Last year the Queen rolled out the red carpet to warmly receive the Chinese delegation on their state visit to the UK. Although the reports at the time suggested things went smoothly, this was contradicted by the Queenâs comments, which were overheard this week, as Her Majesty agreed with the commander suggesting the visit was âquite a testing timeâ. The Queen stated of the Chinese delegation that, âthey were very rude to the ambassadorâ. The Queen referred to the Chinese delegation behavior as âextraordinaryâ, after they had walked out on one meeting with Commander Lucy DâOrsi and her Ambassador Barbara Woodward.
The Queenâs overheard comments came the same week as Prime Minister David Cameronâs âgaffâ regarding the Nigerian and Afghanistan governments being, as he referred to them as, âfantastically corruptâ. Interestingly, the Nigerian President agreed with the statement, with members of his government demanding the return of funds that had been deposited within British banks.
The first point pertaining to corruption, is that corruption in itself does not impact the beneficiary, but also leaves an ocean of victims, who as a result of corruption remain under-educated, displaced and financially barren, as a result of heinous greed.
However, the corruption that Cameron spoke about, and the Nigerian government also agreed, was based upon the fact that funds misappropriated needs to have a resting place, which in this case was in the British banks. Corruption has to be facilitated, and where there is a love of money, there comes a failure in sight where blind eyes turned when scrupulous sums of money are deposited without question or rejection.
John the Baptist came out of the wilderness, preaching against corruption that was taking place in Israel, calling the perpetrators âden of vipersâ.
In regards to the Queen and her gaff, the issue of hospitality was brought to light and often times we can abuse our position of hospitality which in turn undermines everything our host has done for us. Equally so, our host can undermine us his or her guests and in so doing cause them to feel undervalued and insulted.
What is important to remember is that corruption destroys lives and embodies evil. And unreasonable guests belittle the efforts of the host. This week, if faced with the temptation of corruption, aim to resist it; and if a host or a guest, be mutually kind and receptive.