A Parable

They sit huddled under the walls which protect the palace.

The winds howl and a storm is brewing.

Their clothes are tattered.

Their faces grimy.

But their conversation is lively.

They discuss the latest news:

War in a distant land,

or rumors of a coming famine.

The farmers have, once again,

failed to produce enough food to feed us all,

and so they argue about who should go hungry.

I am amazed to hear how their reasonableness,

consists in repeating the words of those sleeping comfortably behind the tall walls.

It would be unreasonable to say that the wars are unnecessary,

or that the coming famine is not the fault of the farmers.

It is reasonable to speak vigorously in defense of starvation there,

but not here.

It is reasonable to blame the latest defeat on the incompetence of our allies,

--a sorry lot,

who we, from the purest of motives,

only wanted to help.