Hate in the Wake of the Haitian Tragedy By: Jamal R Greene

In the wake of the recent Earthquake that rocked the nation of Haiti, all eyes from around the world are focused on the tiny island that for years has been on the verge of total collapse and ensuing anarchy. Haiti is the poorest nations in the western hemisphere with a GDP of only $ 7 Billion dollars while the majority of Haitians live on about $2 a day. The unemployment rate is more than 50%, compare that to only 10% in the US, and the country's illiteracy rate is at a dismal 50%. Foreign Aid, largely US, accounts for nearly 40% of Haiti's national budget. Haiti's political system is in complete Chaos and even in this time of tragedy, there is a question as to who is in charge in Haiti. Haiti is bankrupt as a nation and does not have the ability to rebuild itself; Haiti will require major world aid to restore some resemblance to a functioning state. In the 1990s the then President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, faced a no confidence vote with many members of the Legislature voting against Aristide. A coup followed as Aristide went into exile and a Justice of the Supreme Court was assumed temporary power. From 1991 until 1994, the country was embroiled in chaos as the central authority lost control and confidence throughout the island nation; the turmoil erupted so in 1994 that then President Bill Clinton contemplated a military invasion to restore order to the country. In 2000 Aristide was re-elected president but soon after face charges of wide spread corruption and was eventually removed from power in a military coup and sent into exile.


Not all of Haiti's history is full of corruption, anarchy, and widespread poverty; Haiti is a nation with a rich legacy of fighting colonialism and stands as an example of how a people's uprising can take power in a country. In 1804, Haiti was declared to be a free republic after a war against the French and Haitian military leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines became leader, and eventually emperor of the island nation. Haiti became the first independent country in Latin America and the first to be led by a person of African descent. But Haiti, like other poorer nations of today, had a rich beginning but eventually developed into what they are today. In Haiti the richest One percent owes almost half of the country's wealth and hundreds of thousands of children are forced into modern day slavery just to survive.


As the world media descends on Haiti, it is a reminder of the poverty and despair that faces not only Haiti, but other poor nations around the world. Nations from Central America to Sub-Saharan Africa face widespread hunger, poverty, political instability, and civil unrest. Many of these nations have been ravished by the scourges of war and many of the people living in these countries have given up hope of ever leaving there destitute situations.


It’s been a week since the devastating earthquake that rocked the small island nation of Haiti and the people there are still waiting for the food and supplies they were promised. It has been an interesting week of commentary on the ongoing humanitarian efforts taking place; some comments have received more attention than other. After the earthquake Christian televangelist Pat Robertson, on his television The 700 Club, said of the earthquake and the Haitian people: “They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal." So Pat Robertson, and millions of his followers believe that the devil is the root cause of Haiti ongoing crisis; however if one were to look at the context of Pat’s comments it seems that the devil isn’t the true culprit, it’s the Haitian people and the pact they made with the Great Adversary.

This is a sad, but common belief among a sect of evangelical Christians today and is promoted regularly on Christian television networks; Pat Robertson owns one of such networks. Pat Robertson sits on top of, what some may call, a Christian media empire that includes the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), International Family Entertainment (ABC Family Channel), and he hosts the daily 700 Club television broadcast. In addition to Pat Robertson’s media ventures, he also founded Regent University, The American Center for Law and Justice, and many other organizations. It is estimated that Robertson has a net worth upwards of $1 billion. At a time when the world should be coming together to aid the devastated people of Haiti, some evangelical pastors and leaders are using the crisis to make ignorant and outrages statements about the people of Haiti and their history. As stated previously, Pat Robertson isn’t the only Christian leader to share these radical views or the only one spewing them to his followers. Kimberly Daniels, a fiery female pastor, or as she prefers to call herself “Apostle”, from Jacksonville, FL who also refers to herself as a “demon –buster” , recently sent out a disturbing email that I feel needs to be share with the general public.

The following are excerpts from an email that Kimberly sent out to her followers and other church leaders in her circle:
“A lot of people are upset with Pat Robinson for addressing the issue of the dedication of the land to voodoo. I understand what he is saying because Haiti needs more than food, medical supplies and shelter. The book of Leviticus teaches that it is the responsibility of the priests to teach the difference in what is holy and unholy. Somebody needs to speak on behalf of the church of Jesus Christ. One lady even said that Pat Robinson was not a Christian for what he said. I disagree...real Christians will speak the truth even if it hurts. This lady is operating in what I call sympathetic magic.”………………….. “Yes, they were the first blacks to be liberated from slavery but it is no secret that pacts were made with the gods of Santeria and Yoruba. The demons have not forgotten the promises that Haitian ancestors made to them.”…………….. “The spiritual leaders of the country must cry out in repentance from witchcraft and pride.”…………….. “America is still in denial about Katrina and God's judgment in that situation. Everybody is ignoring the fact that Katrina came the weekend of the Decadence Parade (which is organized by homosexuals to mock God). I am very comfortable without the secular world's approval to speak truth that will make men free. Haiti has been under the curse of the list of voodoo for too long and the people need truth.”

In America, hate speech and ignorance is not something that should be tolerated, it should be confronted. These statements are, without question, beyond the pale of reality and those who make such comments should check the true source of their so called morality. To Pat, Kimberly, and those of like mind the earthquake that occurred in Haiti was not the result of a pact with demons or Haiti’s rebellion toward God. The earthquake was caused by, as they all are, a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust. The sudden burst of energy causes seismic waves that travel through the earth and cause the ensuing quake. The earthquake in Haiti, just as the Hurricane in New Orleans and Asian Tsunami, were acts of Mother Nature, not extraterrestrials and demons fighting the souls of humanity. The people of Haiti need help right now, not hate.

To donate to the relief effort visit http://www.redcross.org and to voice your outrage to Pat Robertson and Kimberly Daniels, visit their perspective websites at http://www.cbn.com/contact/feedback-cbnnewswatch.aspx and www.Kimberlydaniels.com.