Cacophemism
13 September 2024
Leslie Fong, a former news editor in Singapore penned this:
“I just learned a new word after reading a long article about how the US is waging economic war against China. And I can’t wait to share it with my friends here. It’s called cacophemism.
A cacophemism is a harsh word pinned on something good to make it look bad.
To economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson, when the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently accused China of over-production of clean energy goods like solar panels and electric vehicles, she was using a cacophemism.
Instead of applauding China for making solar panels and other useful stuff that poor countries can afford, she said China was flooding the world market with products which Western manufacturers couldn’t match in terms of pricing. So, stop exporting, she lectured the Chinese, because you are driving us out of business.
Cacophemism indeed!”
Such are the times, cacophemism is widespread in society today, especially in the media. What is good and sensible is often mocked and judged harshly, while the woke congratulate themselves for being smart and right about everything, cancelling those who do not agree.
More Trade Wars
As for China, one thing for sure, she is not dumb and will retaliate… There will be no end to this trade war, as they will all seek alliances to slap each other with more tariffs and protectionism. Which will make life, which is already hard for many, even harder.
God is not blind or deaf too. Psalms 10 says:
2In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
14But you, God… [will]
15 … call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
that would not otherwise be found out.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
For some years now, God has warned us about the mouth, about being destroyed if we are not careful with the words we utter. And in this psalm, a similar warning for nations – they can be wiped off the face of this earth too.
Prayer for China and USA
Strangely, after this, I felt the Lord wanting to talk about China. I went to look up old notes from the book I read in 2021 (The Story of China by Michael Wood). Then I looked up more about President Xi Jinping. After his father was purged during the Cultural Revolution and was sentenced to hard labour, Xi was exiled to the rural parts when he was a teenager. He had a hard time there. The womenfolk suffered much too - his mother was forced to publicly denounce her husband whilst his half-sister, unable to endure the persecution, killed herself.
My heart suddenly felt his pain. And I started to pray for him, that he may come to know and taste the love of God for him and for China, whom the Lord has sent us for many years now to light up torches and to bless the land. My China members akin their country to a lost child, who has witnessed too much bloodshed and loss in history, crying out pitifully for his mother.
Lord, I pray for the USA too, a nation greatly loved and highly favoured by You. The devil has wriggled itself into her and caused many to stumble. While there are many who worship and love You, their leaders have fallen to the charms and seduction of Mammon and Babylon, in business, in governance and in your house. Have mercy on your beloved ones Lord, the remnants who are crying out to You for deliverance. May a generation of capable and God fearing leadership arise now to take back ownership of this land. Give them the humility and wisdom to surround themselves with righteous counsel and processes to guard them and to call them to account, lest they succumb to the lure and seduction of the evil one.
In Jesus’ name I humbly and fearfully pray. Amen.
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