This past week, two separate events transpired that brought to mind different ideas that are somewhat akin to each other, namely, Belittle and Denigrate. Belittle is: “To represent or speak of as contemptibly small or unimportant; disparage; To cause to seem less than another or little…” Denigration is defined as: “to attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame; disparage; belittle…”
Two illustrations of this phenomena occurred this past week. One was on a telecast – Britains Got Talent 2009, and involved a 47 year old woman from Scotland. The body language of the three-person panel and many in the audience started out derisive and condescending. Obviously, it was a judgment based on external factors rather than the internal talent or ability of the person. However, Susan Boyle almost instantly converted the audience and panel to look past the external and to accept the ability and performance. As a result, this segment on You-Tube has now passed 34 million viewings. She has been on Larry King’s telecast and will be on Oprah Winfrey’s program soon. You owe it to yourself to view this emotional performance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY. This is an instance of triumph as the derision, ridicule and belittling was stifled by the talent displayed.
Denigration was on full exhibit and display when President Obama attended the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobaga this past weekend. The report of the Summit – Bloomberg.Com - states: “Latin American leaders railed against the U.S. during President Barack Obama’s first trip to the region, turning what was intended to mark a new direction in relations into a history lesson that chastised “Yankee troop” interventions and U.S.-dictated economic policies. Obama arrived at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday promising to “listen and learn” from regional leaders. He got an earful. In the weekend’s first speeches, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner voiced grievances on issues ranging from the U.S. drug war to American support for counterinsurgency movements of the 1980s. Both urged Obama to end the 47-year-old trade embargo against Cuba, the only country in the Americas excluded from the 34-nation summit. “For many years, there have been traumatic relations,” Fernandez said. “I want you to know, Obama, that this is in no way a reproach against you. It’s simply an exercise to look back at what happened.” In addition, Jake Tapper, Senior White House Correspondent for ABC News reports: Chavez Gifts Obama With Book That Assails U.S. for Exploiting Latin America. “At President Obama's meeting with the heads of South American countries this morning, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stood, walked over to him, and presented him with a copy of "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent" by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano. Obama politely posed for a photograph with Chavez, shook his hand, and accepted the gift. Later, Hugo Chavez, in a 50 minute verbal attack, besmirched this nation and disrespected its leader.
Consider these things with me - - - to be belittled, denigrated, ridiculed is not easy to accept or endure. All have a craving, need, desire to be accepted and appreciated by someone. One could wish our President would have protested in some way to these accusations and verbal attacks. However, one could also hope he was following a Biblical model and mandate - it’s doubtful he was. A classic Biblical example of denigration, belittling, ridicule is shared in II Samuel 16:5 through 14. Shimei of the house of King Saul is filled with hatred and despises King David. He hurls insults, stones and dust at King David and those with him. While David has the ability and the mighty men who could have silenced this man, David’s tact was: “…Leave him alone, and let him curse…It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today. So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed…and threw stones…and flung dust. And the king…arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.” These last phrases should be uplifting for us – “the king…arrived weary at the Jordan and there he refreshed himself…” The time of refreshment will always come to those who trust in the Lord, and who will walk by faith and not by sight. There is rest for the weary!
Two illustrations of this phenomena occurred this past week. One was on a telecast – Britains Got Talent 2009, and involved a 47 year old woman from Scotland. The body language of the three-person panel and many in the audience started out derisive and condescending. Obviously, it was a judgment based on external factors rather than the internal talent or ability of the person. However, Susan Boyle almost instantly converted the audience and panel to look past the external and to accept the ability and performance. As a result, this segment on You-Tube has now passed 34 million viewings. She has been on Larry King’s telecast and will be on Oprah Winfrey’s program soon. You owe it to yourself to view this emotional performance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY. This is an instance of triumph as the derision, ridicule and belittling was stifled by the talent displayed.
Denigration was on full exhibit and display when President Obama attended the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobaga this past weekend. The report of the Summit – Bloomberg.Com - states: “Latin American leaders railed against the U.S. during President Barack Obama’s first trip to the region, turning what was intended to mark a new direction in relations into a history lesson that chastised “Yankee troop” interventions and U.S.-dictated economic policies. Obama arrived at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday promising to “listen and learn” from regional leaders. He got an earful. In the weekend’s first speeches, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner voiced grievances on issues ranging from the U.S. drug war to American support for counterinsurgency movements of the 1980s. Both urged Obama to end the 47-year-old trade embargo against Cuba, the only country in the Americas excluded from the 34-nation summit. “For many years, there have been traumatic relations,” Fernandez said. “I want you to know, Obama, that this is in no way a reproach against you. It’s simply an exercise to look back at what happened.” In addition, Jake Tapper, Senior White House Correspondent for ABC News reports: Chavez Gifts Obama With Book That Assails U.S. for Exploiting Latin America. “At President Obama's meeting with the heads of South American countries this morning, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stood, walked over to him, and presented him with a copy of "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent" by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano. Obama politely posed for a photograph with Chavez, shook his hand, and accepted the gift. Later, Hugo Chavez, in a 50 minute verbal attack, besmirched this nation and disrespected its leader.
Consider these things with me - - - to be belittled, denigrated, ridiculed is not easy to accept or endure. All have a craving, need, desire to be accepted and appreciated by someone. One could wish our President would have protested in some way to these accusations and verbal attacks. However, one could also hope he was following a Biblical model and mandate - it’s doubtful he was. A classic Biblical example of denigration, belittling, ridicule is shared in II Samuel 16:5 through 14. Shimei of the house of King Saul is filled with hatred and despises King David. He hurls insults, stones and dust at King David and those with him. While David has the ability and the mighty men who could have silenced this man, David’s tact was: “…Leave him alone, and let him curse…It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today. So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed…and threw stones…and flung dust. And the king…arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.” These last phrases should be uplifting for us – “the king…arrived weary at the Jordan and there he refreshed himself…” The time of refreshment will always come to those who trust in the Lord, and who will walk by faith and not by sight. There is rest for the weary!
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