This age old phrase has been around for a long time!
Retribution or retaliation, and exchange of insults or attacks. It evolved from ‘tip for tap’ a middle English expression meaning blow for blow. ‘tit’ is an old word for tug or jerk. Dating back to 1466 when Charles, Duke of Orleans used this phrase, ‘tip for tap’, in a book of poems he wrote while held prisoner. Then again John Heywood in 1556 published a book, and in it was the new phrase, ‘tit for tat’, referring to a dialogue between the parable’s title, “The Spider and the Flie.” The whole work was about a spider, (who had a fine web in a window) and the fly the web had caught. They bantered back and forth about the ills of the church and state, until the maid came and cleaned the window, sending them both to their demise.
Does this parable remind you of anything? How foolish the people we have entrusted our future with are behaving! I am profoundly dissappointed in our political arena right now. This type of action and reaction have gone on since the beginning of organized government, but the media have fanned the flames to incite a firestorm. What is anyone benefitting from this behaviour? What do they hope to accomplish, except to be hoisted on their own petard! One Senator while on a TV talk show, said he had no relationship with the President. Well go back to capitol hill, quit doing speaking engagements and talk shows and do you job! He also said he didn’t know we had troops in Africa. They have been there 4 years, I knew, why didn’t he?
I seem to have slipped into the very thing of which I am appalled. Sorry. I am just tired of the rhetoric that is coming out of Washington, which I might add is why this man was elected President. We are all tired of this, ‘tit for tat,’ crap!
Get busy and do your jobs! Is that so much to ask for your exorbitant salary, amazing retirement package, and phenomenal health care package? WE the people have spoken at the election, and like the maid, did some house cleaning. And believe me, we can do more!
As parents we need to teach our children to never be reduced to name calling that only leaves each side feeling bad. Teach them that, “vengeance is mine saith the LORD.” It is hard to teach young children to love their enemies, but you can teach them that name calling and bullying only comes from fear and insecurities. Maybe then your children can at least feel sorry for the perpetrators.
We as authors are the first ones to point out the pointlessness of this kind of action. And in the early day were often incarcerated for it. We now have the freedom to bring it into the light, as long as we are not swept up in the fray.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Romans 12:19
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:19
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luke 6:27
A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent [man] covereth shame.
Proverbs 12:16
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Proverbs 20:22
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing
1 Peter 3:9