Robertson, You Are a Disgrace to Patricks Everywhere
If you have a pulse, you know that an estimated fifty- to one hundred- thousand people died in Haiti this week.
What deaths have already occurred were caused by the combination of a massive earthquake and dilapidated infrastructure, and what deaths have yet to occur will be attributable in part to lack of medical infrastructure in the impoverished country.
At least that's what people subject to the virulent message of mainstream media think. Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson is not one of those people. His liberation from the chains of reality allows him to see the quake as a "blessing in disguise," because it is punishment for Haiti's "pact with the devil" and an opportunity for them to come to God:
Pat Robertson is right about one thing. He is right that I don't want to talk about "Napoleon III, or whatever." I want to talking about helping those people, about international aid, and about saving what lives we can.
In the meantime, three words for Mr. Robertson: go to hell.
What deaths have already occurred were caused by the combination of a massive earthquake and dilapidated infrastructure, and what deaths have yet to occur will be attributable in part to lack of medical infrastructure in the impoverished country.
At least that's what people subject to the virulent message of mainstream media think. Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson is not one of those people. His liberation from the chains of reality allows him to see the quake as a "blessing in disguise," because it is punishment for Haiti's "pact with the devil" and an opportunity for them to come to God:
Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the Devil said, okay it's a deal.Link here.
Pat Robertson is right about one thing. He is right that I don't want to talk about "Napoleon III, or whatever." I want to talking about helping those people, about international aid, and about saving what lives we can.
In the meantime, three words for Mr. Robertson: go to hell.
Labels: Rabid Conservatives
posted by Patrick Bageant at 4:49 PM
10 Comments:
So he's blaming the earthquake on...the end of colonialism? The decline of the French Empire? (This one I find hard to believe.) Or is there some whole "Doctor Faustus"/"Devil Came Down to Geogia" angle that I'm just not getting?
Who knows? I think he has taken the idea that French withdrawal from Haiti allowed voodoo to flourish and twisted it around to mean Haitians made a pact with the devil to practice voodoo if in return he would oust the French.
He has enough money to do some real good. Instead, we get this ridiculous, intolerant, hatful mongering. It would be cute and funny if he wasn't so influential.
Does this mean we don't hate the French anymore?
Well said, Patrick. I think responding to a tragedy like this one with cynicism and hate is a pretty un-Christian thing to do. Very disappointing.
I agree completely, it's a completely inappropriate comment in light of this incredible tragedy.
On a somewhat lighter note, does anybody else find it hilarious that Pat Robertson attended Yale Law back in the '50s? Somehow you never see him listed as one of their most prominent alumni, although he arguably has a lot more influence (and certainly far more name recognition) than most of the judges and law professors that they churn out.
Patrick, while I completely disagree with what this man is spouting out, your summary is wrong. He didn't say it was a "blessing in disguise" because that way Haiti could "come to god", but rather that it would provide an opportunity for the country's poor infrastructure could be rebuilt. Just a stickler on facts... even if Pat Robertson is not.
I think my summary was accurate:
Robertson: . . . [The Haitians made pact with the devil, who agreed to help liberate them from the French] "and the Haitians revolted and got themselves free, and ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another, desperately poor . . . [analogy Domincan Republic suggesting how prosperous they would have been without the devil] . . . "they need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God, and out of this tragedy, I'm optimistic, something good may come."
Seems to me like he is saying poverty caused the destruction, the devil caused the poverty, and coming to God will turn it around. Because, you know, strong building codes are the hallmark of a godly nation.
Apparently a plethora of resorts also signals holiness. Has Pat Robertson ever been to a Carribean resort town? I assue you that if God can see what goes on there, he closes his eyes.
Robertson is a disgrace, but I think it's important to keep two points in mind.
1. He's more prominent than influential. At least in the political sphere, and I think also in the "Christian Right" sphere, he's a kind of embarrassing uncle that nobody wants to go to dinner with. The days of Pat Robertson actually being an important public figure are pretty much over.
2. Robertson falls into a school of thought--which is relatively common, and not restricted to evangelicalism or even Christianity--of interpreting historical events as a form of divine feedback. Hell, even lawyers still use terms like "Acts of God" to describe horrific natural disasters.
That's why his criticism of Haitians doesn't really make much sense. The fact that they suffered a disaster is an indication that they were being punished for their sins--even if Haitians aren't the traditional evildoers from Robertson's perspective. If an earthquake rocked through Kansas, he'd probably admit that there must have been some secret sinnin' going on in the Sunflower State, too.
Dear Pat Robertson,
I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action.
But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished.
Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"?
If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.
You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.
Best, Satan
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