A random parable from Ethan Powers

[avevale_intelligencer]

"There was once a man who had a large and savage-looking dog, which he kept on a lead and muzzled. But his neighbours were angered against him, and spoke among themselves, saying, It is not good that this man should keep a large and savage-looking dog close by him, for what if his dog should be unmuzzled and go for someone's throat? Therefore we shall separate the dog from the man, and we shall say that it is for the man's own good, that he no longer have to tend to the dog and follow its wishes.

"And they did take the dog from the man, and did unfasten its collar, saying, Be thou henceforth separate in the eyes of the law. And the man did say, In that case I want that muzzle back, that I may sell it and buy a budgie.

"And the dog being separated from its master did run savage, and did bark at people and threaten them with its teeth, that the neighbours went unto the man saying, Canst thou not control this savage dog? And he answered them, saying, Whose dog would that be now?

"And the dog did plant itself in front of the man's door and would let no man enter. Thus the man's goods and chattels came into the ownership of the dog, and the man became en angred and would kill the dog, but that the RSPCA did straitly forbid it. But even they could not get near enough unto the dog to move it, and so the man was driven forth from the village, and dwelt no more in that country. And the dog was elected mayor (unopposed) and did rule there till the end of its days.

"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Or at least let him put earrings on, because nobody likes a naked ear. Sh'boom."

Comments

[soren-nyrond.livejournal.com]

That would be Ethan Powers, aka Nasruddin, I take it.

Very nice. And, yes, I voted for the dog -- who wouldn't have with its ... winning manner.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

Bizarely, people would summon the dog by calling "Kitty... kitty, kitty kitty..." =;o}