THE PARABLE OF ZEITGEIST & REASON
There
was a social herd who came upon a ‘fence of social restraint.’
The barrenness of the social herd’s environment was contrasted
with the environmental abundance of that which lay on the other
side of the ‘fence of social restraint.’ On the ‘fence
of social restraint’ were large lettered signs:
DO
NOT TOUCH FENCE. DO NOT PASS. CROSSING THIS FENCE IS FORBIDDEN.
CLIMBING THIS FENCE IS FORBIDDEN. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THIS FENCE. DANGER! YOU MUST BE AFRAID. YOU MUST OBEY.
The
social herd understood that the ‘Fence of Social Restraint’
was there for their protection. This is the way it had always been,
as much as anyone could remember. In this social herd was a young
buck by the name of Zeitgeist. He had always obeyed his parents,
except for one thing. His parents had told him not to touch the
‘fence of social restraint,’ for this was against the
rules. Zeitgeist had always known of the abundance on the other
side of the ‘fence of social restraint,’ and he knew
how the herd suffered. He did not understand, and this lack of understanding
frustrated him. Whenever Zeitgeist had a bad temper, he would go
and head butt the fence until he became tired. Zeitgeist’s
girl friend, Reason, would always encourage him to head butt the
fence. “Hit it hard for me, Zeitgeist,” Reason would
say. One day, as Zeitgeist was head butting the fence one more time,
something happened. He heard a metallic sound, and then the fence
had opened. He became afraid. Zeitgeist and Reason ran away, over
the knoll and back to the herd.
The
next morning Zeitgeist shared his experience with some of the other
young bucks. No one believed Zeitgeist, even though Reason said
it was so. “Follow us,” Zeitgeist said, as he and Reason
led the young bucks, and the young girls, to the ‘Fence of
Social Restraint.’ Arriving at the ‘fence of social
restraint,’ the young bucks and young girls saw the small
opening. “I dare you to go to the other side,” one said
to Zeitgeist. “Yes,” said another, “I double-dare
you to pass through the fence to the other side.” Zeitgeist
hesitated, until Reason spoke. “I’ll cross through the
fence with you Zeit, everything is going to be OK,” Reason
said. All watched as Zeitgeist and Reason bravely crossed through
the ‘fence of social restraint.’ Zeitgeist and Reason
cautiously began eating from the abundance. Soon, other brave young
bucks, encouraged by their girls, and with their girls, crossed
through the fence and began eating the abundance.
The
leaders of the herd heard that something was up. They led the herd
to the opening in the fence, and observed the young bucks and their
girls feasting on the other side of the ‘Fence of Social Restraint.’
The leaders decided to discuss the matter. While the leaders were
discussing, ever so slowly, one by one, individual members of the
herd crossed the fence, and began eating the abundance. Observing
that nothing bad was happening to these brave and adventurous herd
animals, others soon followed. The more the herd animals observed
that they did not need to fear crossing the ‘fence of social
restraint,’ the more followed. Finding themselves alone with
the sheep, the leaders finally decided to cross through the fence
together. Soon, afraid of being left on the wrong side of the fence
by the herd, the sheep followed in a stampede.
If
Reason had not encouraged Zeitgeist, and Zeitgeist had not attacked
the fence of social restraint, they would not have found its weakness.
The fence had a gate and Zeitgeist had head butted the latch open.
Now the whole herd was on the abundant side of the fence, and there
they saw the warning signs on the fence.
BEWARE:
‘WILDERNESS OF POVERTY’, DO NOT PASS.
The
‘Gate’ removed the restrictions from the ‘Fence
of Social Restraint,’ and abundance nurtured the herd for
generations.
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