Up to 100,000 dead in Haiti. Fortunately, Pat Robertson is ready to put it all in perspective:
Christie, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French, you know, Napoleon the Third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact with the devil.
They said, ‘We will serve you if you’ll get us free from the French.’ True story. And so the devil said ‘OK, it’s a deal.’
And, ah, they kicked the French out, you know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free, but ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other.
The incident Robertson seems to be referring to is a voodoo ceremony which supposedly happened at Bois Caiman in 1791. It’s the subject of much skepticism among scholars. To wit:
“Kauffmann uses his meticulous analysis of original sources to argue that there never was such a ceremony and that its actual origins were in the writings of a Frenchman who was using it to denigrate the slaves, not celebrate a motivational or mystical moment.”
Well, Robertson is the same man who blamed God for Ariel Sharon‘s stroke in 2006. Seems like in Robertson’s world you’re at risk no matter who you side with.
Hat tip: Politico