A FORM OF ARROGANCE

by Cynthia Buhain-Baello
October 10, 2008


The United States elections is top news, not just in the homefront but also around the world.

The latest political debate was shown here in Asia before thousands of viewers who got a brief glimpse of both candidates and more or less got a revelation into the character of those
vying for the US Presidency.

In the course of the discussion, one candidate showed his utter contempt
towards his opponent by not even looking at him in the eye. It had a very disturbing effect, particularly for us who have not practiced such behavior nor imparted it to our children.

When a person does not look at you when he is speaking or does not look
when you ARE speaking, he is giving you an insult. It is the highest form of arrogance and shows that the person has little regard for the one to whom he is speaking to. It reflects what is in his heart and it is his way of telling you that he does not regard you as a
person or a human being worthy of respect.

When I came home from a speaking engagement abroad, I was on board a foreign airline and was on the economy class. The airline personnel were from the country where I just came from for the visit.

When it was time for coffee/tea to be served, I asked the personnel if what I got was coffee or tea. The person ignored me completely and did not
look at me, maybe because I was Asian.
I repeated my question but the response was the same, like I was not there or did not exist. That was the first time
I experienced that treatment, and it made me really feel disgusted over the attitude of people who do it.

For me it is not only a sign of disrespect, but a form of pride and arrogance. When I give some coins to
beggars in the streets, I look them in the eye because they are people too.
No matter how lowly the condition of a person is, we should look at them and treat them as human beings, the way we would want to be treated.

I remember Princess Diana who, when she visited a home for the physically challenged, talked with a blind man- but she looked at him and gave him her attention as he spoke, as though he could see her. Such great respect from someone of a very high position is most heartwarming and drew much admiration from those who witnessed it.

In contrast, acts of pride and arrogance produce in us an unsettling emotion that almost makes us want to throw up. To witness it from someone
aspiring for the highest position in the United States is altogether scary.
Imagine that man in power.





"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate PRIDE and ARROGANCE, evil behavior and perverse speech."

Proverbs 8:13




"A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult."

Proverbs 12:16