Rev. Pat Robertson often attributes horrific events to God’s wrath as when he explained that the 9-11 attacks and the Katrina disaster were punishments for our sins. Now, Robertson has proclaimed that the earthquake in Haiti was sent by God to punish Haitians for a “pact with the Devil” made to overthrow the French.
Robertson favors that Old Testament God filled with anger and wrathful impulses. On this occasion, in Robertson’s mind, God wanted to kill over 100,000 people because of something that some of their ancestors allegedly did. Makes perfect sense. Here is what the good Reverend said “happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it”:
You know, Christie, something happened a long time ago in Haiti. And the people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon the third or whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you 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 another — desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It’s cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti on the other is the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God, that out of this tragedy, I’m optimistic something good may come, but right now we’re helping the suffering people — and the suffering is unimaginable.
He may be taking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s reference to “Biblical damage” a bit too literally. However, President Obama seem to be offering a rebuttal by promising the Haitians that they “will not be forsaken.”
Native Haitians defeated French colonists in 1804 and declared independence. If only they had stayed virtual slaves under French rule, God would have been pleased and they would have been earthquake free.
This is line in with Robertson’s prior explanations of God’s wrath in terms of killing people in New Orleans and New York as God’s way of “vomiting” us out:
My only question is why we want to spend eternity with God if he is this horrible being filled with rage and wrath who speaks to guys like Pat Robertson? Isn’t God supposed to be better than us? Even my four-year-old does not hope that her classmates are wiped out in earthquakes when she is mad at them. If this were true, God would be in serious need for intense therapy over his anger issues and violent disposition. It is a bit hard to imagine Jesus saying “serve’s em right, Pop, for that stuff that their ancestors did over two hundred years ago.”
By the way, I missed that history lesson about how all of the Haitians swore a pact with the Devil. There are sacrificial and voodoo practices certainly on that island, but I was unaware that the whole revolution was one big Satanic movement.
There is no such “true story” about a nationwide pact with the devil. There were various revolutions by people like Padrejean in 1676 and François Mackandal in 1757. Robertson seems to be referring to Dutty Boukman who helped led the uprising in August 1791. He was a houngan, or Haitian priest, who held a traditional ceremony in which a pig (symbolizing the power of nature) was sacrificed and an oath administered to the fighters to be fearless in battle. However, accounts of his words notably omit Robertson’s alleged pact:
h! Eh! Bomba! Heu! Heu!
Canga, bafio té!
Canga, mouné de lé!
Canga, do ki la!
Canga, do ki la!
Canga, li!We swear to destroy the whites
and all they possess.
Let us die rather than fail
to keep this vow.
Indeed accounts have him referring to God not Satan for some old-fashioned wrathful justice (which would seem to appeal to Robertson:
“The god who created the sun which gives us light, who rouses the waves and rules the storm, though hidden in the clouds, he watches us. He sees all that the white man does. The god of the white man inspires him with crime, but our god calls upon us to do good works. Our god who is good to us orders us to revenge our wrongs. He will direct our arms and aid us. Throw away the symbol of the god of the whites who has so often caused us to weep, and listen to the voice of liberty, which speaks in the hearts of us all.”
For more on this oath, click here.
Of course, even if there was a pact with the Devil, God can really keep a grudge. Over two hundred years later, he kills over one hundred thousand people to teach their long-dead ancestors a lesson. I find that hard to believe, though I am warming to the idea of God sending Pat Robertson to punish us for our sins.
““once we can afford to”
The answer I was expecting. Why don’t you just go into hock that you can pass along to your children? And their children? Would you consider such a response to be an act that diregarded, not only your own welfare, but that of your children too?”
You really are a bellicose individual aren’t you. Going upside down into debt benefits no ones children. Something the average parent is well aware of. And since our single home going entirely green would not make any significant overall difference in the quality of the environment for our children’s children, the notion of bankrupting ourselves to put in a windmill is laughable.
We’re working towards going green. As is most of the educated planet. Unfortunately the right wing has shill’s like yourself infesting blogs and chat rooms throughout the internet to sell their lies to try and keep us as a people from evolving.
Of course, throughout history there’s always been your sort. When Ben Franklin discovered electricity there were plenty of your type there to decry it as the work of the devil.
When Henry Ford introduced the first mass production automobile, there were plenty of your type there to mock and ridicule him and Model T owners by shouting “get a horse”.
And when Orville and Wilbur Wright showed that manned flight could be done safely and routinely, there were plenty there to mock and ridicule them that manned flight would never provide a practical application.
Whenever mankind has stood on the precipice of a great change or discovery, there’s always been the throwbacks there to heckle them and fight against progress. Fortunately mankind usually advances in spite of them.
Oh and yes, the tax deductions can be huge. They’re based on what you spend to do it though so keep that in mind.
“30%er:
how much do those wind turbines cost? I looked into one and they are quite pricey, 50k (at least from the company I called) to run a single family home. I believe that included installation. I also seem to remember the salesman telling me the government (US) has some tax rebates available”
Byron, I’ll answer this one because I don’t know what your previous post is asking. Troy? Don’t know which comments of mine you’re addressing.
As for the wind turbines 50k is a rip off. You can get them much cheaper. There are also some do it yourself kits you might look into. You can get them for much cheaper than that. You might want to check out Solardyne. They have some great prices.
http://www.solardyne.com/windgenerators.html
One of the benefits of doing this besides the environment is having a home with the lights on during power outages. Makes the neighbors green too. With envy.
“once we can afford to”
The answer I was expecting. Why don’t you just go into hock that you can pass along to your children? And their children? Would you consider such a response to be an act that diregarded, not only your own welfare, but that of your children too?
If you were really so convinced, why wouldn’t you lead by example? Aren’t you saying that we should collectively spend, but you’re not willing to do it unless everyone else is forced to?
30%er:
how much do those wind turbines cost? I looked into one and they are quite pricey, 50k (at least from the company I called) to run a single family home. I believe that included installation. I also seem to remember the salesman telling me the government (US) has some tax rebates available.
I do like the idea of selling excess power back to the utility company at their rates. But with an electric bill averaging around 250/month it would take 15-20 years to reach a return on investment and then the question is useful life and maintenance costs which are probably not inexpensive.
If the wind turbine cost 10-15k then you are talking. But it seems to me these would only be good in sustained wind areas.
30%er:
How does that change anything? The Greeks had an oral tradition and Troy was found based on that oral “history”.
The more we learn, the more we learn.
“30%er,
Do you live in the most energy efficient house that can be built? Do you drive the most fuel efficient car being manufactured?” – Duh
Yea, I figured you’d ignore that and try to shift the discourse from your nonsense about our childrens welfare. The actions of a troll.
I drive a very fuel efficient car and my home is supplemented with Solar Power. We’re updating the Solar Panels and adding wind once we can afford to.
Now, that being said, what does that have to do with your nonsense about our “childrens welfare”.
How exactly do you equate the idea of developing clean, energy efficient technologies to a threat to our children’s welfare?
30%er,
Do you live in the most energy efficient house that can be built? Do you drive the most fuel efficient car being manufactured?
Duh,
“Stephen, why don’t you change your mind and try to expose the lies behind global warming? Are you willing to risk the well being of your children and their children on poorly-supported rationalizations”
Yes. Risking our kids lives by designing new clean and efficient energy technologies.
The poor dears.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people the right wing finds to sell their nonsense with such dedicated fervor.
Pitt,
Why only go back 2.1 million years? Could it be because if you went back 2 billion years, it would indicate that the earth is recovering from a low?
“Over the several billion years of geologic history, the quantity of carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere has been steadily decreasing.”
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9r.html
“Even Bush, after years of willful denial, yielded to reality and his own Pentagon’s 2004 warnings.”
We call that caving to political pressure. Do you think George W. was able to understand the science involved? I think you willing to give him way too much credit.
The rest of the post was just political rhetoric.
Stephen, why don’t you change your mind and try to expose the lies behind global warming? Are you willing to risk the well being of your children and their children on poorly-supported rationalizations? Will great grandpa Pitt be hailed as hero or as one of the sheep who blindly followed? From your writings, you could care less.
I’d don’t like to make things personal, but I have no problem throwing a personal attack directly back. When you learn to present ideas, and let others arrive at their own conclusions, you won’t have a need for personal attacks.
“Goodbye global warming lie.” Wow. Now that’s willful denial your descendants would simply die for.
The journal of Science reports that the current level of CO2 in the atmosphere – about 390 parts per million – is higher today than at any time in measurable history_at least the last 2.1 million years.
That’s a lot of peak sunspot cycles and more than six ice ages.
Even Bush, after years of willful denial, yielded to reality and his own Pentagon’s 2004 warnings. http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1730759_1731383_1731632,00.html Whats strange here is that the belief in such facts would actually encourage securing and defending oil reserves in the M.E., largely supported by Conservatives and other hawks.
So I find it odd that you would continue to deny facts that might support staying in the Middle East to keep the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman open to Pakistani oil pipelines and tanker traffic.
If the Pentagon in 2004 thought so seriously about our future, why don’t you? And if you think I’m cherry picking, go to the Google page and spend a day or two.
http://www.google.com/search?q=pentagon+on+global+warming&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
It’s foolish not to take GW seriously. Would you risk the well being of your children and their children on poorly-defended alternative rationalizations? Will great grandpa Bdaman be hailed as hero or corporate mole? From your writings, you could care less.
How long can people discuss the idiotic statement made by Pat Robertson? It was a stupid thing to say. End of discussion. There is nothing to debate.
I don’t see anybody endorsing Pat Robertson here.
Still waiting for you to show me where I defended Robertsons comment.
There was a point where this was an interesting thread, but its problem was the content was beyond the capabilities of the troll and his new alter ego Duh. So as usual he hijacks it into a global warming discussion, in the past it was birther nonsense. The truth is that this man, who likes to complement himself with a fictitious sidekick, is basically a shill for the current faux conservative memes and propaganda. If he wasn’t so damn boring then at least there could be some decent debate. Unfortunately, he is merely a person who does research, but limits it to people he already agree with. Original thought and this troll are enemies.
His latest video forecast he warns us that the first openning days of Feb. could be in the top 10-15 worst winters.
February Will Make You Shiver, with This Idea I Deliver
Jan 15, 2010; 11:22 AM ET
The coldest start to an El Nino winter since the ’70s, in the wake of the thaw, may have a top 10-15 cold February nationwide.
http://www.accuweather.com/video-on-demand.asp?video=61867338001&channel=VBLOG_BASTARDI&title=February%20Will%20Make%20You%20Shiver,%20with%20This%20Idea%20I%20%20Deliver
Febuary will make you shiver
with each paper you deliver
bad news on the door step
I couldn’t take one more step
Bye Bye the Global Warming lie, drove Chevy to the levee over the same kind of lie. And good ole boys were drinking whisky then cry,singing this will be the day global warming died.
Oh, and while the king was looking down
Al Gore stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Obama read a book of marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day global warming died
Bye Bye the Global Warming lie, drove Chevy to the levee over the same kind of lie. And good ole boys were drinking whisky then cry,singing this will be the day global warming died.
Latest from Joe Bastardi
The January thaw is here and it will stay for a while. Now I dont know if you are hearing the same cries there that I hear from some sources in the states where we are in a thaw for the next 6-10 days before a harsh February descends , but there are folks saying.. aha see that its getting mild. The fact is the areas targeted for the cold winter in Europe and England and France were on the western side of this, have had the coldest start in over 20 years. That is the fact. It is not a mild winter, nor will it be a mild winter. The cold is retreating into its core area of our winter forecast and will reside there for 10-15 days. However if one goes back and looks at the idea I had, including my critics, you will find that we expected the core of the cold to be to the east and east southeast of england. So back and forth battles were going to occur between the air masses from the east and onslaught of maritime air, which of course brings more normal and even warmer than normal conditions. But winter is not over yet. The WORST is probably over in England and France, because the CORE of the worst is supposed to be to the east and southeast… back and forth means snow and cold but also that it can warm..
In the states its the opposite to some extent. The areas that are going to get hit worst when winter comes back are the east and south. So far the winter there has spared the east a constant onslaught like you have just seen. The worst has been in the US south where the ag industry has taken a beaten not seen in many years. The US as a whole has had the coldest opening 45 days since the 70s as their winter of 00-01 faded enough so that the onslaught that came after jan one this year has pushed it over the top. Just like in Europe, Feb will be the decider as to how bad this winter was against history. I feel with NOAA rewriting records from the 60s and 70s to it their agenda of trying to make things look warmer now, we cant trust any measurements unless they are purely satellite derived. A site that can show you this is here:
http://www.drroyspencer.com/latest-global-temperatures/
continue reading here:
http://www.accuweather.com/world-bastardi-europe-blog.asp?partner=accuweather
I told you I’m done. Your desperation is apparent. You clearly have an axe to grind here only you’re not going to grind it on me.
The only axe I’ve got to grind is exposing lies and manipulation.
30%er just like you were asked questions and you gave answers, I do not see you asking any questions in return. You wish to just slam the door shut, there will be no more debate, the science is settled.
No matter how much you think that that’s the case, you are wrong to presume such a silly notion.
I found this on AP tonight Byron. Given your questions earlier and our discussion I thought you and some of the others might find this interesting.
Bible Possibly Written Centuries Earlier, Text Suggests
Clara Moskowitz
LiveScience Staff Writer
Fri Jan 15, 2010 9:40 am ET
Scientists have discovered the earliest known Hebrew writing – an inscription dating from the 10th century B.C., during the period of King David’s reign.
The breakthrough could mean that portions of the Bible were written centuries earlier than previously thought. (The Bible’s Old Testament is thought to have been first written down in an ancient form of Hebrew.)
Until now, many scholars have held that the Hebrew Bible originated in the 6th century B.C., because Hebrew writing was thought to stretch back no further. But the newly deciphered Hebrew text is about four centuries older, scientists announced this month. –
I told you I’m done. Your desperation is apparent. You clearly have an axe to grind here only you’re not going to grind it on me.