ST is a troll.
Star Traveler has been here for 11 years....and while I don’t agree that anyone knows if God is punishing Haiti...it seems to me that Haiti has been living punishment since L’Overture and even before depending on what you were...
and yes it is true that the vast majority of Haitians do believe in the power of Voodoo and that many have no problem using it for whatever effect they desire way beyond simple salvation...some folks say 50%, some studies say 80-90%...it is definitely higher than anywhere else in the New World..even Cuba or Dom Rep or Brasil.
and yes...many in their government attend Voodoo services and always have...from the Duvaliers, Colonel Paul, to Aristedes and I bet you even stalwarts like Namphy and Manigot and Prosper Avril also attended some Voodoo services.
and further...this new relativist notion that voodoo is benign and just no big deal...same for santeria, umbanda, condumbley, macumba, obeah and so forth is new age relativism from Stonehenge worshipping types..my ancestors lore
Voodoo is often used for personal gain and to harm...it is a personal tool which runs counter to the Christian and Jewish I suppose...concept of prayer.
just my 2 cents from 4 years down there for months at a time on business in the capital and all over
from 88-91 I could look out over the hills from my perch at the Montana at the cusp of Petionville and see on any friday nite the glowing figures in the firelight of voodoo ceremonies on many hilltops or clearings and the hoogan would be working his stuff....many Haitians including professionals are very very into this stuff and quite superstitious....now I cannot speak for anyone else but the faith I raised in was very clear about the dangers of summoning spirits to do favors or seek retribution.
We now look on German silly affections for Norse power and Odinism in the 30s and 40s as just plain stupid and warped.
I see no reason to give Haiti a pass on poor religious choices BUT I am in favor of helping them and am doing so myself and hope we can at least save those who can be saved.
Turning Haiti into even the Dom Rep is impossible without population removal and new immigration of talent and capital...a rather tall order.
ST is a troll.
Ya know... if you keep following me around saying I'm a troll, you're gonna be recognized as my "groupie".... LOL...
I mean, just because you can't get a large number of conservatives to join the birther group that you're in doesn't mean that they're trolls... :-)