US evangelist says quake-hit Haiti made 'devil' pact

AFP ^ | 1/13/10

[grey_whiskers]

There is *something* wrong with Haiti, that it is so perpetually screwed while the Dominican Republic (on the same island) is doing much better.

Haiti has been screwed almost from the get-go. Here is a quote from P.J. O’Rourke’s “All the Trouble in the World: The Lighter Side of Overpopulation, Famine, Ecological Disaster, Ethnic Hatred, Plague, and Poverty” which illustrates just how successful they have been in past ages -- this quote covers the 1800s pretty well:

Jean Pierre Boyer was elected to replace Petion and took over the whole country when Christophe died.  He signed a stupid treaty with France agreeing, in return for international recognition, to pay Haiti’s ex-landowners huge reparations.  When the bill for this came due, Haitians, yet again, were sent to the plantations by force. They rebelled.  Boyer resigned and sailed for Jamaica in 1843.

Major Charles Herard replaced Boyer.  According to ‘Black Democracy: The Story of Haiti’ by H.P. Davis, Herard “entered the capital on march 21st amid an extraordinary demonstration of popular approval.”  He promptly invaded the Dominican Republic, lost the war, blew his popularity, and in April 1844 “sailed for Jamaica.”

Three presidents followed in the next three years until General Faustin Soulouque was elected in 1847, supposedly because he was too idiotic to bother anybody.  Soulouque crowned himself “Emperor Faustin I,” named 624 princes, dukes, and other nobles, and initiated a court etiquette so elaborate that after a joke the chamberlain woudl announce, “His majesty is laughing.  Gentlemen, you are invited to laugh also.”  Soulouque sailed for Jamaica in 1859.

Then came General Fabre Geffrard, who sailed for jamaica in 1867.  And Major Sylvain Salnave, who was tried and shot in 1869.  And Nissage-Sagent, who actually served out his constitutionally mandated term and left office peacefully.  This so confused the nation that there was a coup d’etat anyway.  General Michel Domingue sailed for Jamaica in 1876.

The next president, Boisrond-Canal, sailed for parts unknown.  (Jamaica being, apprently, full to the brim with ex-leaders of Haiti.)  J.N. Leger, in ‘Haiti, Her History and Her Detractors’, says the people showed great sympathy for Boisrond-Canal and “cheered him as he left the wharf.”

So it went for Haiti through another eleven chief executives, only one of whom gave up power on purpose, until we arrive at the case of Guillaume Sam.  ”General” Sam was “elected” “president” in 1915, that date being the only thing in his career which doesn’t require quotation marks.  Once Sam was installed, the usual rebellion got under way outside Port-au-Prince, and the usual political opponents were locked int eh national prison. Revolutions in haiti don’t normally involve much fighting.  The standard procedure is for the leader of the rebellion, when he feels strong enough, to send a small force of men into the capital.  The rebels attack various government buildings, and the government troops either fight back or don’t according to whether they think the revolution is likely to succeed.  Sam, however, committed a rules-book violation and had all his political prisoners slaughtered.  The public was wroth.  Sam had to hide in the French legation.  A mob gathered there. In the words of H.P. Davis:

“The mob remained without the gates, but a small body of well-known citizens, after courteously explaining to the French minister tha tthe people were no longer to be baulked off their revenge, entered the house and, finding Sam under a bed in a spare room on an upper floor, pulled him down the stairs, dragged him along a driveway, and threw him over an iron gate to the mob.”

Sam was torn to pieces.

It was then that the United States bowed to the kinds of pressure the United States is forever being pressured to bow to – in Kuwait, Somallia, Bosnia, and Haiti right now, for instance – and intervened.  The U.S. Marines were sent to straighten things out in short order.  They stayed nineteen years.  And everything in haiti has been hunky-dory ever since.

And now this earthquake.

I don't know, the phrase "somebody up there likes me" doesn't seem particularly fitting.

Prayers up, nonetheless.

And will be donating tithes this month to disaster relief, if I can find a reputable org to give to for this (remember The Red Cross skimming off a percentage of post-9/11 donations for "expenses"?)

[fireman15]

I agree with you completely. Mr. Robertson was trying to raise money for the people of Haiti. Mentioning their frequent and ongoing misfortunes was a risky observation. Given the past criticism of his similar observations, I am sure that he knew what he was getting into.

[killjoy]

Pat is an old guy now but he has spoken much truth and maybe he needs to retire.

Yea, it is definitely past time for him to sit down and STFU.

[TXnMA]

"Allow me to speculate: I'll wager that in that same segment Robertson offered up prayers ..."

No speculation needed. See # 67

[Retain Mike]

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola. Haiti obtained its independence from France and the Dominican Republic obtained theirs from Haiti in 1844. Haiti’s religion is voodoo, which is a satanic cult. The Dominican Republic is Catholic. The few times Haiti has had a government it has been abusive and despotic. The Dominican Republic is a democratic republic. The Dominican Republic has enjoyed strong GDP growth to $78.19 billion and per capita income of $8,200. Haiti has a GDP of $6.95 billion and per capita income of $1,300. The Dominican Republic has an unemployment rate of 14.1%. Haiti’s is at least 67%, but the society is so chaotic that standard computation methods provide only an estimate. These are current measures resulting from consistent, historical decisions.

Classical Christian thought says humans live with the consequences of their decisions. The Christian God will not override human choice. Spiritual prosperity means accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, but one may or may not prosper materially. If you believe in a Christian spiritual dimension, then the Haitians making a pact with the Devil for their independence would mean the Devil extracts his pound of flesh in myriad ways as long as the Haitians remain unrepentant. From a Christian spiritual perspective the residents of the Dominican Republic repented of the sin, and spiritually and materially prospered.

[rbmillerjr]

Pat Robertson is a total moron.

His son really needs to get him admitted to a hospital for his own good.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Don’t paint me with that brush. Read my posts.

[hope]

Indeed, indeed! And that is the job of the church!

[Frantzie]

Good post. I am sure you will be attacked for it. I think Pat should have kept this comment to himself. However, Haiti is such a nightmarish disaster that it is almost beyond explanation particularly mystifying is why the Dom Repub is so much better off.

Haiti, Somalia nd maybe Madagascar or some country near it are probably as close to hell on earth as you will ever no. Comparing Haiti to hell before the earthquake would not be a stretch.

Something is very very very seriously wrong with Haiti and throwing $10 billion or $50 billion at it “ain’t gonna” fix it.

[Blue Collar Christian]

IF one is a Christian, he might judge, as he will be held to the same standard he uses to judge. IF one is a Christian, then it is Christ he is wanting to become like. IF one is a Christian, he knows that Christ, who is God, sees all sin as sin. IF one is a Christian, he knows that he himself is not without sin, and best keep his thoughts and words on other things than judging others.

This disaster is a great opportunity for Christians to show the love of the LORD rather than shooting their “Christian” mouths off declaring a natural disaster as God’s judgment on any nation. Just name ONE nation that does not deserve the same “judgment” some see here for Haiti.

I read whole sentences, and whole paragraphs, and whole chapters, and the stuff that comes after a “therefore”, and whole books, and whole Testaments.

When a Christian speaks of a disaster to someone, or some human entity; nation, town, religion, whatever, as God’s judgment on that entity, I can almost see the LORD roll his eyes in disgust.

If you want to be a Christian, then read John 3:17, and then be like Christ.

[Blue Collar Christian]

I concur. Many sincere Christians have had horrible disaster in their lives and many wretches have flown though life with undeserved blessings. King David’s lament at times. Is the slaughter of so many Christians in places like the Sudan God’s judgment?

Let’s let God judge, and not interpret natural or political occurrences like we know what’s going on, unless, of course, one thinks they are totally guided by the Holy Spirit to add onto the Scriptures. Rev 22:18

[Brian_Baldwin]

What a fool to say such stupid things. You know, it wasn’t Pat who was on the radio the other day, but I tuned into some broadcast thinking it might be nice to listen in on a Christian radio show, but whoever the guy was he was trying to tell me that the world is going to end on (date/time) and it’s right there in the Bible (yes, he was stating an EXACT DATE and TIME, sorry I forgot which date) - anyway, I think Pat has pretty much fallen into the same category of problematic preachers.

My opinion is that, when you mix religion with politics then religion can become dangerous - look at the Islamists. Now you can mix politics with religion, a little of that isn’t so bad ... but don’t mix religion with politics, that’s another story and the consequences are in the Bible. Because when you mix politics with religion, you sort of help politics become a little cleaner. But when you mix religion with politics, then politics really becomes your religion in the end.

[Blue Collar Christian]

“Well, what should we expect...Remember the Word? Blessed is the nation who’s God is the Lord? When you lie down with dogs and all that!”

Could be talking of any country there, even the U.S..

What is the quote of our chosen leader? “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.” Barrack Hussein Obama

[Retain Mike]

Thanks. This the first time I have checked back. As I opened the file, I berated myself for ever writing it. However, the contrast of two countries on the same island is just so striking.

[Frantzie]

No good post. During a tragedy like this, people become very compassionate but Haiti has been a disaster for hundreds of years. We are paying for it in Florida. Something is seriously wrong in that country and has been since they supposedly made that pact with the devil and before that. Sad but nothing will change there.

The contrast of two sides of an island is staggering.

Hopefully the people berating you will have Obama send Haitians to their specific town so they can pay for their care - and it gets expensive. They may bankrupt Florida with other illegals.

They can enjoy animals being sacrificed for Santeria (voodoo) in their towns or other colorful local customs.

[Alamo-Girl]

And pray for them I do! Thank you for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!

[onedoug]

Interesting. And I’m not a Christian but an OT believer.

[cricket]

All I know about Haiti is that it’s poor almost beyond words, while the Dominican Republic isn’t..

Gives me fear to think of Obama-style leadership per Haiti's crisis. America on it's ear; thanks to Obama Lefties needing, using crisis to move their agenda forward per their MO. We know too, because Obama spoke to this - and Rev. Wright -that this impoverished country is white America's fault.

That said; how much more money will we now print, on Haiti's behalf. What, beyond America's charity, might be considered.

[olezip]

Classical Christian thought says humans live with the consequences of their decisions.

Maybe it was an act of God. There are and have been many Christian missionaries taking care of the people for years in Haiti; thus there are always the innocent victims.

In Haiti the misery index has been high with many people living in abject squalor. I pray that the surviving population is able to "connect the dots" between their satanic ways and the earthquake, and repent.

In the meantime, we must help the missionaries minister to the needs of the survivors, and gently guide them to the path of righteousness.

[PaultheMan]

Retain Mike,

There’s a lot more to the story of Hispaniola and the economic differences between Haiti and the Dominican Republic than your analysis provides. Mainly, it’s the significant differences between natural resources and climate between the two nations.

Although sharing the same island, the two countries are worlds apart in terms of natural resources. There is a huge mountain range which splits the island in two. On one side of the mountains (western, Dominican Republic) the tropical winds bring significant amounts of moisture, which is released as rain as they approach and pass over the mountains. Thus, the Dominican Republic has vast tropical forests, significant amounts of fresh, replishable water and the ability for long term sustainable agriculture.

Haiti by contrast gets very little rain by comparison, what little forest it once had has been reduced over the centuries for use in building and fuel. Most of the country is semi-arid and without water agricultural production is severely hampered, not to mention the loss of top soil over the last 2 centuries to erosion and drought.

Haiti is the 2nd oldest democracy in the “New World” after its war of independence from France. The problems with their government and economics can be traced primarily to their lack of natural resources.

Think of California, where on one side of a mountain you may have great agricultural prospects with the ability to grow crops year round. On the other side, you have little or nothing but desert without the ability to sustain any significant amount of people for long. That is basically Haiti and Dominican Republic in a nutshell.