Aesop's Fables

[mbarrick]

Just a little note about Aesop's Fables: They were written sometime around 3000 years ago in ancient Greece-- where sheep herding was a common way of life. The animal that eats your flock before you can is going to be the bad guy. Nonetheless, "The Wolf and the Lamb" is a parable that, for example, could apply to Iraq:

"I will invade because you will not allow the weapons inspectors."
"I have allowed the inspections."
"I will invade because the inspectors will find weapons you are not allowed to have."
"The inspectors have found no weapons."
"I know you have the weapons because I sold them to you."
"I destroyed them."
"I will invade because you are in league with my other enemy."
"Your other enemy loathes me."
"I will invade to free your people because you are not fit to rule them."
"You placed me in power."
...etc.
Any excuse will serve a tyrant.

It's not about wolves and sheep, it's a parable. Because it is allegorical what you make of it depends on context and how you want to see it, but it's not made up, it's three millenia old. I see proof that there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

[opulence-9.livejournal.com]

yes I was aware of that, .... I'm also quite aware of why wolves might be the bad guys as we spent a bit of time studying all that crap and where all these came from but after a childhood of force feeding by church elder hypocrites - no thank you

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

That particular variation on the Wolf and the Lamb is not the best telling, by any means. There is another one (http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/cgi/aesop1.cgi?4&TheWolfandtheLamb) that starts out with the wolf wanting, for a change, to convince the lamb to be eaten rather than just violently take it. It makes more sense-- the wolf doesn't feel that he *needs* and excuse, he just wants one so he won't look like the bad guy to those that would otherwise feel bad for the lamb.

Like that other book full of lambs and wolves and lions and whatnot-- things have been mangled in the translations and retellings over the centuries, especially by those (like those hypocritical elders) that didn't really get it but had it slapped into them that it was "important".

[opulence-9.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on all that! especially about stupid important people twisting the stories to suit their points of veiw...
but their are some good stories that are excellently told and deliver the point with power...

[sovietnimrod.livejournal.com]

Nonetheless, "The Wolf and the Lamb" is a parable that, for example, could apply to Iraq

The conflict in Iraq is less Wolf vs. Lamb but rather Wolf vs. Wolf...

... or better yet, Snake vs. Snake.

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

"Goodnight, Ralf."
"Goodnight, John."

[sovietnimrod.livejournal.com]

So true, so true...

[seymour-glass.livejournal.com]

that was a great cartoon...i loved the punch clock...

[opulence-9.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday you old fart!

[mbarrick.livejournal.com]

Thanks :-)