Video: Good Morning America Rips Pat Robertson for Haiti Comments!

Dittos Rush! ^ | 1-15-10 | James

[iloveamerica1980]

ABC's Good Morning America rips into Pat Robertson for his hateful interpretation of the earthquake in Haiti on 1/14/10. Frankly, he deserves it...it was an extremely stupid thing to say. Also Gibbs video: Robertson's Haiti Remark 'Utterly Stupid'. For once I agree with Gibbs!

[mlizzy]

I heard a recording of PR statement. He said Haiti was cursed. He never said the quake was God's punishment. Having known missionaries who have gone to Haiti, they certainly seem cursed.

While no one can ever truly know why Haiti was pummeled so, certainly if one believes in Christ, one also believes He is aware of and allows everything that happens on His earth. Could it be a punishment (or a type of cleansing)? No one knows that but God. If it IS a punishment, the citizens of the United States had better hang onto their hats and pray, for the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade is just around the corner. (And how many dead children -- do we think -- need to be delivered to Jesus, before He lets off a little steam?)

Pray for the people of Haiti, the end of abortion, and for yourself, your neighbor, and your family.

[misterrob]

The PR discusses a curse that is believed by some....

Bullshia

There are times and place to shut up and that was one of them. Ask for prayers, ask for help but don’t parse blame onto a nation and its people for an act of nature.

[svcw]

Well, supposedly in the 1700s Haiti made a pact with the devil to worship him if he helped them defeat the occupiers (I think France). Its in history, fact or fable I don't know. I did not hear him say the quake was punishment.

[iloveamerica1980]

Yup!!!

[DannyTN]

"There are times and place to shut up and that was one of them. Ask for prayers, ask for help but don’t parse blame onto a nation and its people for an act of nature."

God is on record several times as using nature to punish countries. However, not all natural events are necessarily acts of punishment. So unless Pat has special knowledge, he shouldn't assume. On the other hand, when you look at the amount of voodoo and spirit worship in Haiti, and you see something like this happen, is it wrong to assume there might be a link?

For a list of scripture indicating God's control over the weather look here. God and weather

[Hegewisch Dupa]

As retarded as Glover’s statement is, (and make no mistake, even by Hollywood’s standards of intelligence he’s retarded), the big difference between the two statements is that Haitians are still victims in the nonsense scenario Glover presents. Robertson’s statement ultimately blames each dead Haitian baby on it’s voodoo practices or the Lord’s poor aim.

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

I was wondering about the historical accuracy of Pat’s statement.

Yes, I was curious about that too and so spent a bit of time last night trying to search out some references. Without too much difficulty, it was possible to find a significant amount of information on the topic... most of it involving a 'voodoo priest' named Dutty Boukman who led a group of others at a ceremony at a place called Bois Caiiman in 1791. The following is a cut and paste out of a description found on Wikipedia....not that this is a reliable source but it is just one out of a significant body of work that can be quickly found on the subject. Since it's obvious that many of those sources come from Haiti, it's clear at least that there are many Haitians that believe this story. If the following summary of the event is factual....and I think that most readers would agree that there are not many differences between what I've cut and pasted below and Robertson's short summary of it, then it would appear that Robertson is on reasonably safe grounds. At that point, the only bone of contention might be whether it is accurate to say that Boukman and company truly made a 'pact with the devil' or the folklore that has grown from the event is such that this has become a common belief and interpretation of the event. On that count, Robertson probably would have been wise to hedge his remarks.

On 22 August 1791, Boukman presided in the role of houngan (priest) together with an African-born priestess and conducted a ceremony at the Bois Caïman and prophesied that the slaves Jean François, Biassou, and Jeannot would be leaders of a slave revolt that would free the slaves of Saint-Domingue. A pig, which symbolized the wild, free, and untamable spiritual power of the forest and the ancestors, was sacrificed, an oath was taken, and Boukman and the priestess exhorted the listeners to fight bravely against their oppressors. Days later the Haitian Revolution began.[2] Boukman was not the first to attempt a slave uprising in Saint-Domingue, as he was preceded by others, such as Padrejean in 1676, and François Mackandal in 1757. However, his large size, warrior-like appearance, and fearsome temper made him an effective leader and helped spark the Haitian Revolution.[3] This ceremony has long been referenced as the "pact with the devil" that began the Haitian revolution. This negative branding of the ceremony at the Bois Caïman was possibly instigated by either the French who fled Haiti, or the Christian missionaries who were in competition with the local Vodou beliefs. On 22 August 1791, Boukman presided in the role of houngan (priest) together with an African-born priestess and conducted a ceremony at the Bois Caïman and prophesied that the slaves Jean François, Biassou, and Jeannot would be leaders of a slave revolt that would free the slaves of Saint-Domingue. A pig, which symbolized the wild, free, and untamable spiritual power of the forest and the ancestors, was sacrificed, an oath was taken, and Boukman and the priestess exhorted the listeners to fight bravely against their oppressors. Days later the Haitian Revolution began.[2] Boukman was not the first to attempt a slave uprising in Saint-Domingue, as he was preceded by others, such as Padrejean in 1676, and François Mackandal in 1757. However, his large size, warrior-like appearance, and fearsome temper made him an effective leader and helped spark the Haitian Revolution.[3] This ceremony has long been referenced as the "pact with the devil" that began the Haitian revolution. This negative branding of the ceremony at the Bois Caïman was possibly instigated by either the French who fled Haiti, or the Christian missionaries who were in competition with the local Vodou beliefs.

[CharlesWayneCT]

No he didn’t. He gave his version of the history of Haiti, including a legend that they made a “deal with the devil” to get the french out.

He pointed out that throughout their history, their country has been crappy.

He did not say that the deal with the devil was the reason for it.

Not that I’m defending PR, or have any interest in doing so. He’s said a lot of stupid things. But I still will defend him against false charges.

We could have a very interesting discussion about this, if we wanted.

Many of us pray for our country. We believe that there is a God, and that God would hear our prayers and honor them. This means we believe that God, in someway, at least COULD protect our country, and that is what we ask for.

Further, we know that God has, in times past, punished Israel and others for not following his commands. Many of us pray that the country would go back to it’s Christian roots.

Some people believe that God’s provision of protection is dependent on our nation following His precepts. It is not an irrational belief.

If you DID believe that, then you would expect that, on the whole, a country which loved the Lord and followed his commands would be “more protected” by God than a country that did not; you could even argue that disasters befalling the other country might have been averted if they had truly obeyed God, and thus come under His protection.

Now, none of this goes so far as to claim that God brought calamity on another country simply because they refused to follow Him — although the Bible has many such reports, so many of us believe that it IS a method of God’s interaction with Man to bring natural disasters upon those who incur His wrath.

We have the flood as the most obvious example.

Now, some religious figures go past the benign statements that they are praying that God will protect us, and praying that the nation will turn to God and thus be protected by God, and take the obvious corolary — If we do NOT turn back to God, we will NOT be under his protection, and our enemies WILL be able to smite us — and make a leap to a conclusion: If we ARE attacked, it is because we HAVE lost the favor of God.

But not all disasters, or even many disasters, have to be a direct result of God’s wanting to make an example. The Rain falls on the good AND the wicked.

And lets face it, the Bible seems to suggest that the most calamaty is reserved for those who are close to God but screw up in some way. :-)

[CharlesWayneCT]

Most of us seem to discount the existance of a Devil, much less one that could actually make bad things happen on earth.

But the Bible says Satan exists, and gives stories about Satan’s evil actions on earth.

It’s just not something anybody talks about any more, just as most people don’t speak of “guardian angels” in public company lest they be mocked and ridiculed.

I doubt Haiti is suffering from Devil-worship, but I do believe that a people who worshipped the Devil may well not prosper as a people who worship the Lord might.

[NavyCanDo]

“I doubt Haiti is suffering from Devil-worship, but I do believe that a people who worshipped the Devil may well not prosper as a people who worship the Lord might.’

Again I have to go back to the fact that Haiti has a LARGER percentage of people who say they are Christians (83%)than most countries in the World including the United States. The “prosperity doctrine” does not hold up to facts.

[joe fonebone]

Although I am a strong advocate for a third party, the presidential race is not the place for it, at this time. The time is now, however, for specific targeted third party candidates for house races. Anywhere there are

1) Conservative??? democrats that were elected.

2) Liberal gop candidates.

If a third party were to focus on these area’s of the country, they could quite possible gain 10% of the house. If you have managed to peel off 5% from each party, with the house usually close to 50-50, nothing can pass or be defeated without the support of the 10%. You effectively have control of the house, and ALL legislation. If a third party can get 3 seats in the senate, the same thing applies......

[CharlesWayneCT]

I’m not a big fan of the prosperity doctrine anyway, but I didn’t mean to imply that PR’s argument had MERIT in this case, just that a lot of the objection to it has been not about the lack of specific merit, but a rejection of the belief there could be such a thing as Satan.

My opinion? Haiti was going to get hit by an earthquake. Their failure was in not having a society that functioned well enough to rebuild into a modern-day architecture that would largely withstand an earthquake, and not having the infrastructure to handle the aftermath.

If the quake had been next door, no doubt there would be lots of trouble, but I doubt it would look as bad as it does here.

[VRWCmember]

Robertson said: The Haitian’s brought the earthquake on themselves in a deal with Satan”!

Could you source that quote please? I've been trying to get an exact quote of what he said and the entire context, and I haven't found anything even remotely close to what you are saying he said. Thanks in advance.

[VRWCmember]

Robertson’s statement ultimately blames each dead Haitian baby on it’s voodoo practices or the Lord’s poor aim.

Sorry, HD, but I have to disagree. Robertson's statement did not claim that the earthquake is the result of the voodoo practices or the curse. Also, Robertson called for prayer and for assistance for the people of Haiti. He had his organization already providing aid, medicinal supplies, and mobilizing to put boots on the ground to provide assistance long before the hollywood crowd mobilized to have a telethon to make themselves feel better about how much money they were able to raise.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Sorry, HD

If'n Pat's statement didn't put blame on Haitians, then I am the one who is sorry. Just be careful Vast - you do NOT want to get into the business of correcting me. You'll soon find yourself with no time for anything else in your life ;)