There are so many openings to choose, I don't know which to utilize here.  So many terrible things said about a suffering nation near our shores as a radio talk show host and an aging preacher give us their take on the situation, as if we asked them for it.

One person is Pat Robertson.  To quote a Richmond newspaper reporter, Robertson said Wednesday that ever since its people made a pact with the devil to get out from under French rule, they "have been cursed by one thing after another."

To say that's a stretch is to underestimate the arrogance of his statement.  Pat Robertson always has a reason for every natural disaster.  And as far as I'm concerned, he's dead wrong.  I don't know any Christians who show such contempt for a people living in poverty.  He forgets that miracles and blessings also happen in Haiti.  And rather than acting holier than they, maybe he could roll up his sleeves and hold sick and fearful children there now.

No matter what we think of Haitian politics and corruption, they need our help now.  He'd be best to zip it with his opinions and turn to helping any way he can.  Period.

The other character in all of this morass is Rush Limbaugh.  For full discosure, I have listened to him a few times over the years in an attempt to keep my enemies closer.  He first had a fit that our president reacted to the Haiti earthquake in hours and reacted to the underwear bomber 3 days after the incident. 

I've seen snippets of Rush's tirade against Haiti since, none of which made particular sense to me.  He really sounds to me as if he has gone off the deep end.  Through all his sniping, I have not heard one sentence of decency or sympathy for a suffering people.

It bothers me that these two public figures have no prayers to offer, no description of how they intend to help or direction for those of us moved to tears by the sights Robertson and Limbaugh dismiss.

I have written before about Christianity.  This is an opportunity to show the stuff of which we're made, what makes us special.  Compassion must be our guiding star.  No, we cannot solve all of Haiti's problems.  But we can stifle two hardened hearts in America by being highly critical of the anger and selfishness they spew across our air waves.  They deserve all the shame they receive.