A fable

Once upon a time, there were two tribes; both were hungry for power and resources. The magic men at the head of each tribe said “let's do an exchange deal just between us magic men, the uninitiated of the tribe will get the basic resources they need and we will cream off all the wealth for ourselves and for our sons and their sons”. After all we run the show so we deserve more.

One tribe owned many secret wells of a magic potion which had been there since before time. The other tribe had wells to but not enough for their great plans and they built great towers to communicate with their God who lived on high. Both tribes worshipped the same God but called him by different names, as once they were one tribe.
Both tribes focused on the one area of creation that they understood best which was to be fruitful and create great wealth and the times were good and plentiful. In fact “they never had it so good” .The tribes being fast friends now combined forces to drive out another tribe whose magic men had strange ways and said they wanted the people to rule, something the magic men knew would never work as the people were dull and ignorant and could never understand the magic ways.

A new class of scribes had emerged to bring the magic men’s message to the people, only this time they did not say look at our great friends on whom we both depend but looked to settle a very old score from wars and invasions long in the past. This time they said look at those strange people who wear different clothes from us they worshipped another God who is false and their leaders and oppress their people and want to oppress us or alternatively they give their people too much liberty and look how they run amuck.

Some people in their ignorance did not understand about different tribal cultures and broad cultural differences and the need for different clothes in various temperate climates, these people loved the old ways of their country which they were used to and is fine when not miss used. This feeling though is easily played upon to create unease and many sort strength and certainty, some folks in ignorance and malice worshipped an ancient symbol which had been reversed and cast in a blood red flag to create the opposite of its original meaning. This they said gave them the right to hate all who were different to them and to go out and kill them. The irony was this symbol of hate could be found in the temple and on the temple of the head of a statue of a great prince of peace, from a far away land who understood that tribal wars and suffering was futile and a big waste of life and time.

Troubled thoughts spread throughout the men of the tribe, some say planted in secret by the magic men of both tribes in cahoots with one another and had a secret plan which would profit them both. Those who promoted peace with song and large congregations were called dissenters by the scribes, but the people loved their songs and appeals to peace. The leaders of the dissenters were killed in strange circumstances by madmen at the time that was most convenient for the magic rulers. This created more unrest as people started to doubt the magic men who they had trusted with their lives forever. The Shamans claimed to love peace but spent all their time preparing for war, Both tribes kidnapped and killed representatives of the others who travelled to their country, this even happened at games created to promote peace and understanding among all tribes.

One tribe grew angry and invaded the other overwhelming them with their superior army. Their leaders laughed and celebrated at overwhelming this pathetic little tribe which they had defeated so easily .The invaded tribe set fire to the wells in anger and made plans for vengeance. They said lets use stealth and destroyed their iconic buildings in the name of God. They entered the country with no weapons and obtained only small weapons with which to attack and kill the drivers of large chariots. Then they drove the chariots at the towers knowing they would kill and be killed but doing so in the name of their God who is more righteous and the unbelievers.
The plan worked and the people of that tribe said “why has this happened to us why are we so hated”. Their magic men had planned for this and said “we will keep you safe we care for you do not travel abroad and we will make our borders strong”. Dissenters said their freedoms were being taken away in the name of security, but the people were too scared to listen to the dissenters this time.

The magic men of both tribes grew greedy again and stole from their own people saying they can suffer any hardship in our name, for the god the magic man worshipped was Mammon the enemy of the natural order which created the world for all tribes and living beings.

Still what the magic men did not understand is that nature and balance will always overcome greed. While the magic men plotted and warred, people in faraway lands learned and grow strong ready to rule the earth. For the magic men weren’t really magic just greedy self important sad sacks.