Heaping Burning Coals

Proverbs 25:21-22 reads:

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Paul quotes the proverb in Romans 12:20. Two interpretations of these passages are often given. One is the literal English reading: being kind to one's enemies is a more poignant revenge than being vengeful. The other interpretation is that heaping burning coals on someone's head is a good thing; apparently people carried coals (in a container) on their heads from place to place so they could light a fire when they got there. This interpretation makes much better sense in the context and spirit of the passages. President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has apparently been taking the latter interpretation to heart. His well-considered response to Pat Robertson's moronic assassination innuendo is to heap heating oil on the heads of America's poor. Reuters reports:

The offer, made after populist Chavez held talks with U.S. civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, would represent 10 percent of the 660,000 bpd of refined products processed by Citgo. The deals would cut consumer costs by direct sales... "We are going to direct as much as 10 percent of the production, that means 66,000 barrels, without intermediaries, to poor communities, hospitals, religious communities, schools," Chavez told reporters at a press conference.

All we can say is, Thanks Hugo, and keep up the good work. Hat tip to Drudge.