The earthquakes in Haiti is God’s judgment on them – Pat Robertson
On Tom’s first day of policing the LA riots broke out, He was called back to work and sped down the 405 toward South Central LA as large plums of smoke rose from the ash heap of urban decay. Tom recalled thinking what did I get myself into. He felt like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Everything is going on around you but it seems surreal, kind of like events are unfolding and you are just an observer. But you aren’t. You are in the middle of the fight. You have a dog in this fight…it’s you. The sergeant briefed up the team. “We ride 4 deep, shotguns or long rifles in a position where you can shoot and move.” Tom’s FTO (Field Training Officer) gave him the once over checking his equipment. He told Tom to carry his pepper spray upside down with a rubber band around the center. It ensures against accidental discharges. Once you have been sprayed with OC you know it’s not something you wish to experience again. Each cop has been hit with it a dozen times. Overspray at fights (some cops are bad aims), the wind, an academy TO with no sense of humor, accidental discharges in the patrol car. It all hurts the same.
Tom feeling insecure and unsure, he just wanted to fit in. No heroics. No mistakes. Just don’t look like a new guy. Just blend in like paint on the wall was Tom’s motto. The sergeant said they would move in a platoon level caravan led by command staff. This was serious. There was likely to be a firefight. The riots over one man being beaten resulted in the deaths of 65 of his neighbors. Makes not sense at all. Many of those deaths were in gun fights with the police. I talked to colleagues whose squad went through over 100 rounds of shotgun ammo, went back to the CP and reloaded.
The team was ready. A senior officer drove, there was no way a rookie would get near the steering wheel and Tom knew it. He figured if they did not put him in the trunk it was a positive sign. Veteran officers can be ruthless to rookies. Tom, get in the left rear and shut up. Yes, sir. Tom jumped in the car, 12 gage shotgun in hand, fully loaded and safety off. If he jumped out of the car you would not hear the unmistakable rack of the slide, just the explosion of 9, .32 cal bullets headed your way. As Tom sat there, uncomfortable but proud, he heard a hissing sound. Almost like a snake was in the back seat. Maybe it was a flat tire which he would surely be assigned to change. His eyes began to water and all of the senior officers began to choke. Immediately all four doors of the car flew open and officers bailed from the car like projectile vomit. Don’t wipe your eyes its OC spray. Tom looked at his gun belt. His upside down can of OC spray caught on the seat belt and the entire can emptied into the car they would spend the next 12 hours in. This was in front of a platoon of veteran cops lead by seasoned supervisors. More than one person grunted *&%$# Rookie.
Pat Robertson believes that according to Haitian folk lore they devoted themselves to Satan for freedom from slavery. This he believes is the reason for the earthquake and the unrest that has been apart of the Haitian landscape for decades. Rush Limbaugh only sees our response as a political ploy for the Democrats and feels we have given enough through taxes to help the Haitians. Mean while everything that is good about the United States is in full motion. Warships steam full speed ahead with the children of people on this devo group aboard to give relief and provide needed help. Cops and firefighters from Florida were on the ground within hours freeing God’s children from tons of concrete and debris.
I would encourage people like Rush and Pat to rightly divide the scriptures from the broad perspective: Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who morn for they will be comforted. Ps 119:76 ff May your unfailing love be my comfort…let your compassion come to me that I may live…May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause. Speaking extra biblically is dangerous when it comes from Rome or LA.
I pray God will help the Haitians see His love and compassion through the gloom of this disaster.
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