Pat’s at it Again
The People For the American Way published a story regarding Pat Robertson’s comments about Ariel Sharon’s illness:
Pat Robertson: Sharon Invited God’s Wrath
1-5-06On today’s 700 Club, Rev. Pat Robertson blamed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s recent stroke on God’s “enmity against those who ‘divide my land,’” an implicit reference to recent steps the Prime Minister has taken to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
“For any prime Minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says ‘no, this is mine.’ … He was dividing God’s land and I would say woe unto any Prime Minister of Israel who takes a similar course,” Robertson said.
“Once again, Pat Robertson leaves us speechless with his insensitivity and arrogance,” People For the American Way Foundation President Ralph G. Neas said. “It is astonishing that Pat Robertson still wields substantial influence in this White House and national Republican Party politics. With our nation at war and the unstable political situation throughout the Middle East, it is essential for the President of the United States to immediately disavow these irresponsible, inflammatory statements.”
Robertson is a prominent right-wing televangelist in the United States. He is the founder of both the Christian Coalition and the American Center for Law and Justice, which advocates for the confirmation of right-wing judicial nominees.
The transcript and links to video of the Robertson comments follow:
Transcript
Ladies and Gentlemen I said last year that Israel was entering into the most dangerous periods of its entire existence as a nation. That is intensifying this year with the loss of Sharon. Sharon was personally a very likeable person and I am sad to see him in this condition, but I think we need to look at the Bible and the Book of Joel. The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who “divide my land.” God considers this land to be His. You read the Bible and He says “this is my land” and for any Prime Minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says “no, this is mine.” I had a wonderful meeting with Yitzhak Rabin in 1974. He was tragically assassinated, it was a terrible thing that happened but nevertheless he was dead. And now Ariel Sharon who again was a very likeable person, a delightful person to be with, I prayed with him personally, but here he’s at the point of death. He was dividing God’s land and I would say woe unto any Prime Minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations, or the United States of America. God says “this land belongs to me. You’d better leave it alone.”
Video
Then, CBN released this story:
Robertson Spokesperson Addresses Comments Made by Pat Robertson Regarding Ariel Sharon
CBN.com – VIRGINIA BEACH, VA., January 5, 2006—Pat Robertson expresses his deep sadness over Ariel Sharon’s life threatening stroke and concern for Israel’s future security.
On The 700 Club broadcast this morning Robertson said he has met with Sharon at significant times and considers him a friend. Robertson, an ordained minister and bible teacher, has been a life long supporter of Israel and has continually expressed grave concern over dividing the land of Israel. Robertson pointed to the book of Joel in the Old Testament to show a biblical perspective of God’s view of Israel and efforts made from people who try to divide God’s land:
“In the book of Joel, the prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has ‘enmity against those who divide My land.’ God considers this land to be His. When you read the Bible, He said this is my land. For any Prime Minister of Israel who decides he will carve it up and give it away, God said, “No, this is Mine.”
According to his spokesperson, Angell Watts, Robertson is simply reminding his viewers what the Bible has to say about efforts made to divide the land of Israel.
She also expressed Dr. Robertson’s outrage at People for the American Way, who have a clear left-wing political agenda and who, on an ongoing basis, lift his comments out of context and widely circulate them in an attempt to discredit him.
First of all, when are they going to institutionalize this guy? Isn’t it obvious that he’s not only gone off of the deep end, but it’s dangerous to keep him out in the public? He needs medication, treatment, or something. If I were a Christian, I’d be pissed because of the bad name he gives my religion and embarrassed by him. Since I’m not, all I can really do is cross my eyes and say “Wow!” It’d be really easy to laugh and make fun of this guy, but it’s better to try to find some sort of cure, so he can live a productive life.
Secondly, what planet is Watts from, anyway? PFAW did not take his comments out of context. They looked specifically at what he said, and they reiterated it, which is that Robertson feels Sharon’s illness is a result of God being pissed about him giving Palestinians land. What’s really funny, is that Watts uses the EXACT SAME QUOTE WORD FOR WORD, and says that PFAW is taking it out of context. How are they be taking it out of context? That’s what I want to know. He said what he said, he meant what he meant, and that’s that.
