Audio Systems: speaker power rating, cylindrical shape, home speakers

Question
Here is a 'dumb' question:  I have a set of decent home speakers which have a
power rating of 50W RMS, 100Watts max.  I also have a SMALL tuner/cd
player that has a max output power of 20W/CH.  Can I use this tuner/cd to
"power" these speakers, even though the max. power is under the 50W?  
THANKS

Answer
I did answer this question but it seems that the All Pro website deleted it without me knowing.

I said that it wasn't dumb and that consumer power rating are generally bogus and meaningless. You should not have a problem powering those speakers.

However in the real world of true power ratings, under powering a speaker will damage it when you try to play it loud. As long as it performs well below perceivable distortion it will be fine. Conversely; You can overpower a speaker if the current is so high that it's cone is forced beyond it minimum and maximum point of excursion; or if the voice coil gets overheated and either changes its cylindrical shape or burns out