“The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand.” (Hosea 9:7 NIV)
During Victorian times, dunce caps were a form of punishment for school children who refused to learn. Unruly students were often made to stand in the corner wearing conical hats, labeled with the letter “D” on them. The teachers hoped to make the students think about their behavior while suffering through the humiliation.
Up until recently, my country has been at the top of the class--privileged in many ways. Things have slipped. A culture of resentment has led to indifference for the plight of those who are deemed different. Social exclusion, divisiveness, and hate have become commonplace. Our reluctance to learn from mistakes has earned us a dunce cap labeled with a capital “D”. It’s embarrassing and sad to see other countries point and laugh at our humiliation. Whether it will bring about any changes in perspective and attitude is yet to be seen.
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