Friday Fable: Aesop’s “THE NUT TREE AND THE PEOPLE”*
|
|
Caption: A trio of Know-Nots having a go at the tree.
“There was a nut tree standing by the side of the road who had a great many nuts and the people walking along the road used to knock them off by throwing sticks and stones at the tree. The nut tree then said sadly, 'Woe is me! People gladly enjoy my fruits, but they have a terrible way of showing their gratitude.'”
“The fable indicts those ungrateful and wicked people who requite good deeds with cruelty.”
Those flinging sticks and stones punish the good deed of the nut tree. So is the olive tree shaken violently by a machine to harvest its fruit.
But, only the truly unwise would do so much damage as to kill off the source of the harvest. Yet, we’ve been known to exhaust the land, to suck the rivers dry, to foul the air. Most of us know that we are here to husband Nature’s resources, not destroy them. What we can do, each of us, is as obvious as consuming a cylindrical can of Pringles and tossing it into the street from your car. Take the lead - do the obvious - take care of the Earth. As for the trio abusing the nut tree, quote something from Chief Seattle. If they do not cease and desist, beat them with zest and relish.
*Source: Aesop's Fables. A new translation by Laura Gibbs. Oxford University Press (World's Classics): Oxford, 2002.
N.B. On Nov. 7th, the New York Library Club co-sponsored a book and panel discussion at CUNY Graduate Center to celebrate the release of the book Career Q&A: A Librarian’s Real-Life, Practical Guide to Managing a Successful Career. Susan Hoover’s summary
recommends perusing Leading from the Middle: “Even if you don’t manage people or resources, you can still be a leader. Leadership can exist at all levels. For more on an expanded concept of leadership, check out the book Leading from the Middle by John Lubans.”
Copyright John Lubans 2013
John Lubans - portrait by WSJ