The Crocdile & The Politician
The Crocodile & The Politician
The crocodile sat motionless, except for the subtle movement of water, blown by the wind. This caused the head of the beast to undulate in time with the water’s ripples. As I approached within a few feet, the crocodile opened its eyes, just barely, demonstrating its acuity, in spite of what appeared to be the animals hypnotic state.
My first thought, was about my good fortune, in seeing such a rare reptile. My second thought reminded me that if I had to choose between a wild crocodile and a politician, I’d choose the crocodile any day.
A crocodile could lie in wait, among other crafty things. Politicians, on the other hand, seemed to do nothing but lie, giving the politician an advantage, over even the crocodile’s stealth.
Likewise, “The Media” are liars on par with politicians. Thus, significantly outpacing the crocodile by no small amount. This did not disturb the crocodile, though, who considered it to be an honor to be credited with a greater degree of character than either the politician or the media personality. “I may eat a deer now and again, maybe a turtle, sometimes even a human, but I don’t start wars, or steal the bread from mouths of children like politicians do. What’s an occasional human, taken for my nourishment, compared to the hundreds of millions who died at the hands of politicians?”
So the crocodile floated on the water, buoyed by a rock, hidden beneath its girth. It thought of food, of mating with one of his females later that day, but little else. “Why should I waste effort thinking about anything but my appetites,” the crocodile reasoned, which is how he’d survived as long as he had, coming on his 5oth year.
The politician, however, thought of fame and power, and riches, and more fame and power, and more riches. Every other thought was just a path to these things.
These were the politician’s appetites.
So, as I stood and watched, the crocodile shook its mighty head, and the great beast submerged beneath a vast wave caused by the force of its tail. Meanwhile, the politicians shook their fists and caused war. Demonstrating how meek the crocodile was, by comparison.
“Never was I that ruthless!” I imagined the croc to be thinking, as the leviathan clamped down on the head of a wild boar, tearing it to pieces, shaking the hog’s flesh from bone.
“Never.”
And then….the crocodile submerged with a smile, fifty pounds of flesh between its teeth, as it disappeared into the dark water, satisfied with life, having fulfilled its mandate, until it grew hungry once again.
But only then.
Mark Magula
The crocodile sat motionless, except for the subtle movement of water, blown by the wind. This caused the head of the beast to undulate in time with the water’s ripples. As I approached within a few feet, the crocodile opened its eyes, just barely, demonstrating its acuity, in spite of what appeared to be the animals hypnotic state.
My first thought, was about my good fortune, in seeing such a rare reptile. My second thought reminded me that if I had to choose between a wild crocodile and a politician, I’d choose the crocodile any day.
A crocodile could lie in wait, among other crafty things. Politicians, on the other hand, seemed to do nothing but lie, giving the politician an advantage, over even the crocodile’s stealth.
Likewise, “The Media” are liars on par with politicians. Thus, significantly outpacing the crocodile by no small amount. This did not disturb the crocodile, though, who considered it to be an honor to be credited with a greater degree of character than either the politician or the media personality. “I may eat a deer now and again, maybe a turtle, sometimes even a human, but I don’t start wars, or steal the bread from mouths of children like politicians do. What’s an occasional human, taken for my nourishment, compared to the hundreds of millions who died at the hands of politicians?”
So the crocodile floated on the water, buoyed by a rock, hidden beneath its girth. It thought of food, of mating with one of his females later that day, but little else. “Why should I waste effort thinking about anything but my appetites,” the crocodile reasoned, which is how he’d survived as long as he had, coming on his 5oth year.
The politician, however, thought of fame and power, and riches, and more fame and power, and more riches. Every other thought was just a path to these things.
These were the politician’s appetites.
So, as I stood and watched, the crocodile shook its mighty head, and the great beast submerged beneath a vast wave caused by the force of its tail. Meanwhile, the politicians shook their fists and caused war. Demonstrating how meek the crocodile was, by comparison.
“Never was I that ruthless!” I imagined the croc to be thinking, as the leviathan clamped down on the head of a wild boar, tearing it to pieces, shaking the hog’s flesh from bone.
“Never.”
And then….the crocodile submerged with a smile, fifty pounds of flesh between its teeth, as it disappeared into the dark water, satisfied with life, having fulfilled its mandate, until it grew hungry once again.
But only then.
Mark Magula