Raymond Joseph, Haitian ambassador to the US speaks some powerful truth to Pat Robertson, who never met victims he didn’t want to blame. Robertson is being soundly condemned for his latest exploitative remarks, hours after Haiti experienced a catastropic earthquake. Joseph:
“I would like the whole world to know – America especially – that the independence of Haiti, when the slaves rose up against the French, and defeated the French army, powerful army, the U.S. was able to gain the Louisiana Territory for $15 million. That’s three cents an acre. That’s thirteen states west of the Mississippi that the Haitian slaves revolt in Haiti provided America. Also, the revolt of the rebels in Haiti allowed Latin America to be free. It is from Haiti that Simon Bolivar left with men, boats, to go deliver grand Colombia and the rest of South America. So, What pact the Haitians ‘made with the devil’ has helped the U.S. become what it is.”
Chris Roslan, a spokesman for CBN says:
On today’s The 700 Club, during a segment about the devastation, suffering and humanitarian effort that is needed in Haiti, Dr. Robertson also spoke about Haiti’s history. His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caiman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French. This history, combined with the horrible state of the country, has led countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed.
Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath.
If you watch the entire video segment, Dr. Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them. His humanitarian arm has been working to help thousands of people in Haiti over the last year, and they are currently launching a major relief and recovery effort to help the victims of this disaster. They have sent a shipment of millions of dollars worth of medications that is now in Haiti, and their disaster team leaders are expected to arrive tomorrow and begin operations to ease the suffering.
Pat Robertson’s Greatest Hits
He doesn’t say “the earthquake was God’s wrath” exactly, but that is what he says. Sly and shameless spotlight stealing semantics as people die.
Richard Bartholomew looks at the origins of the debunked ‘pact with the devil’ and it’s repeated resurrection by US fundamentalists.
I watched another religious TV show today looking for money to help Haiti. I believe they are sincere (unlike Rev. Robertson). But we need to be wise in compassion, there are reputable agencies we can give to for what is needed now. The shows leadership has not shown itself to be prudent in regards to money, having recently emerged from being stung in a financial scheme. Sincerity does not translate into competence and as the clock ticks down on rescue efforts in a profoundly devestated country, we can give to agencies which have proven track records in rescue, recovery and rebuilding.
For my friends outside Canada, Michaëlle Jean, Canada’s Governor General, was born in Haiti. She breaks down as she gives a statement about the Haitian earthquake.
Update: A reader passed on this action alert for Canadians.
Pat Robertson’s 700 Club airs in Canada. While I don’t doubt CBN (US) and CBA (Canada) staff are as disgusted as I am at his latest grab for attention at the expense of a suffering country, Robertson needs to be shaken where he hurts. His wallet.
You can express your disapproval effectively here in Canada.
Call or email the station in your area which carries The 700 Club.
Be polite, firm and clear.
Let Canadian stations know you are not happy with their purchase of this program.
As I write this update every second I key these words in, a victim of this earthquake is dying.
You’ve probably already given to a reputable charity.
You can do one more thing.
Canadians can email or call Canadian TV stations, networks and carriers which make money off Robertson and let them know that we’re tired of him. Stations can and will make programming decisions based on what they hear from viewers.
Pat Robertson’s 700 Club airs in Canada:
Monday – Friday
Bell ExpressVu 652 4:00 pm EST
Star Choice 357 4:00 pm (The Miracle Channel)
Rogers Cable 153 noon & 2:00 pm
CHNU Vancouver 11:00 am PST Joytv
CIIT Winnipeg 11:00 am CST Joytv
Vision TV and CTS also carry The 700 Club once a week.
The Governor General is a gracious, intelligent and dignified lady. She fits comfortably into any culture with grace.
Pat Robertson? Pharisee comes to mind – so do a lot of other adjectives. It is hard to believe he can get away with such hatred.
People like him breed dissent, distrust, derision. Somehow I don’t think that is what Jesus expects us do.
Pat may well be sending millions of dollars of supplies through his humanitarian organization – but his ridiculous and ill-timed remarks may well have discouraged many other people from contributing aid and funds to Haiti in their hour of greatest need. In the end, Pat should shut his mouth and keep his supplies rather than incite hatred and distrust as Sherm has wisely pointed out. Hopefully, Haitians can overlook this misguided zealot and focus on the true spirit of charity which the majority of those in the USA relief agencies espouse.
Robertson is feathering his own nest, dividing attention.
Ambassador Joseph did right to rebuke and correct, as have many others.
As Ambassador, I commend Mr. Joseph him for using his power of office to stand against bully pulpit ignorance.
Hopefully we can ignore Robertson and set our focus on what needs doing in the days and years ahead.
The Canadian government is matching donations made to reputable relief agencies until March 12 up to 50 million dollars.
They are also airlifting Canadians in Haiti back to Canada, including injured.
Cruel and unfeeling and self-interested of Pat Robertson to talk like that at a time like this! But he’s king of his own castle there at 700 Club and there is no one who would dare correct him or advise him concerning his serial tactlessness.
“Serial tactlessness.” I like it. Rev-run Pat did something similar after 9/11.
My mind’s still a but numb thinking about the carnage.
What really got me while I was driving yesterday and hearing someone praying in passing for the Haitians then moving to an ad for a cruise without skipping a beat. It that’s the American Dream, call me a conscientious objector.
What the Haitians are living is beyond comprehension as are Robertson’s remarks. I do not believe the word Reverend should be used in the same sentence with this name.
Where afterall, is his understanding of God? He himself is the devil. This is a time of solidarity and humanitarianism not sarcasm, brimstone and hellfire.
Robertson should retire and go live in a cave.
True ministers of Christ are also stewards of the mysteries of God, stewards of the deep things of God’s secret counsel concerning what this is really all about in the world, from the beginning to its end. Although Pat Robertson profess to be a minister of the gospel, it is evidently clear that he is spiritually ignorant of the the eternal truths of Scripture. When the Scripture is read aright, and without bias, Scripture reveals that God’s wrath is upon the whole earth, and that these things happening the world over are signs that the world as we know it today is drawing closer to the time when at the consummation of all things, there will be the end of all the woes, social ills, dysfunctions, the universal ethnic cultural identity crisi and conflict will be put down, according to the immortal light of eternal truth of Scripture which supernaturally keeps God’s eternal truth from destruction and perversion by men like Pat Robertson masquerading as ministers of Christ. I have a full clear spiritual understanding of the eternal truths of Scripture, and God’s wrath being revealed from heaven, but that doesn’t hardens me toward any people, even those who were the perpetrators of the Translantic Voyage and the Trail of Tears, and the experiences of Jim Crow in my birth place here in the south. When one comes to true faith, the Holy Spirit guides and leads them to speak truths, without bias and bigotry, but in the case of Pat Robertson, I have been convinced for quite sometime that ethnic bigotry in him has been covered with the false paint of apostate White Christianity, which every now and then, that which is veiled and hidden in his dark soul, find its way to express itself openly. Scripture reveals that we are all known by our own fruit: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bring forth that which is good; an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. New creatures in Christ look at the events of world affairs with eyes whose lens has been washed and cleansed from spiritual atrophy because of sin, apostasy and rebellion, and we see that the whole world is passing through the birth pains of vanity, fultility and the bondage to corruption, eagerly and earnestly waiting and looking for the day when its sufferings will come to an end. Pat Robertson needs to examine himself whether he be in the faith. I moan and groan within myself each day looking at the consequences of sin and rebellion of mankind against God, which has brought about the fruits from which we all suffer. Pat Robertson, when spiritually examined proves that he is not a true minister of God! So with that in mind, and since many have already rebeuked his arogant remarks, Scripture commands, “He that is an heretic, after the first and second adminition reject! Only those who thinks like him and believes in his doctrines follow and support him! Others trun away and ignore! You can’t provide humanitarian support while at the same time condemn the people for what took place centuries ago by the progenitors of the ethnic culture. Pat Robertson is ignorant of the true spiritual reality that the largest part of the universal visible church community are devil worshippers, and don’t know it! God is not the author of the divisions existing in the Christian church world today, as if God has compartmentalized heaven for these church divisions, according to universal ethnic culturalism! One needs to truly examine where one is standing his own beliefs as one professing Christ, for one could well be a minister of Satan and don’t know it!
Bless you for speaking here today, Henry Robinson – like a breath from heaven dear brother and it refreshes me! May the Lord continue to be your strength and comfort there in the south where bigotry is so terribly entrenched. There is a place where God’s children are joined in the Spirit – just yesterday my heart was weeping as I was listening to a hymn that made me think of the slaves of America and that all they had to look forward to was “flying away”. So sad the things that go on in this fallen world, but God is looking on, He is keeping accounts, and He blesses those who mourn with eternal blessings. I also communicated briefly with my old pastor yesterday evening, passing along a warning about certain ministries which came to my e-mail, which was not well-received, and that also saddened me. But the Lord knows all, and we rest in His sovereignty even as we fellowship with the Man of sorrows who is aquainted with grief.
A lot of reactions to Roberston stem from an incomplete and therefore skewed understanding of the Bible. Here is an article that tries to take a broader view.
The Bible says speak truth in love. I don’t see much love here.
Can’t you see satan dancing with glee at how happy the “Christian community”is to tare into a fellow Christian?
We in the US had our Katrina, our Mt. St. Helen and the floods that took bodies from cemetaries, floating them away and almost dividing our country in half.
These things coming upon the earth are only the beginnings of sorrows.
However unwise the timing of Pat’s remarks, the truth of the beginning of sorrows needs to be pointed out while people can still come to Jesus.
OPERATION BLESSING of the 700 Club proves the LOVE that comes with the sometimes unwelcom TRUTH> In Christian Love, Elsie
Even if there is some truth to what Robertson said, to say it at such a time, when people are buried alive under concrete, traumatized, in pain, mourning for dead and lost loved ones, maimed and injured, thirsty and hungry in the hot Haitian sun, not knowing if or when help would arrive – to wag his finger in their faces at such a moment, one has to wonder at his motives, or his judgment or both. And I think a quick glance at some historical facts makes us realize also that many of Haiti’s problems can be laid squarely at the feet of those who oppressed and took advantage of them to such an extent that they have never even had a chance – it’s really not that complicated. Sure there is sin, but I highly doubt America is any less sinful than Haiti and we don’t even have to turn over rocks any more to see it – all we have to do is turn on the television to get the idea – it’s pretty much all there.
Elsie:
Robertson has a bully pulpit and what he did and does frequently in using it is harmful. I was glad to see so many of his fellow citizens tear into him. He has interfered in Central America, used his Operation Blessing planes for diamond mine business in Africa, etc. There are other accountable and effective charities in Virginia people can give to.
With Robertson it’s always the beginning of sorrows, exploiting and twisting scripture (ie: law of reciprocity) is one way he became a multi-millionaire. Are some people practically helped by his Operation Blessing? No doubt, but at what cost?
To sermonize the victims of a horrific earthquake and blame them for all their troubles, in front of an international TV audience, when they’re raw and bleeding, writhing in pain and still in shock – that isn’t the love of Jesus Christ, it isn’t even human love – that’s rubbing salt into their wounds. “If your brother sins, rebuke him.” That’s all some are doing in the course of distancing themselves as far away as possible from his remarks. I’m not necessarily impressed with large charitable organizations either, I’m sure they do good and I’m grateful they’re around, but it doesn’t necessarily take love to run one, it just takes money (usually other people’s) and administrative skills.
Life has been good to Pat Robertson, as Bene’s comment makes me realize – Diamond mines? Perhaps life is so good he’s a little divorced from the reality of pain and suffering, which led to his unfortunate thoughtlessness. It’s such a shame that the world and most Christians of today think Christianity is what we see represented on television – it’s not.
The Haitian Ambassador Raymond Joseph is an idiot himself…
I don’t know how he became ambassador.
The guy is extremely arrogant, he is disgrace to all Haitian people, he needs to quit!
John Payzant
I think there could’ve been wiser words from Pat Robertson of the 700 Club.
From what I’ve observed, Haiti wasn’t the most developed country and in the best shape to begin with.
So, an earth quake came along combined with the present conditions of the buildings reacting to the plates in the ground moving below them was a very bad disaster indeed.
Some person from China giving aid to Haiti said the earthquakes in a larger country like China were worse though than the ones in Haiti.
So, hearing this comparison was not only informative but changed my picture of this very tragic situation that was not the worst not as bad as other situations.
Part of what people do really need is to have the best outlook that they can possibly have.
There can be mentors that can encourage in the people of Haiti an outlook that would resonate with the present circumstances they are going through.
Persons within and without the country of Haiti can collectively help bring the healing process about.
Our human nature and our aptitudes to be able to move on is important.