Go to Hell, Pat Robertson: Haiti Needs Help, Not Stupidity

Haiti is suffering, and the only response from Christians and other decent human beings is compassion, love, and all the concrete support we can supply. Tonight I am going to be with students from Haiti, and students who have family there. We are going to offer prayers and support for one another. This disaster has to become front and center in the hearts and minds of Americans. We should all be thinking of how to help.

Instead, Pat Robertson opined on his TV show, the 700 Club that this happened because, in order to gain liberty from the French, Haiti (read: black people) made a pact with the Devil.

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the Devil said, okay it's a deal."

Go to Hell, Pat Robertson -- and the sooner the better. Your 'theological' nonsense is revolting. Don't speak for Haiti, and don't speak for God. Haiti is suffering a catastrophe and you offer silliness at best, and racism at the worst. Haiti was the first island in the Western hemisphere to overthrow slavery and white oppression -- this is what you call a pact with the Devil? God's heart is breaking with this tragedy, and ours should be too. You never had much credibility -- but now it is all gone.

That is enough time spent on you. Let's get back to thinking how we can call upon all of the goodness in our traditions and in our country to help the people of Haiti.

The American Red Cross is one place where you can donate. You can find more information on their efforts in Haiti here.

 

 

 

Follow Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on Twitter: www.twitter.com/raushenbush

Comments

[eljorgisimo]

05:31 PM on 03/16/2010

"...go to hell Pat Robertson..." Wow. Raushenbush, in your own way you are as ignorant as Pat Robertson. But good news: you beat him in spitefulness and hatred.

[marycp]

05:27 PM on 02/09/2010

You said, "That is enough time spent on you. Let's get back to thinking how we can call upon all of the goodness in our traditions and in our country to help the people of Haiti." Thank you!

I am so sick and tired of hearing negative insinuations re. Haiti spirituality & their tragedy brought on by their sin--or whatever.

They need help!--Now!

[BmoreRavensFans]

08:47 PM on 01/21/2010

The United States purchased Louisana after Napoleon abandoned Haiti to independence and sold the French territory in North America to the United States (the Louisiana purchase). Saint Dominique was populated by Haitian mulattoes (those of mixed race) which was a part of the French territory purchased by the United States. Napoleon is recognized as one of the greatest generals who ever lived. By the end of the 18th century, Toussaint Breda also known as Toussaint L'Ouverture had no military training conqured Napoleon out of Haiti and led his country to independence.

[p90xxx]

11:04 AM on 01/21/2010

No matter what you believe, the people of Haiti need our help. It's not hard to go a little out of the way to help in a big way. If you could take about 30 seconds to vote for a non-profit called Invisible Children to win this competition on facebook, they will donate $100,000 to relief in Haiti. Here's a link: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/598099

Please do it, even if it's all you do for Haiti.

[freq32]

06:06 AM on 01/20/2010

DEAD ON. Didn't know about he source of his comment being the fact that Haiti was the first island in the Western hemisphere to overthrow slavery and white oppression. That's a Home Run Brother. Great Article.

[MikeNolan]

03:02 PM on 01/18/2010

No doubt Pat Robertson is an expert on pacts with the devil because he's made two or three himself. He certainly cannot claim to be a Chrisitan.

[SJBrown]

01:21 PM on 01/18/2010

Robertson is not the Christian response or a Christian response. We aren't claiming him. Here is a Christian take:

http://blog.sojo.net/2010/01/18/devils-in-the-details-robertsons-revision-of-haitian-history/

[elkabong]

10:26 PM on 01/17/2010

Isn't it strange that Robertson would claim that in order to free themselves from French oppression the Haitian people would have to make a deal with the Devil? Is Robertson trying to imply that slavery and oppression is Godly?

He probably just says whatever he thinks will keep the tithes flowing from the poor souls who think he's a righteous man.

[Lindalee49]

01:54 PM on 01/18/2010

Mr. Robertson moral comments during natural disasters and immense human suffering because he knows that MOST of us are compelled to send immediate financial aid.If I have limited income and limited capacity to help I will send, in this time of emergency, my tithe to the people most in need. So, I pen my check which I would normally send to Mr. Robertson to the poor suffering people of Haiti. How long do you think it will take Mr. Robertson to notice that his coffers are getting momentarily smaller. IMMEDIATELY!!! So, being a Christian and leading the unthinking masses by the guilt-nose. He lets them off of the hook and attributes an evil the sufferer. He puts them directly in the rage-path of GOD.He gave the sufferers of hurricane Katrina abortion, he is giving the sufferers of the quake in Haiti the devil and the undiscerning religious fanatics of this world let him get away with it. So they leave the Haitians to their fate and send their money to God's spokesman.This is one of those times when we decide which side we are on, what type of moral being we are. Do we follow the money of the mega church and the road to to a heaven paved with gold? Or do we follow the dirt roads to Haiti and in doing so try to glimpse the path of a carpenter and a penniless spokesman of God.

[SaltyLassi]

04:59 PM on 01/18/2010

Interesting point/conspiracy theory, that Robertson is more concerned with losing money himself, knowing that his donations will instead go to help haiti. Woudln't surprise me one bit

[SaltyLassi]

05:07 PM on 01/18/2010

I thought that was odd, too. He is basically saying that they should have sat there and accepted their fate as god's will. How horrible! I wonder what he thinks of slavery in America - that all the blacks who were slaves deserved that, too?

[ncmom54]

10:09 PM on 01/17/2010

As religion editor, you've done a good day's work.
Very well said!

[Ed438]

06:30 PM on 01/17/2010

The article states that "God's heart is breaking with this tragedy, and ours should be too."

I don't know about "God's" heart breaking since it would seem that, being "God", he wouldn't have let this happen if he existed. (Big "if"!) I can only say that my heart is breaking just reading about Haiti.

Pat Robertson has made all sorts of similar comments before, since he is constitutionally unable to keep his big stupid trap shut!

[GraniteSkyline]

08:04 PM on 01/17/2010

This isn't about God. Pat Robertson isn't about God

Notice how Pat invokes Satan every time there is a big disaster--Haiti, 9/11, Katrina. By playing the Satan card and slapping on the Satan label, he gives himself an excuse for not donating money. Ta da!

[nellgwen]

04:54 PM on 01/17/2010

Whenever Pat Robertson or people of his ilk go on to say the things they say out comes all the self proclaimed Christians who feel the need to make up for heinous comments by saying, "We're not all like that," or "That's not true Christian behavior." But that's all you do, why are you all not out protesting in front of his house or his studio where he tapes. You place yourselves in the position of apologizing for the ugliest of people to the extent of why not have all your middle names legally changed to We're all not like that. Pat Robertson doesn't care about what I think, he doesn't care about what you think. He only cares about what people think who have more money and power than he's got. It is not up to sane level headed Christians to constantly be apologizing for the Pat Robertsons but you will be forever fated to do so unless he's stopped. It must come from the so called "Christian Community." I ask you all, if this issue the Haiti earthquake and Pats response to it is not his Waterloo what will be? What does he have to say which will finally spell his doom?

[SayBlade]

05:14 PM on 01/17/2010

I don't care what Patberson thinks and refuse to give what he says any sort of credence. I will not attract attention to his warped and butchered ideas about God by travelling to a foreign country to march in protest at any of his communication facilities. I will take anything he says with a tonne of salt.

[mari2JJ]

09:40 PM on 01/17/2010

Right and as a Christian I am appalled at his off the mark statement. But in our country of freedom of speech, people have to right to say anything, even anything as stupid and un-Godly as his statement was. He has a right to his opinion but no right to change facts. He is just plain wrong on this one and he has no understanding of God's rules of behavior if he could be that callous in his statements. Frankly, like many, if I looks back over my life I will find that I have misbehaved even when I knew what is right. These sorts of fact gives me some humility and deters me from pompous judgmental behavior. I find if difficult to make this sort of judgment because of the Scripture that says we should "Judge not lest we be judged."

[ARTIST50]

07:18 PM on 01/17/2010

What goes around comes around.

[SayBlade]

04:30 PM on 01/17/2010

Christianity is not, in any sense founded on the Pat Robertson religion.

[Libra28]

02:52 PM on 01/17/2010

It is only the "devil, the father of lies" that leads people to fear God.

The "devil" perpetuates the lie that God is a god of wrath through the
spiritually "...blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch." Matthew 15:14

Fear, particularly the fear of a wrathful god is the most powerful tool
for controlling people.

This is why fundamentalist Christian televangelists like Robertson
emphasize the Old Testament's false concept of a wrathful god
rather than repudiate it as Jesus did in His revelatory message
that God is Love...only Love.

[Xarnego]

03:28 PM on 01/17/2010

That's why Talibangelicals admire and envy the work the Taliban has done among muslims and hope to do the same among christians, namely to hijack a strong religious brand and make as much money as possible...

Notice that every single talibangelical is against civil rights...

And how they lovingly remember the practice of slavery and cling to the belief that abandoning this was a "pact with the devil"

[DEJM]

02:35 PM on 01/17/2010

The unfortunate comments of one elderly man should not be take seriously. Yet, the vitriolic hurtful responses, the demonization of religion continues at the same time people in Haiti face unspeakable horror .....put your energy to better use.

[Anne Johnson]

11:52 AM on 01/17/2010

Religious people need to get their stories straight. First provide proof of a supreme being then provide proof that this supreme being cares about humans who are nothing but an insignificant little microorganism in the vast and ever expanding universe.

[gal416]

01:19 PM on 01/17/2010

The only proof I need is the change God made in my life at the instant I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I once was lost but now am found. If you need more proof I would suggest you find out for yourself by reading God's word in the Bible.

[beanhole]

01:29 PM on 01/17/2010

Zeus is god. read The Iliad.

[wm1066]

01:45 PM on 01/17/2010

Amun Ra is a sun god that I can actually see and feel. Its scientificaly proven that the sun provides life on our planet. Amun Ra is more powerful then the god the Romans cobbled together.

[Nate Wickert]

01:46 PM on 01/17/2010

Please do not associate people of all faith's to that of Mr. Robertson. I am a Christian but in no way agree with his statement. I pray for the people of Haiti because of this tragedy and have donated to cause. Do not let the ignorance of one be the model representative for all that believe in Christ Jesus.

[Anne Johnson]

02:15 PM on 01/17/2010

If you're a christian that's your business. You completely missed my point. If you can't even prove the existence of a supreme being how can you possibly know what he/she/it thinks about human behavior and suffering or even if such ideas are a factor in its thinking if it thinks at all.

[SaltyLassi]

05:05 PM on 01/18/2010

I'm glad to see that many Christians are donating. However, this is a person who represents millions, and has loyal watchers of his show, all of whom must be Christians. It's like having Rush Limbaugh as the defacto leader of the GOP. If the GOP decides that he is am appropriate spokesperson for the entire group, that is who I will assume speaks for all of them. I don't have time to weed out the few Repubs who may have an independent thought, and don't think like he does. So, while I know that not all Christians are like Robertson, it saddens me that he is still on the air. Perhaps all Christians who disagree with him could write the station and ask that his show be taken off the air.