When the world hates, who is it really hating?

After the game
The Daily Jot

Daily reporting and analysis of current events from a biblical and prophetic perspective.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010


When the world hates, who is it really hating?

I just am not getting it. What is wrong with the Palin family? Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, agreed to participate in season 11 of Dancing with the Stars. Bristol drove her pick up truck five days from Alaska to Hollywood and spent three months learning how to dance--something she readily admits is not her forte'. Dancing with the Stars is a Hollywood reality show where noted public figures pair up with professional ballroom dancers and compete for a trophy. Part of the score comes from a panel of three judges and part of the score comes from people voting.

Although her dancing lacked a certain amount of charisma, Bristol kept getting the votes and ended up knocking out some pretty good dancers on her way to the finals. In fact, some news stories are saying that because of Bristol, Dancing with the Stars received its highest viewer ratings ever. So its all positive, right? Well, not so fast. Bristol's winning despite being not so good at dancing was not well received by some in the public. Bristol, a 20 year old who is an advocate for teen abstinence after having a baby out of wedlock, received death threats instead of encouragement. Somebody sent a powdery substance first thought to be anthrax to the studios. There were bomb sniffing dogs and high security at the finals.

All the while, Bristol's adoring family was watching her and encouraging her on this journey to learn how to dance. Sarah and her husband Todd were seen encouraging Bristol like any parents would. But the news media and gossip mongers kept wagging their venomous tongues, making snide remarks, ridiculing Bristol and her mother, and running them down at every juncture. I do not know the Palin's. I only know that Sarah Palin seems cheerful, energetic, positive, and seems to have a lot of common sense. I also know that her daughter Bristol tried her hardest to learn how to dance. And if the American public didn't think so, she would not have been anywhere near the finals. They voted for her.

Yet there is an ilk of Americana that was exposed during this reality show of which we should not be too proud. The Palin's call them the "haters" because they hate anything the family does. From Sarah not aborting a down syndrome baby to Bristol having one out of wedlock, the haters hated. We as Americans should learn how to disagree without abandoning the natural affections that bond us together as a people. The Palin's are hated because they take a stand for their beliefs, which often reflect Christianity. In John 15:18, Jesus says, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." And isn't that the case? The world hates Jesus and that may be why many people like the Palin's are hated, too.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry