Expand Your Mind: It’s All God’s Fault
by Miki Saxon
I learned two amazing things about God today.
First, Lloyd Blankfein, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs testified in front of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, a group established by Congress to determine the causes of the Wall Street debacle. During his testimony, Blankfein “…likened aspects of the financial crisis to a “hurricane” and similar acts of God…”
And here I thought ‘acts of God’ referred to uncontrollable natural phenomenon as opposed to the outcome of greed-driven risk.
Who knew?
This next item made me ill. Over the years I’ve seen many statements from the far right that dripped ignorance, hate and bigotry, pronouncements often made by Pat Robertson, and the Haitian earthquake is no exception.
Robertson says the Haitian people brought it on themselves by making a pact with the devil [in 1791].
Even if I were religious I wouldn’t believe that God killed 100,000+ in retaliation for an unprovable act that happened 220 years ago.
It’s not the first time Robertson has blamed a natural disaster or tragedy on a group of people he dislikes. He blamed Hurricane Katrina on abortion supporters and blamed the 9/11 attack on gays and feminists.
I’d say that Blankfein and Robertson ought to get together—except that it sounds like they already have.
Image credit: pedroCarvalho on flickr and CBN on YouTube
January 18th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
I’ve always been a registered Republican but Robertson does not speak for me or any of my friends. He is as extreme as any religious zealot in the Arab countries as far as I’m concerned. He fortunately does not kill people directly at least.
January 18th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Hi Julie, fortunately he doesn’t speak for any party, although not for lack of trying.
I’m glad that you added the “directly.” I believe that anyone who preaches/teaches hate and bigotry is responsible for the acts done in the name of that hate/bigotry; just as guilty as the bartender who serves another drink to someone already drunk who then plows into another car.
Zealots and fanatics are a problem no matter what their country of origin or the cause they espouse.