Haiti -God’s Love You, Even If Man Do Not!
Bishop L.J. Guillory
Haitians Respond to Media Portrayal of Homeland
By Kristin Gray
AFRO Managing Editor
(January 16, 2010) - As many Haitians live in peril amid indescribable destruction and death, their American relatives are vexed by the media’s depiction of their native country as an uninhabitable, poverty-stricken no man’s land.While Haiti’s history of widespread human suffering is irrefutable—something most Haitians recognize—some believe the Caribbean nation has been particularly demonized by international media following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake which pulverized its capital, Port-au-Prince.
“The media has been giving Haiti a bad rap since I could remember,” Pamela Vaval, a 25-year-old Haitian-American nurse living in Florida, told the AFRO. “Haiti is not the richest country, obviously, but neither is Jamaica, Bahamas and all the other islands in the West Indies….I know a lot of people who have lived here for many years and moved back to Haiti because they lived better over there than America.
My grandmother, who has a big beautiful house in Haiti, did not have to lift a finger in Haiti because she had maids.”Because positive stories from Haiti are rarely publicized in international media outlets, many come to know the citizens and the land —the first independent nation in Latin America—as the “poorest country in the Western hemisphere.”
Haiti has been linked to vaudou, Satanism and zombie lore in contemporary films such as “Live and Let Die” and “The Serpent and the Rainbow.” But Vaval believes Haiti’s overwhelmingly negative representation abroad has more to do with the media’s attempt to craft cookie-cutter images of a nation it does not understand.
The images have been reinforced by round-the-clock media coverage of the disaster which has consistently highlighted a lack of infrastructure in Haiti.“Honestly, I don’t know why the media talks about Haiti as if no part is good,” she said. “Probably the same reason they portray Africa as if all Africans live in huts and run with lions…I’m born and raised in America, [and] have been to Haiti only once when I was a toddler, so I can’t tell you any memories.
But from pictures and what my friends and family who go to Haiti all the time tell me, it is just like any other island [in the Caribbean] — beautiful beaches, rich culture, wonderful people. Hopefully after all of this, people will see Haiti and its people in a different light, but I’m not so optimistic. [The] only thing left to do is educate and enlighten.”
By AFRO Staff
(January 16, 2010) - Two prominent conservatives came under fire over comments made about the massive earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12.The Rev. Pat Robertson, a televangelist known for controversy as much as being a devout Christian, was the first to weigh in.During a Christian Bible Network telecast, Robertson said the Haitians made a deal with the devil to free them from French colonial rule.
(January 16, 2010) - Two prominent conservatives came under fire over comments made about the massive earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12.The Rev. Pat Robertson, a televangelist known for controversy as much as being a devout Christian, was the first to weigh in.During a Christian Bible Network telecast, Robertson said the Haitians made a deal with the devil to free them from French colonial rule.
“They got together and swore a pact to the devil,” Robertson said. “They said ‘we will serve you if you get us free from the French.’ True story.”The comment has drawn the ire of many, including top White House officials.“It never ceases to amaze, that in times of amazing human suffering, somebody says something that could be so utterly stupid,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told the BBC. “But it, like clockwork, happens with some regularity.”In an effort to defend Robertson’s comments, conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh made controversial comments of his own.
Limbaugh said on his radio show that “this will play right into Obama’s hands, [casting him as] humanitarian, compassionate. They’ll use this to burnish their, shall we say, credibility with the black community, in both the light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. It’s made to order for him.”Gibbs also refuted Limbaugh’s statements.“I don’t know how anybody could sit where he does, having enjoyed the success that he has, and not feel some measure of sorrow for what has happened in Haiti,” Gibbs told CBS News.
“I, Bishop L.J. Guillory have never viewed Pat Robinson as Man of God!” However, he is a fellow Republican, one of whom I have disagreed with more than I have ever agreed. Like many of my Republican Counterparts; Pat Robinson, have used any and every issue to start a Campaign of Hate most with Democrats and some with African Americans!
“I, Bishop L.J. Guillory have never viewed Pat Robinson as Man of God!” However, he is a fellow Republican, one of whom I have disagreed with more than I have ever agreed. Like many of my Republican Counterparts; Pat Robinson, have used any and every issue to start a Campaign of Hate most with Democrats and some with African Americans!
It also should be noted that Pat, will fight anyone who isn’t apart of his 700 Club and or isn’t willing to support his odious ideals. He has become very rich from selling false information under the cover of News/Religion. Maybe this is an opportunity for AMERICANS to truly see this man for what he is…..“Not a Man of God!” Just a man who has used Religion and Paid News Programming to make Money.
And, Rush Limbaugh, lives to make controversial comments. He has also become rich from doing so! Some will ask the question “Is it the pills?
I spoke to Mr. Dumas Simeus, Philanthropist, and Former Presidential Candidate of Haiti. Mr. Simeus said; “Anyone wishing to help in the efforts in Haiti should contact a Non-Profit of their choosing and send money nothing else at this time!” Mr. Simeus will be a guest on the Ombudsman Press Show Hosted by Bishop L.J. Guillory next Sunday after Meet The Press.
