Pat Robertson said some things on the telly about Haiti and I would like to expand on them. He said that Haitians, some years ago, made a pact with the devil to throw off their chains of bondage and get their freedom. See here:
Let’s assume that is true. The devil went down to Haiti looking to make a deal. For their freedom, the devil got the country? Hmmm. I wonder what kind of deal I can strike to get Pat Robertson to shut up. How about I make a deal to give the devil Kirkland? Would that be too much? Or too little? I wonder if the devil would want all of Kirkland, or just the water front.
How about Redmond? Maybe the devil wants Redmond. Wait, Microsoft is already there. I’m too late.
For a quick recap of Haiti’s history, check this link.
Haiti’s chronic impoverishment began at its birth in 1804, when, having overthrown its French rulers in a bloody, 12-year slave revolt, the newborn nation was subjected to crippling blockades and embargoes. This economic strangulation continued until 1825, when France offered to lift embargoes and recognize the Haitian Republic if the latter would pay restitution to France—for loss of property in Haiti, including slaves—of 150 million gold francs. The sum, about five times Haiti’s export revenue for 1825, was brutal, but Haiti had no choice: Pay up or perish over many more years of economic embargo, not to mention face French threats of invasion and reconquest. To pay, Haiti borrowed money at usurious rates from France, and did not finish paying off its debt until 1947, by which time its fate as the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country had been well and truly sealed.
But hey, if you know the devil, let him know that I’m prepared to deal.