I must admit, I have wondered for years why it is that Haiti and the Dominican Republic are so different. How can one side of an island be so prosperous (comparatively, that is), and the other be so desperately poor and so prone to devastation from AIDS, hurricanes, violence and, as of this week, an earthquake? Like many, I surmised that the causes are many, and arise out of the interplay amongst a set of random demographic, economic, historical and geological factors. It certainly never occurred to me that, as asserted by Pat Robertson, the devastation resulted from the Haitian people collectively swearing "a pact with the Devil" several years ago to get out from "under the heal of the French". I was also surprised to learn that, just as the cause could be explained in simple terms, the solution to all of the problems in Haiti, again, according to Pat Robertson, could be an earthquake which has, in turn, destroyed was little infrastructure was there.
Mr. Robertson's comments, as well as the stunned look on his co-host's face, are almost funny, but only "almost". Hundreds of thousands of dead people, people without water, food or shelter, people without access to medical facilities and supplies and children without parents is, in fact, beyond sad, and suggesting that Haitians have done something to deserve all of the horrors that have been visited upon them is nothing short of cruel.
Shame on you, Mr. Robertson.
5 comments:
There are no words Karan, so thank you for trying to voice what so many of us are thinking.
If only one could shame the likes of Pat Robertson.
So much for "Christian charity".
The Haitian Ambassador agrees with you. He, too, shamed Pat Robertson.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/14/pat-robertson-haiti-react_n_423038.html
Twitter reports that "Pat Robertson" is a trend topic today. No one seems to like him either.
I understand that there are bigots in the world. And racists. And homophobes. I understand that sometimes they come all rolled up in one package. But I expect better of our "leaders" - maybe a bit less of the self-appointed "leaders", but still. And I especially expect more of religious leaders, who are supposed to be about embracing all of God's children, no matter what, and turning the other cheek, and demonstrating Christian charity at all times. Even though I've been an atheist for about 35 years now, I still expect them to prove me wrong.
And yet they fail, time after time after time.
I can take no pleasure in feeling vindicated, however, because they usually fail me, us, everyone, at the exact moment something horrible has happened, and we need true leadership. And receive nothing but hatred and bigotry in return.
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