I need more words than a Facebook status update provides to respond to this excerpt from a press release from CBN:
"His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion... 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."
First off, note that they admit that the pact is only alleged but then note that it is famous [so it must be true!]. But also note that Robertson used the words "true story" in his initial comments. He allowed no possibility that this story might be one INVENTED by the recordkeepers of the time.
But what really gets me is the disclaimer in the last line. I'm sorry, but if you believe that the people of Haiti are cursed, who else but God would have cursed them? It certainly wouldn't be the devil, since in this little fantasy they are his partners! So who else but God would (or could) have caused the earthquake?
But then again, why am I expecting logic here of all places? *bangs head against wall*
Here is Keith's scathing response to both Robertson's comments and Rush Limbaugh's latest racist crap:
To donate to the victims of this terrible NATURAL disaster, please text "HAITI" without quotes to 90999 (Red Cross, $10 added to your phone bill, 100% goes to charity) or 20222 (Clinton's charity, $5), or text "YELE" to 501501 ($5 to Wyclef Jean's org). I believe these numbers work in the US only.
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This is a dummy line that is apparently required to get the comments link to show up.
Traveling, sleeping
2 hours ago
16 comments:
I agree with you 100% on Pat Robertson. I've seen the clip and he is completely whacked out of his effing mind. Seriously.
As far as Rush Limbaugh... if you have a link I'd like to see it. What Olberman read sounded like strong opinions but , not racist to me so I'd like to see the clip before I pass judgement on that.
Snicker. Let's ignore certain facts like: Toussaint L'ouverture was a fervent Catholic and made it the state religion for the BRIEF period of freedom in Haiti after the rebellion. It wasn't until nearly 1800 that the revolution, with its roots in the French Revolution, was completed and by 1802 Napoleon had retaken Haiti and place L'ouverture in prison. So the Satan-supported coup lasted a very brief period.
Remind me not to make any deals with Satan. He's pretty ineffective.
Or maybe Pat considers being Catholic a pact with the devil? Maybe *that's* why New Orleans got hit by Katrina in 2005, given its extensive Catholic heritage, especially exacerbated by the fact that many Haitians moved to New Orleans after 1802 and were part of the Free People of Color there until this country ended slavery (theoretically) in the 1860s.
Or maybe Pat Roberson is just a complete fucking asshole and unworthy of one more minute of my percious time.
I'd be willing to roll "racist" back to simply "offensive" if I believed Limbaugh would ever say such a thing about a white politician, especially using the word "burnish" which comes from a word meaning "make brown."
Thanks, Frank! The context is very helpful.
As for Rush, he has a long history of blatant racism, so I'm gonna cynically (realistically) consider his remarks racist. They are, at the very least, thoughtless, insensitive, calloused, and vile.
Awesome post!
I totally agree with you Ronnie! And Frank too!
Rush's statements remind me of a quote that I think about when someone I know wants to ignore racist rants with silence(or when they say "prove it was"):
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." ~ MLK☮
Didn't one those idiots also blame the tsunami on the godless Buddhists?
I heard a Christian on TV today say that when these disasters happen, she and others of her faith look to God to explain them. Honestly, if Pat Robertson thinks God told him to say these things, I think he's either deaf or he is purposely ignoring God.
Maybe he's made a list of places where natural disasters have occurred, then found some connection to anything else but what he believes. Perfect logic, in his mind.
I really wonder about Robertson and Limbaugh's motivation for saying stupid shit like this.
Ah, freedom of speech...
Something I wouldn't know about because I'm from Canada where hate speech is prosecuted :-)
Last night Rachel Maddow referred to Pat Robertson's comments as "an unintended consequence of the First Amendment."
That's not all she said, of course!
Having survived an earthquake, its not something I wish upon anyone!
Being held responsible for my ancestors *famous* alleged pacts with the Devil?? Nothing makes me long more intensely for the peace of atheism ;)
Definitions for Burnish.
http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3A+burnish&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
It means to buff, polish, or make shiny. Which makes perfect sense in the context he uses it. Although, I'm still only going by what Olbermann read. I don't believe Rush Limbaugh is a racist. I do believe he HATES liberals.
*ducks* :-)
Hates is the word. And it is mutual.
Thanks for the post Ronnie. I didn't get a chance to hear Rachel's or Keith's response last night.
This might clarify whether Limbaugh's a racist:
http://newsone.com/obama/top-10-racist-limbaugh-quotes/
With regard to donations, I found this through NPR's site:
http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Haiti.html
BTW, texting your $$ (to show up on your phone bill) might not get there for 2 or 3 months (as the phone company wants you to pay your bill before they send any money) according to the founder of the American Institute of Philanthropy. But it's okay because the cash will still be needed in the months ahead.
Thanks, Robin! Some of those quotes... Wow.
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