Month: September 2013

There was a group of ten people. Together they decided to create a society. Nine of them, above all else, desired peace and prosperity. The tenth wanted only destruction and death. He was a troublemaker and most persistent on this point. After some discussion the nine people who wanted peace decided their dedication to peace procluded them from action and agreed to ignore the tenth man. Every night he stabbed one of the nine in their sleep. When there was none left he built a house, set it on fire, and blew his brains out.

There was a group of ten people. Nine of them, above all else, desired peace and prosperity. The tenth wanted only destruction and death. He was a troublemaker and most persistent on this point. After some discussion the nine people who wanted peace decided to acquiesce the violent man and so they quietly smothered him in his sleep until he was dead. They had a proper burial for him the next day. The nine lived long, happy lives and procreated beneath a chocolate rainbow.

There was a group of ten people. Each was concerned only with himself (or herself in such cases). With little honesty between them and no thoughts to build community they segregated and isolated themselves. They lived in caves, fearfully looking out in distrust and anger at the outside world. Whenever one saw another one he (or she in such cases) murdered them. Within a few years all were killed but one. He lived a long but lonely life full of fear before he too died.

There was a group of ten people. Five liked trees and five liked the sun. These preferences were the fuel of much hot debate. One day a tree person changed his mind and joined the sun people. Now with a majority they effectively won every major vote and managed to alienate and exclude the tree people from most activities. After being unfairly persecuted for a long while the tree people staged a violent revolution. There were no survivors.

There was a group of ten people. All ten of them were peaceful and agreed on everything all the time. It so happens they had very little to talk about.