Here's what I find delightful: the people who believe in God seem to be the ones most determined to portray Him as dangerously insane.
- Pat Robertson on Sunday said that the tornado in Indiana and Kentucky was God’s way of expressing His anger at the actor Warren Beatty and his wife, Annette Bening for trying to disrupt yesterday’s speech by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at a campaign rally in San Diego. “By choosing to disrupt this national event, these Hollywood elites have clearly invited God’s wrath,” Robertson said on ‘The 700 Club’ on Sunday. “Is it any surprise that the Almighty chose to strike at a town on the opposite side of the country?”
15 Comments:
It's just funny that said governor has the same name as that guy who made all those movies with all the violence and nudity. I bet he gets kidded about that.
So Pat Robertson is a racist, too? I knew he was bad, but I didn't realize he was THAT bad. Do you have an article you can post with an anti-black quote from Robertson so I can see it for myself? Shouldn't be too tough since he can't seem to open his mouth without putting his foot in it.
CF
Do his extensive business dealings with Mobutu and Taylor count? I personally will not venture a guess as to whether Robertson would feel as comfortable and holy and righteous supporting such vicious tyrants in order to get a piece of what is pillaged from their countries if those countries were white. Greed is obviously the motive, racism may expedite it but on the other hand no conscience may need soothing. He also wrote a book in support of Rios Montt*, who comitted genocide against Guatemala's Indians (and I'm afraid that's not hyperbole). Those are mere example of actions, and I realize the question was about words, but I don't recall any that fit the bill. But blatantly racist language in public is out of fashion these days.
And JF (I presume?), how would you describe the French intifadah? I haven't had as much time as usual to read the news, but it seems to me that people are rioting because two kids electrocuted themselves hiding from cops who weren't looking for them. If that's not an accurate description, please tell me because, as we saw in New Orleans, the media can hardly be trusted to describe these things informatively, and I haven't been able to investigate much. If I spoke French, I would make the time to search Le Monde and such for articles praising the patience and restraint of the Palestinians though.
* I don't know if Robertson was making money directly from Rios Montt, his motives there were apparently to support an Evangelical president in a Catholic country and to support Rios Montt's "scorched Communist" policy.
PS JF, feel free if you like to elaborate on why Israel is a "de facto american state". I've heard that before, along with the claim that American is a de facto Israeli colony, but rarely from people of your intellect.
Rioting is certainly not inherent in a level of "humanity" of any "race" (I suspect we'd both agree that the term is biologically meaningless), and the majority of American race riots have been of whites against minorities. As to whether the French or the Arabs are at greater fault in this case, I don't have nearly enough information so any response I gave would be determined simply by which negative bias is stronger. I suspect you're mostly right about root causes, but I have a hard time believing the sense of martydom (both in the traditional and Hamas sense) and victimization and superiority preached by so many Muslim leaders isn't a key ingredient in the degree of the conflagration. Whether that has anything to do with (certain sects of) Muslim or Arab culture specifically or just the attitudes assumed by people long uneducated, hopeless, and powerless is beyond me.
I'm just glad I saw Notre Dame while it exists. And I wonder if Mssr le Pen and every hardcore rightwinger is going to win Europe's next round of elections.
I see your point about Robertson being driven by greed, but it's hard to interpret that as "racist". Since that is such a harsh claim now a days (better to be ruthlessly greedy, high on cocaine, and to steal 200 million dollars from investors then to make one seemingly prejudicial comment) I'm guessing there is at least one racist comment Robertson has made that would lead you to claim he is racist, right? Keep in mind I am not defending this guy. I don't like him. I think he sells religion, which isn't cool. I just don't envision TTYSI calling someone a racist without a single example of his racism to point to, so I would like to see the quote or comments that Robertson's made that would make TTYSI call him a racist. Would you mind posting one, please?
CF
You want me to post a racist quote by Robertson, when I've said I don't have one, in order to prove a claim you're (and this is shockingly unprecendented*) only pretending I've made? I guess you've finally got me, "wolf", I just can't compete with intelligence at the level of yours.
*That's sarcasm, not a lie. Sorry to get your hopes up.
Aleks, you'd be absolutely right if I had meant to direct that to you. I was hoping that by mentioning TTYSI it would be enough to make it clear that I was directing that request to him, while leaving it open to receive a quote from anyone else who might have one. I did not intend to direct that request to you specifically, but instead to him. I can see why my post was unclear, since I addressed things you said in the same paragraph, but it was not my intention to indicate that you had called Robertson a racist (or said that he wasn't one). I'm sorry if it came across that way. Do you have said quote, TTYSI?
CF
Also because you referred to him in the third person, and because you sure seemed to contrast my statements about his ventures in Africa with an inability to post "at least one racist comment Robertson has made that would lead you to claim he is racist". But I'm familiar with your level of English ability before, so I will not doubt your word here. I suppose it's just a coincidence that Republicans dropped the English as a national language plank at the time when Bush became the standard bearer and you became an active follower. The need to court Hispanics was probably the real reason.
If you are sincerely interested in comments Robertson allegedly has made, I do remember some kind of hoopla/free-advertising about him saying something about an oppressed white minority needing protection from nonwhite majorities a few years back. That might be a place to start.
Yes, I do see the humor in the placement of that typo.
I completely agree that I was entirely unclear in my post. You said he "may" be motivated by racism, which clearly implies that you don't know. I appreciate you taking my word for it on this one, because, upon further review, if I were you I would have read my post the way you read it.
CF
If I accurately remember the thrust of his comments, he was saying that simple Athenian Democracy was not sufficient to protect minority rights, which is certainly true. The iffy thing was his astonishing realization of this just as white people head towards minority (but still overwhelming plurality) status, which I believe he specifically mentioned. Let me repeat that I am not asserting this as evidence because I cannot swear that I remember it correctly (or that it was reported correctly at the time), or claiming that he is a racist, but merely trying to answer your request for why people regard him as a racist. Obviously I am not well inclined towards the man, both because of the foreign affairs I've mentioned and the selling of religion you mentioned.
I missed responding to this: "You said he "may" be motivated by racism, which clearly implies that you don't know."
If that only implies it, let me say so directly. I don't know if racist evaluations of the people affected played into his conduct or not. I suspect that it made it easier, but it could very well be that he would have felt no more sense of duty or compassion towards white people.
I haven't a clue as to the racial composition of Dover, but this is kind of fun:
Pat Robertson Warns Pa. Town of Disaster
1 hour, 33 minutes ago
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson warned residents of a rural Pennsylvania town Thursday that disaster may strike there because they "voted God out of your city" by ousting school board members who favored teaching intelligent design.
All eight Dover, Pa., school board members up for re-election were defeated Tuesday after trying to introduce "intelligent design" — the belief that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power — as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected him from your city," Robertson said on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club."
Eight families had sued the district, claiming the policy violates the constitutional separation of church and state. The federal trial concluded days before Tuesday's election, but no ruling has been issued.
Later Thursday, Robertson issued a statement saying he was simply trying to point out that "our spiritual actions have consequences."
"God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever," Robertson said. "If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them."
Robertson made headlines this summer when he called on his daily show for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
In October 2003, he suggested that the State Department be blown up with a nuclear device. He has also said that feminism encourages women to "kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051111/ap_on_re_us/robertson_evolution;_ylt=AgyHrS.EhWS3_vUs_9d95JOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-
Nice to see a Christian leader telling people not to turn to God. That's nice. I think it's about time he wrote his own Bible instead of claiming to follow the same one I do. I seem to remember something about God forgiving people in the one I've read. Of course, it's hard to find time to read your Bible when you're busy thumping on it all day.
CF
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