Insult has never been a pleasant word. It means nothing more than speaking or acting in a way that hurts or intend to hurt a person's feelings or dignity.
America is a nation which has been at the centre of world history for some time now, and has, as a matter of fact, been on the bad and good books of so many nations of the world. Although America remains one among independent nations of the world, yet she stands taller and imposingly noticeable at the center of world activities. Every American President, as a result, becomes a world leader, and deserves respect, honour and loyalty not only from the people of America, but from all peoples, the world over.
It will not be out of place to say that the wellness of America is equally that of the whole world. If America catches cold today, the whole world will be infected and suffer the greatest. Therefore, it has become a norm at different quarters all over the world for people to pray for the good of America. In the same hand, many have come to hate America with a passion, thereby making themselves enemies of the world.
There have been incidents of open demonstrations of hatred towards the American nation by some self-styled enemies who throng the streets with placards, burning American flags in the public and daring the world to an open challenge. Apart from nations rising up against America and its government, there have been incidents of individuals and groups fighting targeted wars with the American nation. Example of this is the September 11 terrorists attack on the World Trade Centre, popularly known today as 911. The incident brought to limelight a man who until that time has never been a global figure - Osama Bin Laden. Also, words like Taliban and the likes, came up to assume a somewhat global recognition and hatred.
America tolerated all the insults but not without giving the criminals a cheap publicity worldwide. Along the same line came Saddam Hussein, although a leader and President of his nation, Iraq, who got his fingers burnt in the fires of American hatred, yet he was not a global figure, until the gulf war. As a bad boy he was, Saddam Hussein threatened, challenged and fought America and her leaders. Until his death, he proved unrepentant, stubborn, insulting, pompous, proud and arrogant, and almost become a household name all over the world.
People have since then given a bet with their lives to be relevant, sorry, "irrelevant" by toeing the lazy man's path to popularity. While others are keeping sleepless nights to advance the world technologically, many are busy taking short-cut ways to greatness and popularity. I do not say that everything America must be very good, no, after all I was denied entry visa to America twice on flimsy grounds, when trying to attend a crucial meeting. That did not make me insult America or hate its government, but I am of the opinion that things must be done in order and decently, too. Successively, governments come and go, and it is not all the policies of these governments that everybody agrees with, and that will not make the people to rise up insulting the government in power. That is unacceptable.
George W. Bush, while on his final visit to Iraq as American president, was insulted by a shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist. At the December 14th news conference in Iraq president Bush had to duck twice to avoid being hit by the shoe of the protesting journalist. That stunning act of protest, which though embarrassed Iraqi's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, who was standing beside Bush, made the shoe-thrower a hero around the Arab and Muslim worlds. Though, he claimed to be fighting a just cause, yet the urge to be popular motivated his insultive action. His Prime Minister was in a better position to address whatever national that may be worrying the Youngman, or at best he is a journalist who could have taken advantage of the numerous media outfits to address his matter, except he is a claimant.
His urgent release will surely help to fan the embers of his unrepentant heart to do more evil, his claim of maximum torture in prison notwithstanding. Immediately he was released from prison, his first assignment was to cry wolf insinuating that America is after his life. Has he not had enough? I mean, he survived insulting America and her president together with his own nation and Prime Minister, only to be released from prison in a short while. That is amnesty extraordinary!
Recently too, the American President, Barak Obama was addressing Americans on the need to improve healthcare, but got jolted by a shout initially suspected to come from someone who may have broken Presidential protocol, only to find out it was an insider - a friendly fire, you may say. It was a friendly fire because the bullets actually came from within the camp. Though an African-American, yet Obama won the hottest seat of power in the whole world in a keenly contested election, and as a result, deserves 100% loyalty and respect as a president. The US Representative Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, must be made to understand that his position as a congressman is very sensitive and deserves much respect and honour, not a platform to champion irresponsibility.
To say the truth, Wilson shouted to the President to gain popularity, but what good is there in gaining popularity from the back door? Is America also celebrating mediocrity? That is shameful. As a Pastor, I should take "Wilson" to be a Christian name, and since Christianity teaches total respect to our leaders, Mr. Wilson should kneel before God and ask for forgiveness, even though he had apologized to the President. Also, his fellow congressmen deserve his apology and if need be, he should voluntarily resign his post.
Frankly, America and its government have been under pressure. This is the nation that is built and rooted on the fear of God. Remember the motto: In God We Trust? What then has gone wrong with America? Is America heading for destruction? God forbid. America is a father to the nations, and every father has the problem of multiple children to contend with. Every child that is born in a home does not share the same trait with others. Many of the exhibit certain characters that are strange which tend to threaten the position of the father as a head. Do we throw these children away because they are not very much like us? No. That is where the work of a father lies. A wise father accommodates the excesses of his children at least to a certain level. America is playing the role of a father, training, loving, caring, and supporting, while looking forward for a change to take place.
My people, since these offending children are not alone, having the support of other uninformed, yet to identify people, it is right to remind them that as children, they have the responsibility of respecting not only their parents but those that rule over them. Even the beasts of the earth have leaders, whom they treat with respect. We are human beings who supposed to live above ordinary animals.
Finally, seeking popularity in such an ugly manner belittles our personality. Pride is self-seeking, and should not ruin our life. Let us unite and kill the spirit of pride in us before it destroys us. Our leaders should not be our enemies, and as such, should not be insulted or disgraced. Our leaders are God's representatives on earth, whether political or religious. This is a duty we all are bound to perform - enough of the insults! God bless America.
Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int'l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria. He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.
You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com or, 234 802 8181 829. Website: http://www.firebrandhq.com
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