Pat Robertson released a statement on his CBN website stating that the comments were taken out of context. The entire 700 Club episode has been added below so that you may hear the comments as they were delivered during the episode. The first comment began at 2:56 and the comments regarding Haiti’s pact with the devil begins at 6:29. You can listen to the full episode and hear the comments in context and then decide.

The statement released on the website said that Pat Robertson was speaking about Haiti’s history and the 1791 slave rebellion led by Dutty Boukman at Bois Caiman. There is a link to the Boukman ceremony as it pertains to the history of Haiti.  The statement also indicates that Pat Robertson’s compassion for the Haitian people is evident if you listen to the video in context. According to the video, Pat Robertson believes that Haiti has been cursed due to the Dutty Boukman treaty that sparked the Haitian Revolution and that is evidenced by the nation’s abject poverty. Here are links to more information regarding Dutty Boukman: Wikipedia Dutty Boukman (check eternal links)

Similar comments were made by some in the Christian Right movement following Hurricane Katrina. Former president George Bush’s wife, Barbara was called to task for comments that she made in a similar vein, stating that those who survived Katrina would be better off after the storm.

“What I’m hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them.” Barbara Bush

On September 12, 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, Pat Robertson made comments that indicated the wrath of God had fell upon America due to legalized abortion.

“I was reading, yesterday, a book that was very interesting about what God has to say in the Old Testament about those who shed innocent blood. And He used the term that those who do this, ‘the land will vomit you out.’ … But have we found we are unable somehow to defend ourselves against some of the attacks that are coming against us, either by terrorists or now by natural disaster? Could they be connected in some way?” – Pat Robertson

Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson after 911

Today is the day you will witness the longest solar eclipse of this century take place. The annular solar eclipse would be visible in most parts of India but only the southern fringes of the country will see it as an Annular eclipse. For the rest of the country, it would be a partial solar eclipse.

The best places to see the eclipse in its annular from would be Dhanuskodi town near Rameshwaram. If you are already there, wait for the show to begin! The eclipse will last for over 10 minutes in mainland India and can go up to a maximum of 11 minutes 8 seconds in parts of the Indian ocean thus making it the longest solar eclipse of this century. The eclipse starts a at 10:44 am IST and will end at 2:29 PM (IST). This is not the total duration of the eclipse but the range of time different places would see the eclipse happen.

Also, it has been reported that The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a series of rockets from its two centres to study this solar eclipse and its repercussions. These were supposed to be sent out from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and Thumba in Kerala.

Annular solar eclipses occur when the Moon is too far to cover the Sun entirely. Therefore, when the eclipse reaches totality, you would see a ring (Annulus) around the moon and hence the name annular.

Please do exercise caution while watching this eclipse. DO NOT look directly at the Sun during the eclipse for it might put your eyes at risk even with your cool sunglasses. Also, do not try to use binoculars or telescopes and point at the eclipse directly without sufficient protection as you run the risk of being blinded.

Here are a few live feeds of the solar eclipse:

As with every major incidents, the 2010 solar eclipse seems to be slowly becoming a much talked about topic on Twitter. As of now, it hasn’t started trending. That might happen once the eclipse reaches more countries. That said, people from various countries have already posted pictures of the eclipse.

You can get more details on the eclipse on the official NASA website.

Video feed courtesy: Ustream

Multiple Internet news organizations are reporting that the lamb was born in a Turkish village. It was dead at birth. A veterinarian was the first person to notice that the lamb’s snout resembled a human face.

Village locals burned the goat’s body before biologists had a chance to study the rare mutation.

Here are some ways to help:

•Heart to Heart International: People can donate to Olathe-based Heart to Heart by going online to www.hearttoheart.org or by calling 913-764-5200.

•The Red Cross: The Greater Kansas City chapter of the Red Cross said contributions from the area could exceed $1 million.

The organization’s cell phone fundraising effort has raised $5 million so far. People can donate by texting the word “Haiti” to 90999, by going online to www. redcross.org or by calling 800-REDCROSS (800-733-2767).

•The Salvation Army: People can make $10 cell phone donations by texting “Haiti” to 52000. The charge will appear on the donors’ cell phone bills.

Credit card donors should call 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769) or go to www. salvationarmyusa.org. Send checks designated “Haiti Earthquake Relief” to 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111.

The Salvation Army is also helping people find relatives in Haiti through its SATERN locator system at www. satern.org.

•The United Way: United Way Worldwide is focusing on long-term relief in Haiti rather than short-term emergency aid.

To donate, go online to https://volunteer.united- e-way.org/uwwwdisaster/donate; send checks to United Way Worldwide, P.O. Box 630568, Baltimore, MD 21263-0568 (with “Fund” in the memo line); or text “HAITI” to 864833 (UNITED).

•Habitat for Humanity: The group’s goal is to provide shelter for displaced Haitians. Donate online at www.habitat.org.

•Take care: As with any disaster relief effort, officials warn donors to be cautious about where they send money. Sticking with well-established agencies is recommended.

“Something happened a long time ago in Haiti,” Robertson opined on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club on Wednesday. “They got together and swore a pact to the Devil.”

“They said, ‘We will serve you if you get us free from the French.’ True story. And so, the Devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal.’ And they kicked the French out,” he went on. “You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another,” Robertson said.

Robertson’s tasteless and seemingly insane comments on the Haitian earthquake have left no few people furious, including the Haitian ambassador, Raymond Joseph. He quite snarkily responded by saying “what pact the Haitians made with the Devil, has helped the United States become what it is.”

White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said on Good Morning America she was simply left “kind of speechless” by Robertson’s demented remarks. “That’s not the kind of attitude that expresses the spirit of the president or the American people, so I thought it was a pretty stunning comment to make.”

We just wonder when someone is finally going to gift Pat Robertson with a nice, snug straight-jacket and haul him off for a long (hopefully permanent) stay in crazy town.