Thursday 14 January 2010

The Convenient Shifting Earth Beneath Pat Robertson

I've had an interesting day of certain news stories being thrust my way via friends either on Twitter or Facebook.

First the shock, later you'll see what else I received, far right former Republican candidate for the Presidential nominee Pat Robertson has come out to say that the Haitian earthquake was because Haitian's made a pact with the devil to release them from French colonialism. One has to ask what the United States did to be rid of the dreadful Brits? Now seriously, how low can this man go.

His actual words were:

"You know ... something happened a long time ago in Haiti. … 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." That's right: Robertson seems to suggest the Haitians brought the earthquake on themselves, in a deal with Satan.

"And so, the Devil said, 'OK, it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out," he went on. "You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another."


I'll let you gather your jaw up from the table or floor.

So the tectonic plates in the Caribbean are God's retribution on Haiti for being free from France via a slave uprising? Compare that to what Robertson has said about the Tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2005:

"I don't think He [God] reverses the laws of nature. The reason for that tsunami was the shifting of tectonic plates in the Indian Ocean. I don't think he changes the magma in volcanoes and I don't think he changes the wind currents to bring about hurricanes. So, I don't attribute that to God, or his lack, or otherwise. But in terms of human affairs, I do think he answers prayer and I think there have been literally millions of people praying for a change in the Supreme Court. The people of faith in this country feel they're on a tyranny and they see their liberties taken away from them and they've been beseeching God, fasting, and praying for years. So, I think he hears and answers their prayers."

Woah! So in 2005 Robertson didn't think that God could have reverses the laws of nature, that was just tectonic plates. Haiti straddles a fault between two tectonic plates. It did so when Haiti was under French rule, indeed 200 years ago when the last earthquake of this magnitude struck they were.

In 1998 Robertson again a little messed up on his natural disasters and God's influence warned the people of Orlando, Florida about flying rainbow flags from their lampposts for Gay Days at Disney World:

"I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if I were you. ... [A] condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs, it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor."

Of course in the 80s Robertson said that AIDS was a punishment from God for homosexuality. So you really must wonder how Robertson is taking the news that while the National Cathedral in Port au Prince is in ruins, the Archbishop lies dead that the AIDS clinic still stands and most of its staff are alive. One wonders how such destruction justifies he previous stance above.

Of course Robertson is full of contradictions, he has to be to keep himself square with such sayings. Here is what one American commentator has to say on the issue.



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