Filmmaker’s bond to Haiti

Great article, Thanks Larry.

Thanks for keeping Haiti in the spotlight. Having been there just befroe the quake to see the critical work Beyond Borders is doing with Haiti's most vulnerable children, I worry what will happen when the rest of the world turns back to business as usual.

Please keep highlighting the folks who really know the culture and who are committed to equipping Haitians solve their own problems, rather than keeping them dependent on foreign handouts.

I can hardly wait to see "Preacher's Kid." Letoya's talent is highly underrated. I'm glad to see her shine - and more importantly, Christ shining through her in this film.

I so appreciate the work of the Crouch family, particularly Jan and Paul Crouch. They are truly doing God's work by reaching the nations, while spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

TBN is the best! Great article. 🙂

The Serpent and the Rainbow was a interesting film on Voodou in Haiti. Many other film makers have strived to produce factual films and reports on this religion in Haiti.

As found in all Afro-Caribbean religions, new year's divination are performed by religious leaders to help their followers determine what the new year brings their way.

It would be refreshing to see CNN reporters deal with a segment on that very specific subject in Afro-Caribbean religious practices, namely the yearly divination process's and what their outcomes were.

New Year divination's are performed by religious leaders each and every year in Haiti, Puerto Rico, Cuba and in Miami by priests and priestess's of those religions. Those held in Cuba are widely viewed and followed by people around the world. The New Year divination outcome in Cuba is invariable reported on the internet.

What was forecast by the Houngans and Mambos in Haiti during the 2010 divination ceremony's?

I think the CNN viewers would like to know and enjoy seeing the deep Afro-Caribbean religious culture of Haiti.

Dear Larry and the CNN team ho have contributed so much to help other human being in need, You must aslo adress this for the long term recovery of Ayiti ( /Creole/Native spelling , it has an African meaning.)
Pls This is in reply to Evangelist Pat Robinsion's Comment on the disaster.

”On August 22,1791, Boukman, presided together with an African born Priestess and conducted a ceremony for slaves of Saint Dominique .
A pig which symbolized the wild, free untameable spiritual power of the forest and ancestors was sacrificed and an oath was taken to fight to death….And they got together and swore a pact to the Devil …they said, We will serve you if you will get us free from the French’ And so the the Devil said , Ok , it’s a deal. And they kicked the French out.
You know the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since , they have been cursed by one thing after the other. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It is cut down the middle. On one side is Haiti, desperately poor. On the other side is the Dominican Republic, prosperous, healthy, full of resorts. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God.”
Evangelist Pat Robinson, On the Haitian Earthquake, Christian Broadcasting Network Jan, 13, 2010.
”Following the example of the Spaniards in Cuba and the English in Jamaica, the French brought 1,500 dogs to hunt down the blacks…and they cut open the belly of blacks who they had bound to a post.
At the sight and scent of the blood, the dogs threw themselves on the blacks and devoured them in a twinkling…..The French burned alive, hanged, drowned, tortured and started again their habit of burying blacks up to the neck near nests of bees and wasps.
They chained 16 of the insurgent generals to a rock where they wasted away for 17 days. Another thrown to a dog showed no anger, but stroked them and encouraged them while he presented his limbs to be destroyed….These are the men, said Lemmonier – Delafosse, we had to fight against.”
”When the French Commander put to death 500 blacks and buried them in a large hole, dug while they waited for execution, the insurgents raised gibbets of branches and hanged 500 whites…. burned San Domingo flat so that at the end of the war it was a charred desert.”
”The first attacks have driven the rebels from the positions they occupied, but they fell back…and in the insurrection, there is a veritable fanaticism. These men get themselves killed, but they refuse to surrender.
What happened in San Domingo after, is one of those pages in history which every schoolboy should learn, and most certainly will learn, some day. The national struggle against Bonaparte in Spain, the burning of Moscow by the Russians that fills the histories of the period, were anticipated and excelled by the blacks of the island of San Domingo.
For self-sacrifice and heroism, the men, women and children who drove out the French stand second to no fighters for independence in any place or time.”
– C.L.R.James, The Black Jacobins, New York:Vintage Books, 1989 Page 343-349.
”It is my duty to remind you that the Haitian Government cannot fail to express in all occasion the solidarity with the Ibos whose ancestors played a capital role in the Glorious Epopee of 1804. Their relentless courage in the battlefield inspired the First Independent NEGRO Republic in the world.
That Republic which for over a century and half incarnated Negro dignity was on record the first National army to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte, Europe’s greatest war General.”
– Haiti’s President for Life, His Excellency Dr. Francois Duvalier’s Letter to the UN Secretary General U Thant, On The Emergency Humanitarian Catastrophe In Biafra, August 19,1968. Also Responding to the Appeal led by Dr. Douglas, President of the Council on Afro- Jamaican Affairs, Kingston, Jamaica, July 29th, 1968.
Christopher Columbus did not celebrate his landing in the Americas. On a Friday, October 12, 1492 he landed Watling Island in the Bahamas. At San Salvador, he had asked the natives to show him the goldmines.
To assuage his disappointment, he was advised by the native Red Indians to try his luck in Haiti. Columbus and the Spanish who were the most advanced Europeans of that period, moved into Haiti and annexed the the rich Island.
Giving the Island the new name of Hispaniola, the Spanish introduced Christianity, forced labour, artificial famine, rape, strange diseases and murder. In fifteen years since they arrived, the native population was reduced from some one million to about sixty thousand.
In a dramatic, intriguing twist of history, a Dominican Catholic Priest, LasCasas, concerned with the dwindling numbers of the persecuted natives, proposed to King Charles V of Spain ”to authorise the importation of the more robust Negroes from populous Africa.” In 1517, the Spanish King gave the green light and 15,000 slaves were exported to San Domingo, and thus a Priest and a Christian King, unleashed on the world the American Slave trade!
In 1629, some wondering Frenchmen entered the little Island of Tortuga, some six miles off the north of San Domingo. They were followed by the English, the Dutch and other Europeans; men of all crimes, debtors, fugitives from justice.
Tortuga like the paradise that was the entire island, had a healthy forest where millions of wild cattle roamed and these Europeans set upon these animals, hunting them for their food and hides. In their feverish rivalry and m

I agree that "why" is often an unanswerable question and "what" is the one which should be asked and acted upon. Unless "why" is something we can do something to make sure doesn't happen again, "why" really doesn't need to be answered. "What can we do" to alleviate the problem is far more important and American money and expertise and just our need to help has done much to alleviate the problem. Rosie O'Donnell made a proposal which I think should be acted upon. She proposed that "adoption" of the needy Haitian children should not occur - except in the cases where they are verified to be orphans. Those are children who were already in orphanages prior to the disaster. Yes, it's a good thing to help children but adoption is rather final and those children may not be available to be reunited with their relatives. Her proposal, foster care, would not only help all children in need but make sure that, should relatives be found who are capable and willing to take those needy children into their homes, they could be reunited. I hope her idea is acted upon. That would allow Americans to really help these children, taking them into their homes, without preventing their eventual reuniting with family.

Now this is an example of the character of Jesus...
Praise God for whom all blessings flow!

Truly impressed !
-Zoe

Wow! That's a beautiful thing!

WOW! Matthew, I see salt stained trails of tears that flowed down the cheeks of children, now bearing smiles because of the efforts and generosity afforded by you and your family, as well. Let me say, I do not know if there is a god, don't know anyone who has ever seen him, but if he exists he would be crying tears of joy knowing you exist...

The Heartbreak and Hope that is now so painful for the people, family, and friends of Haiti has hit my little family. Six days ago I learned my 20 year old son needs a heart. Someone must die in order to get a heart for my son. I am grateful to all those that could afford to send money for the relief fund. After my son has had a lifetime of illness, never riding a bike, never going on a date, there is a possibility that someone else's heartbreak my give my son hope. If there is anyone out there that can guide me in the direction of organizations that can provide assistance for my son and I to travel and stay several hundred miles away while waiting on the precious organ of life he needs and the months following the transplantation, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you Mr. King!

No matter what all the negative sayers are saying.

For all those who have dedicated themselves to help the children and the needy, in Haiti.

GOD IS LOOKING DOWN ON YOU, AND SHOWERING YOU WITH HIS BLESSINGS.

THANK YOU.

Being the hands and feet of Jesus – in Haiti. That is the mission of all mankind. Whether a simple gesture, a donation or working side by side with the people of Haiti. Jesus says it does not matter. Because when all is said and done, you and I are one crisis away from needing someone's help.

Just do something.

Hats off to anyone who tries to help someone in need. It's all about LOVE.

Gosh, what a history Haiti has. That Voodoo is quite a scary thing. They need to stop it.

Thanks . Haiti not only needs financial support , but also spiritual ,organizational .Now , I believe that the media has done its part , and please continue to do so. I would like to hear the spiritual leaders ( the churches) voices about this tragedy ,that is their approach and intervention in face of such destruction of human life and hope. The people of Haiti need prayer.

If TBN (trinity broadcasting network) is so compassionate in regards to Haiti, why is there no OPEN CONDEMNATION of Pat Robertson in this article and splashed on the TBN website? Pat Robertson used TBN to broadcast his crass smear of the Haitian people didn't he?

You support Pat Robertson and you are telling us of your deep connection with the Haitian people? Perhaps if YOU pull the plug on Pat Robertson who used TBN to roundly condemn the Haitian People, I can start to believe whatever your statements are in this article to be possibly true and accurate!

Donald L Allen well Larry King I think the country is working at it like a check with it head cut off and talking about honey low cut that has not happening or if it true it was not the right one,s doing so I just don,t believed it happening way don't they get real instead of telling so money lie way can it not just be the Rufe instead of a lie I just want you to see what is real instead of what is bull you no Larry you get the point I no see you Larry King the King PS Larry be good

Thank you for your kindness and dedication toward Haiti. I'll pass the word to friends. May God bless you.

Thank you for the amount of dedication that you are showing to make us all aware to what is going on over in Haiti. We really need to become aware of his horrible monstrosity . And as humans we must not ignore what is going on over there, thinking that it is not our problem, and that we have our own trials to deal with.
At this time in our our generation we need, or to say, we MUST take action in any way we can to help. The reason I feel so strongly about this is because in much of the world horrible events we have turned our backs on other humans in their times of need, thinking that it is not our responsibility to get involved.. So we must act now, or we will fail ourselves now and and our children of the future.

@Jessie from Auckland, NZ

Voodoo is a religion. All religions exist to do what they are intended to do. They instill fear, fear of the unknown. It's a system devised by individuals and communities, long ago, to retain civility. Since then, it has become an industry of idiocy, hypocrisy, and heresy of reality and truth and, so many, vile 'cause and effect' attachments to human and non human life, the list is endless. If a divine entity exists and was the 'master of the universe' he would be foolish to sanction any religion. Is it necessary? Until mankind evolves beyond his necessity to allow fear alone to control his inhumanities HE assails on the speaking and non-speaking creatures that inhabit this planet, then yes.

@
Cajazz76:24:8 February 3rd, 2010 1:31 pm ET
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Thank you for your comments and I take your points.

I know there are religions and religions. But isn't Voodoo more to the darker side. From what I have heard about it, it just doesn't sound too good to me.

These things are passed down from generation to generation and it is not only a matter of fear, I think it is also of beliefs. What you believe in or have been taught to believe in.

I believe a divine entity exists and that humans over time have broken away from a one true original religion. I suppose you can say to what suits them.

May the Lord richly reward you as you meet the needs of those less fortunate. What a glorious thing you are doing. Your actions reflect the true meaning of Christianity.

Continue on your quest to bring sound and enriching entertainment to the screen.

@cajazz, I believe that God exists...To me He is very much alive, fully present, and speaks to each one of us...you can hear Him when you are listening. He speaks to us thru a word of knowledge, thru spiritual discernment, thru the spiritual realm, thru prayer, thru others, thru our consciousness. He performs Miracles every second of day, as he has done once again thru Matthew Crouch..... It's all for Love...L.O.V.E...It's all for God....Psalm 103

@Jessie from Auckland, NZ
You need to to educate yourself about religion. In America we have people who practice satan, witchcraft, atheist, catholic,protestant, hindu, budhism, Muslim ect-

Do you really think Hollywood version of the voodoo religion is the truth? They have to make it as something evil to make you afraid.

Haiti is a very highly religious catholic country with 85% catholic 10% protestants and 5 % voodoo or other religions. It's a dying religion that is maninly practice in the rural area of Haiti.

The voodoo is a spiritual religion that is practice in Africa,Cuba, Brazil , Jamaica, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Louisiana and most afro-descent countries.

Due to ignorance and hatred, the West makes everybody believe that the religion is evil and because anything that does not come from Europe is not good. That is why you have all these missionaries that go to mainly to african countries to convert people.

Thanks Fay, you are right. Thank you for the enlightenment. Yes.......I forgot about all the other practices in the world that are going on. Thank you again for this.

I have done some bible studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses.............. and in light of this sad disaster.................as I have read in some other posts some people blaming God for this earthquake happening.

I would just like to put out an article here I came across from a Jehovah's Witnesses booklet called "REASONING". Below is a QUOTE taken from this booklet.

"WHY DOES GOD PERMIT 'NATURAL DISASTERS', WHICH CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND LIFE?

God is not causing the earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and volcanic eruptions that are so often in today's news. He is not using these to bring punishment on certain peoples. To a large extent, these are caused by natural forces that have been operating since the earth's creation.

The Bible foretold great earthquakes and food shortages for our day, but that does not mean that either God or Jesus is responsible for them, any more than a meteorologist is responsible for the weather that he forecasts.

Because these are occurring along with all the other things foretold in the composite sign of the conclusion of this system of things, they are part of the evidence that the blessings of God's Kingdom are near...........(Luke 21:11, 31).

Humans often bear heavy responsibility for harm done. In what way? Even when given ample warning, many people refuse to get out of the danger area or fail to take needed precautions.........(Proverb 22:3); compare......... (Matthew 24:37-39).

God can control such natural forces. He empowered Jesus Christ to calm a storm on the Sea of Galilee, as an example of what He will do for mankind under His Messianic Kingdom............(Mark 4:37-41).

By turning his back on God, Adam rejected such divine intervention on behalf of himself and his offspring. Those who are granted life during Christ's Messianic Reign, will experience such loving care, the kind of care that only a government empowered by God can give..........(Isaiah 11:9)."

The paragraph where it says...........Humans often bear heavy responsibility for harm done...........etc, etc.........

probably wouldn't necessarily apply here. As in this disaster........there was no warning given. But in some posts I read, some were saying that there was a possibility that they could have been given a WARNING of this impending disaster and weren't.

We as a race, humans, have dominion on this earth, and we are subject to the laws it's governed by. Science, the observation of a thing, is a discovery, a revelation of things, laws, rules, precepts, concepts already here to guide us, lead us to new and better things and ways.

Show me something that is exempt to the laws of science we discover. It doesn't exists. These forces have existed and set in motion by someone before time began and this planet was formed. We make poor judgements all the time that break these laws that cause us, our loved ones, our neighbors and friends harm, grief, and dispare. Yet we blame GOD? We decide how to build, where to build, and in our decisions, if they are flawed or unwise, we, you, they, I suffer. Earthquakes and natural forces overcome things in their path that are srtucturally weak compareed to their power. So we rebuild and design better things. And because we can love is why we do this.

All things, creatures, people, earth, the universe are under forces or a force greater than ourselves. It is our glory and duty to seek these things out, change, adjust, look ahead and plan wisely according to life. When we fail to do so we experience death. Then a litany of horrible words and fingers start to point so we feel better, empowered, free of guilt - redirecting our fears.

Weather you accknowlege a God, devine providence or not, we experience things beyond our comprehension we have to obey or suffer. In our ignorance and lack of knowlege we try to work out, manipulate, justify, and control things, to our and others demise. And I speak to religeon, especially when it is man's attempt for purposes of control over others. I don't think God is religious, surely Christ was crucified by, and he lambasted the religious because they did not comprehend him, and feared him, just as we often don't comprehend the forces governing us. There have been others who suffered the similar fates; because not to understand scares us, and we lash out. And if we can't controll it we often dismiss it or run from it.

Let us not use a disaster like Haiti to feed our fear. Do you agree or understand we are not made to be dominated, or dominate other people? We hate to be manipulated and controlled. Right? It is against our design and destiny. Thus we war, point fingers, hurt, kill, and suffer unnecissarily, and it surfaces when we see or experience tragedy that we don't understand. Often the "DEVIL" is blamed for things in which we are responsible, deflecting our inherant responsibilities to a creature that hasn't proven devinity, or dominance. Foolishly we blame God. We live here, don't we?

We are made and have power that can be inspired to do what seems impossible, unbelievable, loving, kind, amazing thing. We are capable to live in harmony, but not without love.

What is LOVE?

By what I see and understand and have gathered, these laws, rules, precepts and designs we have at our disposal are proof of a devine creator that has given us everything we need to succed, and avoid our disctruction on a personal and global scope. But our unbelief stymies us. If you were a parent or designer wouldn't you want you children or that thing to have every opportunity to succeed?

Look around and observe nature, the moon and stars. In them you find the virtue of creation, design, and purpose, even in chaos.

Let us understand the power of love, it's dominion and purpose. Let us respond accordingly despite our inability to know everything. If we search out truth and love, and keep quiet until the revelation, which is highly unique to each person, it allows us the opportunity to do that which is right and good in the meanwhile. To know something and become immersed in it with understanding opens the door to a bright future. Haiti is not the only disaster that will shake us. America might be next. We are not immune. The "Godly" and ungodly suffer the same fate. Let's stop blaming and work together for selfless good.

I have a suggestion. Let us Americans search out and find the weaknesses in our infastruture, spend the time, money, and resources to fix and improve them. Put people to work, save lives and stimulate our economy by building, progressing. It is when we stop building with purpose is when we cease to be great and live.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts, and I hope the best for you Larry, all who read this and more.

And thank you Larry for having Matt on your show. I have had the privelege of meeting him and his wife several times on a informal basis. They are good people trying to make a difference. And there are many more like them who watch your program.

I leave you with this though: Let us not say, God Bless America - But let us say, America Bless GOD. And do it. That said -

Good day

I have just been watching the video which is on CNN, in regards to –
"Camp life dangerous for women".

The conditions are very bad for them at the moment, especially the women. They are living in basically tent-like shanti towns. The men are preying on the women and taking out their frustrations on them. These women are living in fear of being raped and just being treated very badly by these predatory men.

My heart goes out to them, and I just wish something could be done to help them. Where the women and children can be moved to a safe area on their own and be protected. It is always the women and children that suffer the most.

Some lovely gentleman told a reporter that there is a problem with the Haiti men. For goodness sake, what is wrong with these men. They should be trying to help one another instead of being predators.

It made me quite upset seeing this video and what's going on over there.

@Jessie from Auckland, NZ
My heart goes out to the people. Unfortunately, violent act occur world wide when these types of disasters happen.The UN who is supposed to protect the people barely go to the slums to give aid let alone protect the poor and vulnerable. They are alone to fend for themselves. Not surprised that the people are still vulnerable because nobody is protecting them or looking for their best interest.

There were about 40,000 foreign military troops dispatched to Haiti after the quake. Their first actions were to flood the quake zone with heavily armed patrols and to otherwise ensure the "security" of their interest and the elite. The foreign leaders were more concerned that the quake disaster would open space for the Haitian people to retake some of the sovereign political ground lost following the overthrow of their elected government in 2004 by France, US, Canada.

These passages below are taken from the New International Version of The Holy Bible –

LOVE

And now I will show you the most excellent way..........

Love is patient (long-suffering), love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in EVIL but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, lways perseveres. -(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Love never fails. -(1 Corinthians 13:8)

Sorry I forgot to add an important bit to my post above and that is.........

GOD IS LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

@Kylie March 16th, 2010 11:28 pm ET

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I was wondering about the United Nations too, etc., etc.,.........and also thank you for the information you have given. It is really a very sad situation. Poor people.

I am not saying that all the Haitian people are bad or all the men are bad. It is just the bad ones that always spoil it for the good. God bless them and you also.

You are right about that. There are always going to be people who take advantage of a bad situation. Now the media is gone, nobody is going to hold the people in charge accountable for not protecting the people. There are plenty of sad reports that lot of people still have not received aid since the quake. The media saying one thing but people coming from volunteered there saying something different. The people are still in dire need. 600,000 are still homeless. This is just a sad situation.