In a compelling moment in news television last night, the Haitian Ambassador to the United States vehemently slammed the religious nightmare that is Pat Robertson for his now infamous comments this morning.
Raymond Joseph appeared on Rachel Maddow's show, delivering a stirring history lesson to the 700 club pastor and those that agree with him about how the United States benefited from that "pact with the devil" as Robertson states.
"I would like the whole world to know, American especially, that the independence of Haiti when the slaves rose up against the French, and defeated the French army, a powerful Army, the U.S was able to gain the Louisiana Territory for $15 million," he said after requesting to Maddow if he could address Robertson's unbelievable statement.
But Joseph was far from done.
In addition to mentioning Haiti's impact on Latin American's liberation lead by Simon Bolivar from their colonial masters, the ambassador closed with a reminder of how the small nation played a momentous role in the development of this nation."
"So what pact the Haitian made with the devil has helped the United States become what it is."
Joseph's emotion captures the true existence of how insensitive Robertson's statements were if you needed any more thought about them.
For such a historical event that is considered the only successful slave revolt in human history (ponder that for a second if your heart allows, the only successful slave revolt), The Haitian Revolution is no where near as prevalent in textbooks or curriculums from kids growing up in this nation as it should be. Of course, watered down curriculums, even at certain elite high schools, is not a benefit for this nation at all.
You won't find too many hands raised high if you asked your average 13 to 18 in the nation if they knew of that massive epoch in history. But you probably could say the same for those on "Fixed" Propaganda (outside of maybe Shep Smith) as well as many others well pass the adolescent stage. And you can certainly that about a disgraceful evangelical figure in America.
Robertson once again added another embarrassing chapter for Christians all over. The questions of those already turned off of the faith by the likes of Robertson will be justified in asking, "Is this the hypocrisy and hate Christianity really teaches?" As a Christian myself, it just was one of those forgettable moments that could damage someone actually believing in the faith, just like any of the other ugly Robertson statements.
But there was nothing hideous about the truth Raymond Joseph uttered tonight. And if it augmented someone's emotions for the small nation after somehow being persuaded by Robertson's comments to not have much sympathy for it as you should, then the strong impact of Joseph's slapback this evening is even stronger.
It's a far cry for what I can say about Robertson and his sick mentality.
(Because of the MSNBC embed, to watch the entire under 2 minute video of Joseph's comments if you missed it, click here.)
(Aid information for Haiti is located at both the recommended diaries of the invaluable Dallasdoc and cosmic debris.)
(From TWD, in current site maintenance at the moment, God Bless to you, to our Haitian brethren in distress and agony, and to all those in suffering around the world.)
