How about this instead:
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper starved and that was the end of her. The ant was very smug and pleased with his good decision to store food.
Fuck you grasshopper! What's mine is mine! Or maybe if the grasshopper convinces the ant she is sufficiently contrite she will be allowed to have just enough to survive. Some means test could separate the worthy from unworthy grasshoppers perhaps? The ant is of course unaware he could have leximined both his and the grasshoppers opportunities for welfare by sharing equally but hey, he's just an ant and can't be expected to know such things.
I'll side with Rainbow Fish who gladly shares everything with everyone equally regardless of what they've done for others. Perhaps more Rainbow Fish stories are what our children need and fewer short-sighted hens and ants?
John Thornton
Mike Ballard wrote:
> About sums up my position.
>
> overposted,
>
> Mike B)
>
> ******************
>
>
> The Little Red Hen
> Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1965 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1993.
>
>
> The Little Red Hen found a grain of wheat,
> Said "This looks good enough to eat,
> But I'll plant it instead, make me some bread,"
> Said to the other guys down the street,
> "Who will help me plant this wheat?"
>
>
> "I planted and hoed this grain of wheat,
> Them that works not, shall not eat,
> That's my credo," the little bird said,
> And that's why they called her Red.
>
>