The Prophet of Doom Speaks!
Zach Fields
Issue date: 1/19/06 Section: World Views
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Last week Pat Robertson once again angered the world with his claim that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution from God for pulling out of the Gaza Strip. Now I am not the biggest fan of Ariel Sharon but I still find that comment to be absolutely insensitive. His comment also gives even further proof that the religious right's support for Israel is motivated by a desire to fulfill a religious prophecy. As outraged as the majority of Americans felt about Pat Robertson's insensitive comments regarding Sharon, I do not think we should at all be surprised at Mr. Robertson's actions. Just a month ago Robertson told residents of Dover, Pennsylvania that God would smite them for rejecting intelligent design from their science curriculum. Watch out citizens of Dover because your punishment just might come in the form of a massive blood clot, not in the form of plagues or fire and brimstone, just a massive blood clot giving every resident of Dover a stroke. I guess God works in mysterious ways.
From his attack on the sexual orientation of a Teletubby, Robertson calling evolutionists "cultish", his call for the assassination of Venezuela's leftist president, Hugo Chavez, and his most recent comments on Ariel Sharon, Pat Robertson has shocked America and the world over and over again with his ridiculously insane comments. However, Pat Robertson still remains one of the most respected figures in the Christian right. Am I that much out of the mainstream of American thought? What makes this man any less of a whack job then the insane man who is babbling about Jesus on the corner of the street through a bullhorn? What makes him any different then the man who for the past 20 years or so has stood outside every sports event in Boston passing out fliers telling us to accept Jesus as our savior or go to hell? I actually like him more than Robertson because at least that wacko doesn't speak. Is it the fact that Robertson smiles, has money, and wears a nice suit that people respect him? Am I missing something here?
I also find it unsettling that President Bush has yet to publicly denounce the actions of Pat Robertson. Having White House aids denounce the comments is not good enough. However, when you have a president that is good friends with Jerry Falwell and other religious zealots of that sort; you can't expect many rational actions. If he wants to stop his ever growing unpopularity then he should be distancing himself from this insane man. Actually, insane is more like the understatement of the century. How about more like freakishly insane; the kind of person that should be sent off to a mental hospital. Pat Robertson is that kind of man. However, he is still treated with dignity and respect by much of America. Wake up America! You would all be better off listening to a homeless man off the streets of New York City.
From his attack on the sexual orientation of a Teletubby, Robertson calling evolutionists "cultish", his call for the assassination of Venezuela's leftist president, Hugo Chavez, and his most recent comments on Ariel Sharon, Pat Robertson has shocked America and the world over and over again with his ridiculously insane comments. However, Pat Robertson still remains one of the most respected figures in the Christian right. Am I that much out of the mainstream of American thought? What makes this man any less of a whack job then the insane man who is babbling about Jesus on the corner of the street through a bullhorn? What makes him any different then the man who for the past 20 years or so has stood outside every sports event in Boston passing out fliers telling us to accept Jesus as our savior or go to hell? I actually like him more than Robertson because at least that wacko doesn't speak. Is it the fact that Robertson smiles, has money, and wears a nice suit that people respect him? Am I missing something here?
I also find it unsettling that President Bush has yet to publicly denounce the actions of Pat Robertson. Having White House aids denounce the comments is not good enough. However, when you have a president that is good friends with Jerry Falwell and other religious zealots of that sort; you can't expect many rational actions. If he wants to stop his ever growing unpopularity then he should be distancing himself from this insane man. Actually, insane is more like the understatement of the century. How about more like freakishly insane; the kind of person that should be sent off to a mental hospital. Pat Robertson is that kind of man. However, he is still treated with dignity and respect by much of America. Wake up America! You would all be better off listening to a homeless man off the streets of New York City.