A Parable

Once upon a time, there was a village in a land ruled by an evil king. The people in the village were very unhappy because the king’s men took almost everything they had, leaving them just enough to survive. The village sat on the banks of a mighty river which ran through the kingdom. Legend said at the kingdom’s border the river continued into a vast desert land. Some said it eventually dried up, deep in the desert, swallowed by sand.

But the villagers were so unhappy with their lot, they decided to build a raft and follow the river wherever it took them. So one dark night when the king’s men were asleep they crowded onto the raft and set off downstream. After many days, the land on both sides became arid and desolate; they knew the evil king was behind them. But the land was so barren they kept sailing.

Finally, after many more days, sunrise found them in a lush land. Someone yelled “Look at the right bank. There are mountains and forests and herds of elk to hunt. Row hard for the right shore.” Almost at the same time, someone else yelled “Row to the left. Look at the beautiful farm land and cows just waiting to be killed.”

Soon everyone was on one side or the other rowing hard, but neither side could outrow the other. The raft continued downstream. Soon arguments began and fighting broke out. They were so busy fighting, nobody saw the waterfall.

I have watched America’s politics closely for almost fifty years. One thing I know for sure; every administration in my lifetime has lied to me. One other thing I know. Those cheerleaders who screech their disgust for their opponents while ignoring the shortcomings of their own champions are either hypocritically blind to fact or simply not very sharp.

Christopher Manley