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Back in the days of the "enthusiasm gap" I offered this cautionary tale. A number of people asked me where "Fable #1" was, so I thought I'd repost it. This is from October, 2010.
Since the time this was originally posted Obama has been actively repairing his bridges with groups of his base that he'd alienated, and while he didn't learn his lesson in time to save the 2010 midterms, it gives me strong hope for 2012.
So by popular request this, once again, is the story of the Hippo and the Birds.
Once upon a time, the Hippo decided that it wanted to fly. This is not an unreasonable thing, for many creatures dream of flying even if they can’t. The Hippo, however, was clever, and realized that there was a way it could fulfill its wishes. He built a huge platform that would support his weight when lifted off the ground. Now all he would need were birds willing to carry him, so he went to the birds.
The Hippo was an elegant speaker, and he convinced many of the birds of the forest to join together under his platform and lift it up. But his words weren’t enough, so he decided to find out why some of the birds weren’t willing to help him.
He first visited a family of Golden Crowned Sparrows. “Mr. Sparrow,” he asked, “will you and your family help bear my platform on your backs, so that I will be able to fly?”
“I would love to, but I’m afraid I don’t have time. I have to go forage for food for my family, and that food is getting harder to find all the time.”
“No problem,” the Hippo said, “once I’m up in the air, I will be able to help you look for food. My eyes are much larger than yours so I can do a better job of it.” So the Golden Crowned Sparrows agreed and took their place under the platform.
Next the Hippo went to a family of starlings and asked the same favor of them. “We would like to,” one Starling said, “but our nest is too small to hold our whole family. We need to gather materials to build a new nest.”
“No problem,” the Hippo said, “once I’m up in the air, I’ll be able to help you find new material easier than you can.” So the Starlings agreed and took their place under the platform.
Next he went to a family of Loons. “We would like to, but all of the other birds laugh at us and shame us. They don’t want us to be around them.”
“No problem,” the Hippo said, “there is room for everyone under my platform. I will insist that the other birds treat you with respect.” So the loons agreed, and joined the others under the platform.
The Hippo then visited the Thrushes, the Chickadees, and the Pheasants, and one by one offered them everything they asked for. Finally, he had enough birds underneath him to lift him off the ground and fly him high into the sky.
As he soared on his platform, the Hippo congratulated himself on being the smartest animal of them all for coming up with his scheme. He marveled at the views before him and was awed with the beauty of creation.
After about an hour in the air, the Sparrows spoke up. “Sir? You promised to help us find food! We are so hungry. We need food now.”
“Food? You talk of food when there is so much beauty all around us? Go away. I have better things to look at than possible sources of food for you.”
So the Sparrows left. The platform immediately seemed heavier without them and sank slightly toward the ground.
As the Hippo scrambled to find his perch again, a family of Cowbirds flew by. “It looks like you need some help, Hippo. We Cowbirds have no nest of our own. We need other birds’ nests to live. Give us the nest that belongs to the starlings under your platform.”
“Done, it’s a deal!” the Hippo enthusiastically shouted.
“But that nest belongs to us! We built it.” the Starlings protested.
“How ungrateful of you,” the Hippo yelled. “That nest was built out of straw that was created by dead grass, and twigs off of trees, and paper and string discarded by people. The Cowbirds have as much right to all that material as you do.” So the Starlings flew off. But the cowbirds were so happy with their new nest that they forgot all about helping to lift the platform, and it sank even lower.
Next, two Hawks flew by. “My, my, Hippo,” the one Hawk said, “it looks like you’re having trouble staying off the ground. Would you like our help?”
“Yes. Join me.”
“But the Hawks are our mortal enemies,” said the Pheasants and the Chickadees, “they eat us.”
“Don’t be so divisive,” the Hippo insisted. “There’s room for everyone under my platform.”
So the Hawks flew underneath the platform and ate the pheasants and the chickadees. Then they flew away.
“But you said you would help,” the Hippo cried.
“No, we asked if you would like our help. We didn’t say that we would help!” And the Hawks darted off, their bellies full.
Finally, the Loons spoke up. “Hey, Hippo! You haven’t said anything to any of the birds that were left. When are you going to make them treat us with respect?”
“Oh, shut up, Loons,” the Hippo screamed. “No one likes you anyhow, and you’re never going to change that. I don’t need you under my platform anyhow.”
So the Loons left, and there was no longer enough lift under the platform to keep it elevated. The little birds who were left strained mightily to keep the Hippo in the air, but it was obviously a losing cause. Finally, a brood of vultures flew by and the Hippo called out to them. “Help me, please!” the Hippo called.
“Why should we do that? All we have to do now is wait for you to fall, which you obviously will do, and then we will feed off your carcass. And the carcasses of all the birds you crush under your platform.”
“But I want to stay in the air,” the Hippo pouted.
“Then you shouldn’t have chased away the sparrows, or the loons, or let the hawks eat the other little birds under you.”
So the Hippo fell, and the Vultures had a great feast.
The moral should be obvious.
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