The Future Is In Our Past -
Pat Robertson, the well-known American evangelist, said on his television program that the recent earthquake in Haiti was the result of a pact that the Haitian people made with the devil, when they drove out their French colonial masters over two centuries ago. Mr. Robertson imagines that the hopelessness and despair, which has become the trademark of the Haitian people for two hundred years, is the result of this pact.
Does Mr. Robertson think the Haitian people should have continued as slaves and accepted brutality without question? Is the TV evangelist acting like a colonial Master? And what about the well-known TV anchor, Rush Limbaugh who told his listeners not to send relief to Haiti?
While Mr. Robertson and Mr. Limbaugh were sitting in the warmth and comfort of their television studios making pronouncements about demonic pacts, the President of the United States, flanked by his officials, was making a pledge to embrace and help the Haitian people. President Obama said, "There but for the grace of God go we."
Mr. Robertson's words struck a negative chord with many people, including Christians like George Bush, but upon reflection it seems that, in essence, Mr. Obama's words echoed Mr. Robertson's words. Was President Obama saying it is God's grace that determines where an earthquake will strike and God picks and chooses who survives an earthquake?
Does God point a finger and say, "The baby dies and the convict lives?" Might it be better for the President to say, "There but for the luck of the draw go we?" When the President made the statement about God's grace, was he merely mouthing what we have all said many times without thinking? Or does he really believe, like Mr. Robertson, that God's grace is selective?
Do we believe truly that God will protect us at the expense of innocent children? Or is it just a figure of speech for the lone survivor of an accident to say, "God saved ME!" Mr. Robertson is quite descriptive and open about what he believes. He believes he can counsel God. "Take control, Lord!" says Mr. Robertson. Does it strike you passing strange that Mr. Robertson has to tell God to take control?
Mr. Robertson believes homosexuals want to destroy Christians. He believes homosexuality and AIDS are synonymous. Does the fact that the AIDS clinic in Port au Prince survived, while hospitals and churches collapsed, provide proof to Mr. Robertson that this is the work of the devil?
Mr. Robertson is right about one thing. Haiti has suffered disaster after disaster, both political and natural, throughout its history. When Christopher Columbus first discovered Hispaniola, there were eight million natives known as the Taino in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Eighteen years later, there were 50,000, and it seems that when the French took over the island from the Spanish there was not a single native left.
The French populated the island with slaves and supplied the world with three quarters of its sugar. By 1776, Haiti generated more revenue than all 13 North American colonies combined. The irony is that the slaves that produced the wealth endured unspeakable horrors. One third died within three years of arriving in Haiti.
In 1794, the slaves revolted and 10 years later had driven out the French. Haiti became the only example of slaves breaking their chains to defeat a powerful colonial power. Haiti became the world's first Black republic. How do you think the world responded to such audacity from former slaves?
World leaders were not impressed. In fact, they were downright hostile to the new country. Europe and America isolated Haiti. It was an era of gunboat diplomacy, with Germany, France, England and the U.S. sending ships into Haitian waters to enforce their demands.
History reminds us that U.S. warships maintained a constant presence in Haitian waters, with the U.S. occupying Haiti from 1915 to 1934. Haiti has never had a chance to find its feet and develop its infrastructure and culture. This seems to be more the result of man's political games than God's will.
The reality is that no world power is going to sit by and watch a small country come in from beyond the pale to prosper. Cuba is another such example of what happens when small countries challenge and defeat military might.
It seems that Mr. Robertson is focusing on the outcome of the Haitian uprising of 200 years ago without acknowledging the role that colonial Christians played in keeping Haiti in chains. The Haitian people gained their freedom from a colonial power but other colonial powers banded together to keep the country economically enslaved.
Why do we see God's hand in the actions of men and nature? Is it easier for us to imagine everything to be the will of God than face random acts, or worse, our own collective responsibility?
There is no doubt that during this time, Mr. Robertson notwithstanding, we are sharing the pain of the Haitian people and will do everything within our power to help those affected by this natural disaster. Perhaps the tide will finally turn for Haiti.
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