they signed up for.” Unfortunately, we don’t have to imagine—we’ve got Pat Robertson.
You have to love the parenthetical “True story”. Ri-i-i-i-i-i-ght.
Hey, Pat – WWJD?
I as understand it, he’s not a revenge-minded kind of guy, but going around telling folks that darkies are in league with the devil and we should leave them to their fate – in the name of the religion bearing his name – might’ve sorely tempt him to ask the old man to toss a thunderbolt or two your way.
Now, I’m not a believer, but you claim to be – so you might want to watch your step, and keep an eye on the sky, don’t you think?
Pat Robertsom, you are exactly what a Christan is not! Shame on you for being such a curel person.
My only hope is that Limbaugh and Robertson are recognized by many people who care about their fellow man for what they are, distorted hypocrites. Every decent religious leader and responsible journalist should speak out against individuals like this. Shame on them!
AMEN!!!!! I agree with Esther Confino.
How dare Mr. Robertson say such a thing. You mean to tell me he has the ear of the devil who told him this story. How phoney is that. How could anyone know what happens to people, it has to do with the land upon which their island sits. This is a scientific reason for the earthquake. According to Robertson, the French were the “good guys” and by rejecting French control over their island, they sided with the devil instead? Then according to that theory, the USA and other countries overthrew their oppossers, then are siding with the devil. We fought the British to gain our freedom. In fact we fought the French too as well as the Spanish in the colonial period in our history. The only difference between Rush and Pat is that Pat just said it like a statement whereas Rush just shouts his message and expects no one to challenge him. Both of them are predjusticed against minorities, especially the black population.
Even had their been a pact with the devil, Pat knows that – ‘a child is not judged by the sins of his father.’
Time for real Americans Christians to stand up to the (your favorite word for excrement here).
http://decaturdaily.com/detail/51492.html
excerpt reads: …… “Whatever is really going on with Pat’s audiences with the divine â┚¬” if we want to take the idea of God’s wrath seriously, and we also want to take the Bible seriously â┚¬” there are plenty of transgressions other than abortions, gay marriage and secularism for Americans to be concerned about.
For instance, let’s think about God’s concern for the weak and the powerless in our world. This is the theological heart of conservative opposition to abortion. But why does their concern always stop with the unborn. How about the already born?
Where is the passionate concern for children who live in poverty and die of starvation in huge numbers every day? And how about the innocent children of Iraq and Afghanistan killed and maimed by weapons of war? If God’s wrath hangs like a cloud over those who inflict pain or allow suffering of the weak and powerless, then there is much for us as a nation to be concerned about.
Wow! Nice story Pat! But I like the one about Humphty Dumpty better.
The theology of a people making a deal with the devil is more primitive than the Voodoo practiced by some Haitians.
Pat lives in the glorious past when the sky god smote evildoers on a daily basis with death and disease and subjugation by empires. He wants those days to be fully realized again.
Pat Robertson is one who certainly knows about pacts with the devil.
Anyone w/ half a brain, something which Mr. Robertson and most of his viewers lack, knows that the troubles in Haitis is the result of empiialism, racism and paternalism.
~;^}>
Robertson and Limbaugh give God a bad name. Their real ambition is to make money. They play games with lingering racist sentiments and make sure money is sent to them instead of our brothers and sisters in need of compassion.
If there is a devil and some Faustian deal was made, I’d wager these two clowns were in on the negotiations. Their very popularity might be the proof incarnate. The line in the contract probably read, “I’ll make you popular and wealthy beyond all measure and worthiness when you constantly lie, spread hatred, and dissimulate while saying God told you to do it.” Beelzebub, Pat, and Rush – birds of a feather.
This is exactly why I am a “Jack Mormon”=a non-believer. Mormons believe that black people are “pre-cursed” in a “pre-existence” where they followed Satan instead of God so are now having to lead tormented and persecuted lives in this World as their punishment. This is also why they got the black skin that brands them as supposedly inferior. Can you believe this stuff? Well, I couldn’t either.
Christian fanatics are intolerant and hateful people. They are no better than the Jihadists that they fear and despise.
Robertson’s handlers should take him by the hand and lead him off to some nice quiet asylum where he can talk to himself and not disturb the neighbors with his demented rants. Years ago I was a guest on a show on his CBN network and actually got to watch him do a show. Unscripted? No. He read his hateful nonsense from a teleprompter. Amusingly, after I mopped up the floor, live on TV, with his wannabe, Robertson’s CBN network tried to stiff me out of the airline ticket it had agreed to pay for to get me to their offices. Interesting also is the fact that Robertson’s college, where his station is located, had the appearance of a set for a film of “The Stepford Wives”. Robertson and his minions have done as much damage to this country as the quake has done to Haiti.
By the way, the comments bu the chap from Brazil are right on target.
1/19/2010
I must appeal to the religious community to pull Pat Robertson to the side & question if he is using the Devil’s philosophy. The purpose of the religious Faith is to uplift people, to offer encouragement & to offer support.
I would also like to know if Pat Robertson wrote the sermon or does he have a writer. We should all work on resolving this type of mean, judgmental & inappropiate response to the crisis of people.
I think it is a half baked argument , that actually puts the french in the worst light. Their presence and actions in the Haiti were so bad , they would rather sign up with the devil.
On the other hand – Occupation in many African countries is done in the Name of God and Christ. I think considering what the deal with god that the west claim they have had with god , has done for Africa , it is stupid for Robertson to bring Devil and God into play.
the Afrikaners in South Africa, according to AVW Eugene Terreblanche, they singed a deal with god – to bring apartheid to South Africa. So what would Robertson have to say. It was great deal made with god blessed are the white Afrikaaners in South Africa. A lot of illegal occupation by the west is done in the name of god – to kill and oppress indigenous people living peacefully in their countries.
I think this is a human tragedy and we are all affected as citizens on one world and only insensitive morons like Robertson and Sharon Stone (during the Sichuan earthquake) make such sadistic statements. I wonder if he is not the devil spawn taking credit for his job well down (if we were to believe the devil exists and did this).he is a wolf dressed in lamb’s clothing.He is doing a b it too much Pr for the devil.
Lets starve Robert from lack of attention and go forward to help Haitians at home and those away from home to cope with the situation , fill media space with people who want to make a difference. Not people who want to do PR for the devil and promote inhumane reaction from all of us.