The Donkey & the Tiger

A Donkey & a Tiger were arguing one day.

The Donkey said to the Tiger – ‘The grass is blue!’

‘Bunk’ said Tiger, ‘the grass is green’.

The discussion heated up, and the two decided to go before the Lion, the King of the Jungle.  

The Donkey began to shout, ‘Your Highness. Is it true that the grass is blue?’.

The Lion replied, ‘True the grass is blue’.

The donkey continued – ‘The Tiger disagrees with me and contradicts and annoys me.  Please punish him’.

The King then declared, ‘The Tiger will be punished with five years of silence’.

The Donkey jumped up cheerfully and went on his way.

The Tiger accepted his punishment, but before he did, he asked the lion, ‘Your Majesty, why have you punished me?  After all, the grass is green.’

The Lion replied –  ‘In fact, the grass is green’.

The Tiger asked, ‘So why are you punishing me?’

The Lion replied, ‘It has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green.  The punishment is because it is not possible for a brave and intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with a Donkey.  And on top of that, you come and bother me with that question. 

What a wise King.

Think about it.  The worst waste of time is arguing with the fool or the fanatic who does not care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions.  These are the people who, no matter how much evidence we present to them, do not have the capacity to understand, or are blinded by ego, belief, hatred and resentment.  And all they want is to be right even if they are not’.

So how often have you come across these Donkeys?  Or more importantly, how often have you caught yourself being a Donkey – insisting on being right at the expense of the facts.

I know on occasion, especially with a loved one, where I have been the Donkey, albeit a different one, proving myself correct using the facts at the expense of the relationship.  A different challenge, however, still relevant.  What’s your example?

Donkeys are fine animals – just don’t be one, be the Tiger.

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