Pat Robertson on Haiti earthquake

Sooo, in the middle of all the suffering in Haiti, we have a scandal prompted by some comments made by Pat Robertson, televangelist and founder of the Christian broadcasting network (CBN).

Here is what he had to say on the earthquake:

Pat Robertson comments

And the full text for your convenience:

PAT ROBERTSON: And, you know, Kristi, 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 and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, "We will serve you if you will get us free from the French." True story. And so, the devil said, "OK, it's a deal."

And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other. Desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It's cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti; on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, et cetera. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I'm optimistic something good may come. But right now, we're helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable.

KRISTI WATTS (co-host): Absolutely, Pat.

His comments have led to quite the media storm, leading to this response from the Haitian ambassador to the US - dude was very visibly ticked:

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How do you even begin to say something like that at a time like this? Sensitivity training anyone?

Na wah o!!

Devastation in Haiti.

So its barely two weeks into the new year, and major disaster has already struck. I am sure that by now, you have all heard that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck in Haiti a couple of days ago, leaving apocalyptic like destruction in its path. Its hard to imagine the fear, the pain, the loss that people are feeling right at this moment. Unbelievable!

Picture: The presidential palace before and after the earthquake

Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital Wednesday after a powerful earthquake crushed thousands of structures, from schools and shacks to the National Palace and the U.N. peacekeeping headquarters. Untold numbers were still trapped.

It seemed clear that the death toll from Tuesday afternoon's magnitude-7.0 quake would run into the thousands. Among them was the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince, and France's foreign minister said the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission also was apparently among the dead.

"Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed," President Rene Preval told The Miami Herald. "There are a lot of schools that have a lot of dead people in them."
more and more

A few more pictures:






There are lots of organizations that are working around the clock to get aid to the victims. Even if you cannot go, please send a donation. This is not just a Haitian tragedy, its a human tragedy, and it should touch us all.

You can give to any of these organizations to help:

International charities are appealing for donations to help Haiti. Here are some of the ways you can help:

In the UK:

British Red Cross

Christian Aid

Medecins Sans Frontieres

Oxfam

Save the Children

Plan International

CAFOD

Mercy Corps

Tearfund

In the US:

American Red Cross

Unicef USA

Doctors Without Borders

Operation Blessing International

The Global Orphan Project

These organisations also have ways to donate:

International Red Cross

International Medical Corps

World Food Programme

Concern Worldwide

ActionAid

International Relief and Development

I also know that other organizations like Compassion international are also soliciting funds for the cause.


LORD have mercy!!