Pondering the Principles of Proverbs
Thin-skinned people abound.
Imagined insults set them off with no warning.
Simply utter a certain word, and you will not hear the end of the matter.
Imagined insults set them off with no warning.
Simply utter a certain word, and you will not hear the end of the matter.
After you've been around one of these types for a while, you either begin to act as if you are walking on eggshells, or you seek an exit from their presence. You never know exactly what that "certain word" might be, for it seems to change with the wind.
So, even a disciplined person who has learned to control their speech cannot seem to avoid insulting one of these.
In our over-sensitive, highly-intolerant, politically-corrected police state, you have to wonder whether we really are a nation of the perpetually offended.
If that is the case, then, according to the following Proverb, we must ask, where is prudence?
So, even a disciplined person who has learned to control their speech cannot seem to avoid insulting one of these.
In our over-sensitive, highly-intolerant, politically-corrected police state, you have to wonder whether we really are a nation of the perpetually offended.
If that is the case, then, according to the following Proverb, we must ask, where is prudence?
The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
Pro. 12:16 (ESV)
Obviously, we have no shortage of fools.
Here's the rub--these "offenses" usually occur where no offense is/was intended.
(As I write this, my wife is in the kitchen telling me how she discriminated against Arkansas and Chinese chickens at the grocery store earlier today. Thankfully, no one from the anti-discriminatory police were present to hear her remarks. And, she doesn't even know I am writing about this.)
I offer only one of many anecdotes from my own life to illustrate the point I am trying to make.
I was in the checkout line of the grocery store when I noticed a 9-10 year-old African-American male child. [please note the cumbersome language necessary to avoid using a politically incorrect single word]. I noticed that he was very observant, and made comment on such--my intention being to pay a compliment.
"Wow! You're really an observant boy."
"I'm NOT your boy," came the instant retort.
I know my vocabulary is limited, but the difference between a boy and a man should be evident to anyone who has inhabited this planet for a couple of years.
On the social front, anyone even remotely in the public eye may not say anything that might be offensive to a particular group of people.
The context of the remark has no bearing at all on the outcry for someone's job. That person was 'obviously' insensitive to the plight of so many for him/her to have used such a term. They must be punished.
In the interests of full disclosure and to present the other side, I am fully aware that intended offenses occur on a regular basis. I am not trying to water down the case for true awareness of the disparity of social classes in our classless society. Blacks, gays, Jews, welfare-recipients, mentally disabled, Democrats, and even tall white boys like me suffer from the insults of those who do not understand us.
"Fool" is not a common word in usage today except as a verb of deception.
The wise man, Solomon, said that anyone who is easily insulted is a fool.
The definition for "fool" from the freedictionary.com is given as:
1. One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding.
2. One who acts unwisely on a given occasion
Applied carefully, we can see that anyone who is easily insulted these days fits the definition as given.
It is wise, however, to notice the contrast given in this proverb:
the prudent ignores an insult.
Why can we not simply ignore an insult?
In this day and age, when "it is all about me," an insult goes to the core of my belief system.
Is it not interesting that Christians are among this group of those who are easily insulted?
Practical atheism showing up once again.
All comments, questions, and/or criticisms are welcome. They will be posted immediately without the necessity of approval.
If you haven't already, sign up to have these studies FREELY delivered directly to your inbox. The link is just above the picture of the ugly guy who writes this stuff. Your e-mail address is safe with me, and will NEVER be given, sold, rented, or otherwise distributed to anyone else. Nor will I use it to solicit you by any other means. You will have the option to opt out of receiving the e-mails with each and every posting.
Here's the rub--these "offenses" usually occur where no offense is/was intended.
(As I write this, my wife is in the kitchen telling me how she discriminated against Arkansas and Chinese chickens at the grocery store earlier today. Thankfully, no one from the anti-discriminatory police were present to hear her remarks. And, she doesn't even know I am writing about this.)
I offer only one of many anecdotes from my own life to illustrate the point I am trying to make.
I was in the checkout line of the grocery store when I noticed a 9-10 year-old African-American male child. [please note the cumbersome language necessary to avoid using a politically incorrect single word]. I noticed that he was very observant, and made comment on such--my intention being to pay a compliment.
"Wow! You're really an observant boy."
"I'm NOT your boy," came the instant retort.
I know my vocabulary is limited, but the difference between a boy and a man should be evident to anyone who has inhabited this planet for a couple of years.
On the social front, anyone even remotely in the public eye may not say anything that might be offensive to a particular group of people.
The context of the remark has no bearing at all on the outcry for someone's job. That person was 'obviously' insensitive to the plight of so many for him/her to have used such a term. They must be punished.
In the interests of full disclosure and to present the other side, I am fully aware that intended offenses occur on a regular basis. I am not trying to water down the case for true awareness of the disparity of social classes in our classless society. Blacks, gays, Jews, welfare-recipients, mentally disabled, Democrats, and even tall white boys like me suffer from the insults of those who do not understand us.
"Fool" is not a common word in usage today except as a verb of deception.
The wise man, Solomon, said that anyone who is easily insulted is a fool.
The definition for "fool" from the freedictionary.com is given as:
1. One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding.
2. One who acts unwisely on a given occasion
Applied carefully, we can see that anyone who is easily insulted these days fits the definition as given.
It is wise, however, to notice the contrast given in this proverb:
the prudent ignores an insult.
Why can we not simply ignore an insult?
In this day and age, when "it is all about me," an insult goes to the core of my belief system.
Is it not interesting that Christians are among this group of those who are easily insulted?
Practical atheism showing up once again.
All comments, questions, and/or criticisms are welcome. They will be posted immediately without the necessity of approval.
If you haven't already, sign up to have these studies FREELY delivered directly to your inbox. The link is just above the picture of the ugly guy who writes this stuff. Your e-mail address is safe with me, and will NEVER be given, sold, rented, or otherwise distributed to anyone else. Nor will I use it to solicit you by any other means. You will have the option to opt out of receiving the e-mails with each and every posting.
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