Comments on: Haiti IS Cursed–By Our Ignorance

By: Antoinette

Antoinette — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:26:30 +0000

Absolutely amazing. I knew most of the historical facts, however the way you wrote this blog fantastic. I’m
new to the blog culture (7 days old) and am now following you on twitter. Thanks, Sis.

By: Jeff S

Jeff S — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:39:27 +0000

Once again, popular sentiment is blowing in the wind. So today we care about Haiti. Today we throw together huge sums of money that cannot help but be mismanaged and misappropriated.

Tomorrow we will have forgotten and next month we will have moved on to be indignant over the plight news subject.

First, Robertson is an idiot that should be put out of his misery. That said… there was a “pact” in the late 1700’s wasn’t there? While the country is officially mostly Catholic, there is a widespread practice of voodoo right? Just because Robertson said it doesn’t make it wrong. None of this matters given the current situation.

And that goes both ways. What people should have done is ignore him and focus on helping the people. Instead, they chose to focus on him as a way of advancing their own agenda – whether that be the demonization of Robertson, or furthering the downtrodden minority storyline.

By: Ace

Ace — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:31:16 +0000

Sandra-

This piece presented plenty of facts. They provide a very clear picture of provable historical events that have rendered Haiti virtually helpless. I wonder if the same story had instead at its center a tiny European island nation; would that country be cursed too? That’s where the race thing enters the equation, this use of particular words that actually were spoken and written.

It’s debatable whether one can prove the existence of the Devil, but one can easily see how this nation was financially beaten into submission by a more dominant power. What in these words showed you a hurt person, one you imply is making things up? Then you implore God to help her weak and prejudiced soul. Haitian slaves fought for, and won their independence. The French then – as the losers – charged the winners before they could reinvest in their own endeavor. These are facts. From a business perspective, this was a brilliant move by the French. It crushed the competition, to the point they still cannot reach a point of true stability. They cannot compete, so they are vulnerable to many things the strong are not. This is how colonization works, this is not opinion. It seems that in your mind, God maybe, probably did do this to them, it is possibly, likely their fault (for all that Voodoo stuff), and we should all pray for forgiveness.

This piece interwove real racial dynamics into a larger context that doesn’t even require gods and demons. It’s presenting an almost B-school analysis of an entity’s inability to compete. The point is not to look for supernatural explanations, but to focus on the obvious – a perpetual financial indebtedness that staved off military invasion but proves detrimental in almost every other way. Invoking God and the Devil does so much disservice to these realities that it’s heartbreaking. As a Christian, I pray that you remember there is a both a spiritual world and a world of man. I think there’s more than enough human causality here to leave deals with demons out of this particular conversation.

By: Pam A

Pam A — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:59:36 +0000

What has happened in Haiti is the unfortunate part of the cycle of nature… the pull of gravity as we are not a stationary planet. The Travesty is Pat Robertson who is nothing more then theatre. His words and sentiments should not be repeated, rather dismissed as you would the ravings of a desperate lunatic.

By: Julie Polito

Julie Polito — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:29:11 +0000

Thanks Farai, for writing this. Very sad, and very informative.

By: Sharon Wills

Sharon Wills — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:13:38 +0000

Ignorance leads people to say such flippant things. I have Haitian friends and they are very strong Christians, as am I. Mr. Robertson is supposed to be a world-traveled leader but shows bias just like everyone else. Haiti’s suffering is not from anything to do with Voodoo or Christianity, it has to do with the greed of people in power. And Pat, like any other sales person is jumping on a bandwagon, without thinking, to self-promote. Pride can be so ugly sometimes, and blinding. He’s appearing to some to have compassion but his words ring very un-Christ-like. Pray for the people no matter what they believe…we are ALL God’s children. And may God open Pat’s mind more.

By: Evil Sandra

Evil Sandra — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:43:47 +0000

@Sandra “Where is your proof that Pat Robertson is wrong?” You don’t need proof when something is self-evidently wrong. I don’t need to prove that 2 + 2 = 3 is wrong, it just is.

Similarly, Ms Chideya doesn’t have to prove anything when this page has embedded the footage. Just click, watch, listen and be amazed at the total lack of basic humanity.

Prov 17:27-28 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Peace and everlasting love to you, Sandra.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:19:46 +0000

Well, you cannot mix up two different methodologies. Pat is obviously using his faith in explanation of the things that occur while Ms Chideya sticks to a blended historical-economic-political perspective.
You cannot use one methodology to prove the other one is wrong and it surprises me that a secular, well educated person is willing to make such an attempt. The fact is that Haiti has been a synonym for poverty for a long time. The argument that this is due to “independence debt” to France just would not stand. There are many countries that have been suffered tremendous financial tragedies (Germany after WW2, to name just one) but which have managed to recover and even to become an economically healthy state.
I don’t see this happening in Haiti. The UN and the entire world had decades of time to fix the situation and make Haiti a viable state. It never succeeded. Why? If you know it, why don’t you fix it? Pat said it is because of a curse. I guess if William Blake had said something like that, people would have less problem to admit that possibility, or at least to ponder about it.

By: Tonya A.

Tonya A. — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:45:37 +0000

I don’t care if Satan himself came down and posted a youtube clip, there is a time and a place for everything and yesterday was not the time to accuse people of “making pacts with the devil.” No one, especially one in a leadership role such as Pat Robertson, has not the right to condemn a country when they need help the most. It is detrimental to their recovery. His followers, who should be helping fellow Christians in their time of need, not wondering whether their suffering is justified. He needs to focus on using his influence to help people and leave the judgments to God.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:12:07 +0000

Ms Chideya – Where is your proof that Pat Robertson is wrong? He did not give any proof, but neither did you whilst you claim he is wrong. I understand it is not something we are used to hearing – and I neither defend nor criticize what he said, as I don’t know the facts. You would be more credible as well if you would report facts, and not just accusation. Pat Robertson’s tone was not one of accusation, but of caring for what the Haitian people are experiencing right now. We all need to set aside pride and instead hold one another up before God. God is not a respecter of men, nor their color of skin. I can understand the “chip on your shoulder” and also know you can be healed of your hurt. I wish that the world was never so evil that some sectors of the human race have oppressed others, just because they could find a way to do it. I look for the day when this will be forever forgotten, and we all live side by side, rejoicing in one anothers differences as God given gifts, where we all benefit and are completed in our lack by what the other has. Please be open when God’s hand is held out to you. Take care not to close your heart in your own prejudices. Peace and Love to you – Sandra