(NOTE: This Fable was the first story published here when we started this popular blog almost four years ago. The story is so well liked and because it is still applicable to life in the Middle East today, we are re-running it now once again. The story is the same, but with a few minor revisions and corrections to the original. Enjoy both a good laugh and appreciate the sincere underlying realism intended by this Fable!)
"THE FABLE OF MUSTAFA."
HOW "MUSTAFA," THE FARMER, GOT
"HIS ASS"
IN GEAR!
Once Upon A Time,
as they say in the Fairy-Tale-Industry,
there was a farmer whose name was
"Mustafa."
Now why his mother named him that, is a
whole different fairy-tale for another time!
Suffice it to say "Mustafa" was his name, and
as he grew up, he became one of the best
farmers in his land. He grew the best of
everything. No matter what he touched
it turned to Gold! When he took his produce
to market, it always fetched the best price!
"Mustafa" was known far and wide as someone
to admire.
As "Mustafa" became more prosperous, he
acquired animals to help him plow and
cultivate his land and carry his produce to
market. Most of the time, he chose well, and
his animals served him without complaint. He
fed them what they needed, tended to their
other needs, treated them as his friends
and named them all.
other needs, treated them as his friends
and named them all.
Finally, he bought an "ass" to help him haul his
produce cart to market! Unfortunately,
the "ass" and "Mustafa" never seemed to
bond. You see, the "ass" suffered from a bad
case of "STUBBORN-ISM" and "Mustafa"
soon developed a bad case of "ANTI-
STUBBORN-ISM" so the two became
adversaries instead of friends! As time went
along, people would ask him what he named
his "ass," "Mustafa" would hang his head and
say he did not know what to call him. Finally,
when someone asked about the "ass," they
would just refer to him as
"His Ass,"
and the name stuck! It was always, "How is
'His Ass' today?!" "Mustafa" would shake his
head and say, "'His Ass' is suffering from
'STUBBORN-ISM' again!"
One fair day when "Mustafa" really needed
"His Ass" to haul the cart to market, the
animal refused to budge! He closed his eyes and
dozed on the spot. No amount of pleading,
swatting, kicking or screaming would get the
cussed creature to co-operate! He just stood
there! Finally, at wits end, "Mustafa" buried
his head in his hands and began to weep, "Woe
is me, how am I going to get my produce to
market when I cannot get "His Ass" in gear?!"
People were sympathetic to his plight, but
none could offer any meaningful advice.
As "Mustafa" wrung his hands. a humble little
Bumble Bee happened along and landed on
"Mustafa's" shoulder. "Why lamentest thee so
much, 'Mustafa'?" asked the Bee. And
"Mustafa" proceeded to pour out his soul. "I
see," said the bumble Bee, "perhaps I can be of
some help!" "Mustafa" was touched, but
merely said, "And how can a humble creature
like you hope to deal with a beast like 'His
Ass'"? "Well," said the Bumble Bee, "one
never knows til one tries!" So the Bee buzzed off
and made his presence known to "His Ass."
After buzzing around the animal's face, "His
Ass" opened one eye to see what was
disturbing his siesta. He found the Bumble Bee
very annoying. He quickly snapped his teeth
at the creature and the Bee buzzed out of
range. In so doing, he inadvertently took his
first step! The Bee landed in an ear and bit
"His Ass" and then flew back to the animal's
face! The response was as expected: "His Ass"
took several steps and snapped at the Bee
again! Finally, he realized he was moving and
suddenly went back to his "STUBBORN-ISM"
again! The Bumble Bee tired of the game and
decided to be more forceful. He buzzed around
the backside of "His Ass" and bit him squarely
on the tenderest part of his butt! "His Ass" let
out a loud lament as the Bumble Bee continued
to attack his dignity! "His Ass" tried his best
to get away, and the harder he tried, the faster
he went and poor "Mustafa" had to hang on
for dear life!
Well, good people, to make a long story short
"Mustafa" the farmer got "His Ass" in gear
and they made it to the market in time to sell
all the produce without mishap.
When it came time to go home, the busy
Bumble Bee once again prodded "His Ass"
and pretty soon he trotted along like he was
supposed to. From that day forward, all
"Mustafa" had to do was tell "His Ass" he
would send for the bee and there was no more
trouble!
And when people wanted to know how
"Mustafa" managed to accomplished it all, he
sang the praises of his little buzzing friend who
knew how to deal with a bad case of
"Stubborn-ism!" To show his gratefulness,
"Mustafa" always made sure he had a crop of
flowers on his farm for his little friend.
The Moral of my Story, Good People, is
sometimes the easiest solution to a complicated
problem is a simple one!
Can you imagine with me for just a minute how
easy it would be to restore peace in the Middle
East if this story's principle was applied?
Just substitute "Semitism" for "Stubborn-ism"
and "Anti-Semitism" for "Anti-Stubbornism"
and Israel for "His Ass" and the
United States of America for the Bumble Bee!
Wouldn't it be amazing and inspiring
to see the results?!
Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst
Copyright 2015
The Cholla Cactus in Full Bloom!
One fair day when "Mustafa" really needed
"His Ass" to haul the cart to market, the
animal refused to budge! He closed his eyes and
dozed on the spot. No amount of pleading,
swatting, kicking or screaming would get the
cussed creature to co-operate! He just stood
there! Finally, at wits end, "Mustafa" buried
his head in his hands and began to weep, "Woe
is me, how am I going to get my produce to
market when I cannot get "His Ass" in gear?!"
People were sympathetic to his plight, but
none could offer any meaningful advice.
As "Mustafa" wrung his hands. a humble little
Bumble Bee happened along and landed on
"Mustafa's" shoulder. "Why lamentest thee so
much, 'Mustafa'?" asked the Bee. And
"Mustafa" proceeded to pour out his soul. "I
see," said the bumble Bee, "perhaps I can be of
some help!" "Mustafa" was touched, but
merely said, "And how can a humble creature
like you hope to deal with a beast like 'His
Ass'"? "Well," said the Bumble Bee, "one
never knows til one tries!" So the Bee buzzed off
and made his presence known to "His Ass."
After buzzing around the animal's face, "His
Ass" opened one eye to see what was
disturbing his siesta. He found the Bumble Bee
very annoying. He quickly snapped his teeth
at the creature and the Bee buzzed out of
range. In so doing, he inadvertently took his
first step! The Bee landed in an ear and bit
"His Ass" and then flew back to the animal's
face! The response was as expected: "His Ass"
took several steps and snapped at the Bee
again! Finally, he realized he was moving and
suddenly went back to his "STUBBORN-ISM"
again! The Bumble Bee tired of the game and
decided to be more forceful. He buzzed around
the backside of "His Ass" and bit him squarely
on the tenderest part of his butt! "His Ass" let
out a loud lament as the Bumble Bee continued
to attack his dignity! "His Ass" tried his best
to get away, and the harder he tried, the faster
he went and poor "Mustafa" had to hang on
for dear life!
Well, good people, to make a long story short
"Mustafa" the farmer got "His Ass" in gear
and they made it to the market in time to sell
all the produce without mishap.
When it came time to go home, the busy
Bumble Bee once again prodded "His Ass"
and pretty soon he trotted along like he was
supposed to. From that day forward, all
"Mustafa" had to do was tell "His Ass" he
would send for the bee and there was no more
trouble!
And when people wanted to know how
"Mustafa" managed to accomplished it all, he
sang the praises of his little buzzing friend who
knew how to deal with a bad case of
"Stubborn-ism!" To show his gratefulness,
"Mustafa" always made sure he had a crop of
flowers on his farm for his little friend.
The Moral of my Story, Good People, is
sometimes the easiest solution to a complicated
problem is a simple one!
Can you imagine with me for just a minute how
easy it would be to restore peace in the Middle
East if this story's principle was applied?
Just substitute "Semitism" for "Stubborn-ism"
and "Anti-Semitism" for "Anti-Stubbornism"
and Israel for "His Ass" and the
United States of America for the Bumble Bee!
Wouldn't it be amazing and inspiring
to see the results?!
Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst
Copyright 2015
The Cholla Cactus in Full Bloom!
* * * * * *
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