After the “devil” statements came out last week, I bit my tongue. I figured there was no sense in giving additional attention to non-sense with all that was happening around me. I finally decided I needed to address this when I was being asked how my family was doing and “what about the ‘pact with the devil’ comments? So here it is, my response. Got it off my chest, walking in forgiveness, feeling a little better.
1/17/10
Dr. Robertson:
In the midst of undoubtably the most challenging and emotionally agonizing week I have ever endured, you spoke. Directly from behind the desk of your Christian program, a platform created to uplift people in times of crisis, you spoke. And the aftermath of your words, the caustic tremors they’ve produced within me and the Haitian community I belong to, have yet to cease.
As if worrying about the fate of loved ones in a severely distressed capital wasn’t enough. As if it wasn’t enough to watch an entire city fall to the ground and turn to dust, along with your history and culture. And as if it wasn’t enough to watch my parents’ pain as they witnessed yet another crisis unfold in their beloved homeland.
In addition to all of this angst, I found myself having to cope with feelings of frustration and anger that drained me of the energy I desperately needed to sustain myself and try to support my family and community both here and in Haiti. It’s close to a week since the devastation began, and I decided my grudge against your actions need to end. And as a Christian, I’m called to forgive.
As late as today, I found myself addressing your statement to those who wanted my opinion on your comments. They asked me if it was true, if there was any validity to your explanation of why this calamity struck Haiti. Not sure how your notion could possibly begin to explain this natural disaster, but I will tell you what I told them. I know that no one can give an accurate account of what took place that night in 1791 at Bois Caïman, when Haitian slaves united to revolt against their oppressors. None of us were there. I also know that history is captured through the eyes and the intentions of the beholder. I can’t help but to think that Antoine Dalmas, the French historian who first recorded this “event” you were describing, may have had written it with a perspective that could have been biased or downright vengeful. After all, the Haitians slaves defeated his country and claimed their independence from the French. A first for the victors and a humiliation for the defeated. Could he have taken some creative liberties when composing this section of the history book? I wouldn’t be surprised.
What does surprise me, however, Dr. Robertson, was how you gave credit to the devil as the one who helped free slavemen from their oppressors! Surely the ”devil” does not deserve that much recognition, don’t you think? My Bible speaks of a compassionate God who has deep, heartfelt concern for the oppressed:
Deut. 26:7-8: Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression; and the LORD brought us out…”
I believe God was with my ancestors back then, and continues to be with us today.
The media has taken notice of that too. Television news have shown numerous reports displaying the faith so many Haitians (even some who were trapped in rubble) have in God. The front page of Sunday’s (1/17/10) Washington Post described Port-au-Prince as “a kind of multidenominational, open-air church”. Even in this immense human tragedy, Haitians have not stopped crying out to God.
I can only hope the testimony of the people of Haiti have rattled and challenged your own spirituality. And if you insist, Dr. Robertson, on continuing to speak on the air in the future, please ask God for His wisdom in the choice of your words (James 1:5). Perhaps, before you decide to retire, this could end the list of controversies you’ve amassed in the recent past through your insensitive statements .
Peace,
Laurie Williams
You write beautifully, Laurie! Very informative and thought-provoking.
Tu aurais du ajouter “FOUINK” a la fin de cette lettre, it would have been quite appropriate.
Lo, you write beautifully!!
Laurie….wow……I needed that……I am very pleased and believe me I forwarded the e-mail to my colleagues at work……. stating…her parents are from Haiti…….
Young generation…….. that’s right do your job………let the world know what we are capable of …… Good JOB…..Keep up the good work…. yes…..Lo, educate them……..
YOU MADE MY DAY
Jacquie
Thank you Jacquie for your all your encouragement and for sharing this….
Wow Laurie well said. So proud to call you my Niece. Gerry you have a point there
So glad you wrote this, Laurie. Check this out: http://donmilleris.com/2010/01/13/1513/
Thanks Ashley, I’m glad you forwarded the link!
Laurie, thank you for your response these insensitive remarks made by Pat Robertson. What about the yearly fires in California and the constant floods in various parts of the world? Is this God’s way of punishing his people?
As stated by Dr. Hilary Beckles, pro-vice-chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, UWI, …”Buried beneath the rubble of imperial propaganda, out of both Western Europe and the United States, is the evidence which shows that Haiti’s independence was defeated by an aggressive North-Atlantic alliance that could not imagine their world inhabited by a free regime of Africans as representatives of the newly emerging democracy….”
Dr. Beckles’ article appeared in the Barbados Advocate on January 19, 2010. Read more on this site: http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=letters&NewsID=8490
Thank you Cleo, for your feedback and for the link to the article. This is such an important topic…