MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Worzels World - The tale of the crazy KingIt was so long ago now that I can’t possibly remember where or when I heard or read the tale of what I have always referred to as The Crazy King. It stuck in my mind as being relevant.
Yet I discovered it back when the world was less crazy and I was very much a part of what small amount of crazy it had. It went something like this: There was once a King who ruled over a kingdom. He was noble and courageous and loved for his wisdom. He lived in a castle atop a high hill. A spring of water started there and became a stream as it flowed down into the city where it filled the wells with pure clear water from which the people drank. In the dead of night, three witches entered the city and poured six drops of a malevolent potion into the spring. They cast a spell saying henceforth all who drink the water shall become mad. In time all the people drank of the water, but not the King, who took his water at its source. The people became crazy and, losing their rational minds, began to murmur “The King is mad and has lost his reason. Look how strangely he behaves. We cannot be ruled by a madman, he must be dethroned.” (Or maybe impeached?) The King grew very fearful and perplexed. Although he had behaved righteously and generously and managed the kingdom with great competence, his subjects were preparing to rise against him. He had a difficult choice: Risk being destroyed by his beloved subjects for being sane but appearing crazy, or drink from the poisoned water and become mad like them. That evening, he ordered a golden goblet to be filled from the well, and he drank deeply. The next day, there was great rejoicing among the people, for their beloved king had finally regained his reason. I’m sure it is a tough choice for any King or any peasant for that matter. Especially today when the cult of popularity has grown to become the major world religion. Should we willingly ‘drink the ‘Kool-Aid’ because everybody else does? Do we conform to the crowd because to do otherwise is to be ostracised, marginalised and maligned? Now it appears contemporary witches have poured drops of their evil potion into the entertainment industry, the education system, government agencies and the corporate oligarchy. The village idiot and the local MP are now the same person. There is fluoride, chlorine, atrazine and other drug residues in the water. There are additives, preservatives, fertiliser and pesticides in the food. There are heavy metals in the atmosphere, radiation in the pacific and mercury in the fish. There is subliminal messaging in the media and society itself peddles ideologies and twisted values that are toxic to mankind. Facebook and social media have become more addictive and possibly more destructive than heroin or cocaine ever were in their heyday. Deception is the order of the day and truth is buried beneath a dunghill of propaganda and misinformation. While the empire disintegrates around us noone is paying attention and the message is ‘don’t worry, trust us we know what we are doing and everything will work out just fine’. Headlines arrogantly pronounce ‘We will beat the (add your own ending – coronavirus, global warming, recession)’ before the game has been played out. I have been a part of four championship winning rugby sides. Those who tell everyone they’re going to win before the game is played have always failed. I have some sympathy for the King, but I think his decision was the wrong one. How many times in your life have you allowed yourself to conform for the sake of comfort? The path of the righteous is narrow and long. If you value your social role, status, possessions, relationships, or even your own life more than this, then you will go the way of the King in the parable. You will drink from the poisoned well again and again. If you risk standing out, risk being different, risk it all for the love of truth and what you know to be right, then win or lose you will still be victorious. This is a greater reward. You only have one life to live and one chance to get it right. There is an infinite number of wrong ways and only one right way. This is the one chance you have of finding that right way. My advice is, do not drink the poison. Do not embrace insanity for the sake of convenience and comfort and the promise of peace and safety. Instead fight to stay sane and be wise no matter what the cost. Feedback? Email prof_ worzel@hotmail.com |