Chutzpah is a Yiddish Word meaning: “unbelievable gall; insolence; audacity.” Some of the synonyms are: “insolence, impertinence, impudence - the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties.” This idea is encapsulated in the novel – THE UGLY AMERICAN. “The 1958 novel, takes place in a fictional nation called Sarkhan (an imaginary country in Southeast Asia that somewhat resembles Burma or Thailand, but which is meant to allude to Vietnam) as its setting and includes several real people, most of whose names have been changed. The book describes the United States losing struggle against Communism because of innate arrogance and the failure to understand the local culture.”
Innate Arrogance can be seen currently as a side-issue in the Health Care Provisions. It cannot be called a debate inasmuch as some people are prevented from the discussions about this major legislation. Even though most people working on this legislation have not read the 2,000 page proposal, it appears that the Senior Citizen is observed as being the major cost factor in Health Care Disbursements. Someone responded to the Senior Citizen Generation in the following: ”Senior Citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others. However, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took: The MELODY out of music; The PRIDE out of appearance; The COURTESY out of driving; The ROMANCE out of love; The COMMITMENT out of marriage; The RESPONSIBILITY out of parenthood; The TOGETHERNESS out of the family; The LEARNING out of education; The SERVICE out of patriotism; The GOLDEN RULE from rulers; The NATIVITY SCENE out of cities; The CIVILITY out of behavior; The REFINEMENT out of language; The DEDICATION out of employment; The PRUDENCE out of spending; The AMBITION out of achievement; or GOD out of government and school. We certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE from personal relationships and interactions with others!! We do understand THE MEANING OF PATRIOTISM, and remember those who have fought and died for our country.
In the novel, THE UGLY AMERICAN, an observation is made: “…a Burmese journalist says: For some reason, the [American] people I meet in my country are not the same as the ones I knew in the United States. A mysterious change seems to come over Americans when they go to a foreign land. They isolate themselves socially. They live pretentiously. They're loud and ostentatious. Ultimately, the phrase ugly Americans comes to be applied to Americans behaving in this manner…” It’s interesting how pretentious (claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified) and unprincipled behavior surfaces when an individual enters another culture or context.
It will also be interesting to see how the plight of 10 Baptist Missionaries will unfold in Haiti. MSNBC reported yesterday: “Ten U.S. missionaries in Haiti were charged Thursday with child kidnapping and criminal association for allegedly trying to take children illegally out of the earthquake-hit country. After announcing the charges, Haitian Deputy Prosecutor Jean Ferge Joseph told the 10 their case was being sent to an investigative judge. That judge can free you but he can also continue to hold you for further proceedings, the deputy prosecutor told the five men and five women in a hearing…” The statement by the 10 is: “We didn't know what we were doing was illegal. We did not have any intention to violate the law. But now we understand it's a crime…” Romans 13:1-7 includes these words to all followers of Christ in all cultures: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad…” One has a responsibility to ascertain what the applicable laws are in a country or culture before an action is taken. This is not debatable nor are alternative behaviors acceptable. I Peter 2:13-20 is also a reminder to be submissive to governing authorities. Consider these things with me!
Innate Arrogance can be seen currently as a side-issue in the Health Care Provisions. It cannot be called a debate inasmuch as some people are prevented from the discussions about this major legislation. Even though most people working on this legislation have not read the 2,000 page proposal, it appears that the Senior Citizen is observed as being the major cost factor in Health Care Disbursements. Someone responded to the Senior Citizen Generation in the following: ”Senior Citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others. However, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took: The MELODY out of music; The PRIDE out of appearance; The COURTESY out of driving; The ROMANCE out of love; The COMMITMENT out of marriage; The RESPONSIBILITY out of parenthood; The TOGETHERNESS out of the family; The LEARNING out of education; The SERVICE out of patriotism; The GOLDEN RULE from rulers; The NATIVITY SCENE out of cities; The CIVILITY out of behavior; The REFINEMENT out of language; The DEDICATION out of employment; The PRUDENCE out of spending; The AMBITION out of achievement; or GOD out of government and school. We certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE from personal relationships and interactions with others!! We do understand THE MEANING OF PATRIOTISM, and remember those who have fought and died for our country.
In the novel, THE UGLY AMERICAN, an observation is made: “…a Burmese journalist says: For some reason, the [American] people I meet in my country are not the same as the ones I knew in the United States. A mysterious change seems to come over Americans when they go to a foreign land. They isolate themselves socially. They live pretentiously. They're loud and ostentatious. Ultimately, the phrase ugly Americans comes to be applied to Americans behaving in this manner…” It’s interesting how pretentious (claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified) and unprincipled behavior surfaces when an individual enters another culture or context.
It will also be interesting to see how the plight of 10 Baptist Missionaries will unfold in Haiti. MSNBC reported yesterday: “Ten U.S. missionaries in Haiti were charged Thursday with child kidnapping and criminal association for allegedly trying to take children illegally out of the earthquake-hit country. After announcing the charges, Haitian Deputy Prosecutor Jean Ferge Joseph told the 10 their case was being sent to an investigative judge. That judge can free you but he can also continue to hold you for further proceedings, the deputy prosecutor told the five men and five women in a hearing…” The statement by the 10 is: “We didn't know what we were doing was illegal. We did not have any intention to violate the law. But now we understand it's a crime…” Romans 13:1-7 includes these words to all followers of Christ in all cultures: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad…” One has a responsibility to ascertain what the applicable laws are in a country or culture before an action is taken. This is not debatable nor are alternative behaviors acceptable. I Peter 2:13-20 is also a reminder to be submissive to governing authorities. Consider these things with me!
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