One of the ones I remember most strongly was the story of the king (I believe he was Swiss, but I can't say for sure) who gave each of his subjects a bar of gold. Everyone was rich! Huzzah! A sustainable living wage! Only... it didn't work out that way. See, once everyone was rich, no one had a reason to work anymore. The baker stopped working, because well, why bake bread now that he was rich and didn't need to earn money anymore? Others stopped working as well, having reached the same conclusion. Soon, they were all starving and living in homes with bad roofs, etc. because no one wanted to work. To convince them to start working, people started bidding up the prices. Eventually, everyone returned to work. But the prices were so high that the bar of gold they got was meaningless... inflation had gotten it... damn you Federal Reserve!
The lessons here are pretty strong if you think about it. This story teaches that everyone works for profit, which means communism can't work. It teaches that liberalism can't work either, and that making everyone rich doesn't actually make anyone rich... it just causes inflation. So jacking up the minimum wage won't make anyone's lives better. These lessons are fundamental to conservatism and anathema to the fantasy world of liberalism where you can just declare your problems away.
"The Emperor's New Clothes" is another such story. In this story, everyone was afraid to tell the emperor that he was being tricked by his tailor. It wasn't until one child spoke the truth that the whole thing came crashing down. The lessons here are that peer pressure will lead you to do stupid things. Insecurity mixed with ego makes you vulnerable to con-men. And while it may take courage to speak the truth when no one else will, somebody who isn't afraid will come along and expose the truth... leaving you looking worse than if you'd just spoken the truth in the first place. These again are conservative lessons. They warn of political correctness and they urge children to speak the truth regardless of what others tell them.
My childhood was packed these stories. I'm sure yours was too. What are some of the lessons you learned from books as a child or youth or even a teen?
59 comments:
I definitely want to hear your thoughts on the above, but let me also ask: does it matter that Cruz held dual citizenship with Canada?
For some reason, the first thing that comes to mind is Stone Soup. It's about a trio of soldiers who wander into a town looking for food and lodging for the night. But the townsfolk hide their stores and board up their doors. So the soldiers declare that they must instead make stone soup.
Because of the villagers' curiosity, they are lent a large pot for the task. The soldiers take apparent pains to find a suitable stone. When one is found, they place it in the pot, fill it with water, and light the fire.
As the stones cook, the soldiers comment to each other (and for the town to hear) about how wonderful the soup will be, but that it would be better if certain ingredients are added. One by one, the villagers dip into their stores and each contributes rather modestly to the pot. However, by the time the soup is finished, it becomes a feast for the entire town, with plenty to spare.
One lesson is about how much can be accomplished when everyone contributes just a little. The other maybe lost on most Americans due to our 3rd Amendment against quartering. I assume that the men are soldiers and not mere travelers to show that more is accomplished by pleasantness and encouragement than with force.
On Cruz, I think no. However, you can guarantee Democrats will try to make hay of it, especially after all the birther nonsense. And with them, it won't just be the loony fringe.
Interesting. I don't think I know that one actually. :)
On Cruz, I suspect the Democrats will make hay of it either way -- they did with McCain. I mean more in the sense of forget the birtherism, should it matter that he's part Canadian?
It doesn't matter unless he runs for president. If it does (legally) then he can just give up his Canadian citizenship. Although with Obamacare coming he may want to stay Canadian. May be a good platform to run on...Obamacare is so bad I would rather have Canadian healthcare.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FNXwKGZHmDc&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFNXwKGZHmDc
Thoughts on Ashton Kutchers speech? I think it was one of the better speeches I've heard in a long time.
I learned this one in public school
The little Red Hen.
A little Red Hen decided to make some bread, so she asked her fellow workers in the communal farm to help her plant and harvest the wheat. But their government mandated work rules didn't allow them to plant and harvest the wheat, so she did it herself. She sweated in the heat and struggled to pull an ancient plow. Then she had to use a dull scythe to bring in the harvest.
Exhausted, she asked the bakers collective if they would help her bake the bread. But they were striking for increased government health care benefits. So she baked the bread herself.
The freshly baked bread smelled so good that the collective farm workers and the striking bakers demanded to eat the bread, but the little red hen refused. She was subsequently arrested by Homeland Security and jailed for hording. Her party card was revoked.
The bread was seized and taken by truck to the local commissar who left it to rot in a warehouse.
Moral: Free market capitalism doesn't work.
Two stories that spring to mind that haven't been mentioned are The Brave Little Taylor and The Pied Piper. The first was about the ability of a clever man to BS his way through a series of confrontations, the second was about two things 1) people quickly agree to deals they have no intention of sticking to and 2) paying later can be a lot worse than paying upfront.
As for Cruz, I don't think Canadian citizenship matters. Canada's practically a state. People worry about invasions from the south not from the north.
I know I misspelled 'tailor'. Its early.
Andrew....Probably the one I remember most, and sunk in the most (helped make me conservative?) was the Golden Goose. I remember as a little guy thinking..."yeah, get the goose and you'll have all the gold"....but then they go and kill the goose! Thought it was stupid that they killed the goose. The more I thought about it, the more it started making sense from a power hungry, greedy perspective. Made me h8 "rulers" even more.
Re: Cruz....The left will completely miss the hypocrisy and inanity of their position, as they didn't even nudge Obama to even prove he was(n't) any number of things.
All part of their intent to distract from the lawlessness, incompetence and outright lies that this administration performs every day. Look! Cruz isn't even American!
All part of their Alinskyism of American politics: “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” McCain/Palin, Romney, Limbaugh
But, this what we get for having a "community organizer" as our Chief Executive.
Btw, Cruz gave up his dual Canadian citizenship last week. But he was born in Calgary, so will that preclude him from running for higher office? His mother is from Rhode Island and his father is from Cuba. They were transferred to Canada working for a Texas oil and gas company. Would this be different from, say, McCain being born in Panama while his father was in the military?
Ashton Kutcher already has decent caché with me and this only adds to it. Despite his typical on-screen persona, he has demonstrated a great tech-savvy. When he boosts a tech item, people do listen. And it appears that he is also life-savvy. Judging from the hoots and whoos, it's hard to say how well the audience listened, but I'm glad to see him using the platform he has in that way. (It does say something that it takes YouTube for me to hear about it.)
Given that Cruz's mother is an American citizen, it probably doesn't matter. As one blogger pointed out, if the prospects of a presidential bid become serious, probably no one is going to let him be disqualified on a technicality.
Koshcat, I don't mean politically, I mean does it bother you that he's part Canadian? He's giving up his dual citizenship because people seem upset that he's not "fully American." I wonder if that really bothers anyone though?
Kutcher and Timberlane are two actors who have won a great deal of respect from me actually. They aren't the typical Hollywood weirdos.
K, It sounds like you went to the wrong school.
Anthony, Those are good stories. The Pied Piper in particular always made me think about keeping your deals because even though you may have power at the moment, that may change at a moment's notice. Good stories. :)
I guess I'm a little confused about what Andrew's asking on Cruz. One thing that just occurred to me, however, is that Tea Partiers might turn on him in an attempt to not appear as hypocrites.
If it's just a question on personal opinion, however, then, no, I don't think it matters. Not as much as his policies. The point of the rules of eligibility is to preclude divided loyalties. You'd have a hard time convincing me that Cruz has divided loyalties because of ties to Canada.
Of course, there is all that violence on the Montana border to consider. :-P
Patriot, That's another good one too. It definitely teaches you that greedy can destroy a good thing! Lots of good business lessons in that one.
tryanmax, Confused? Said it ain't so! LOL!
The Cruz thing is this. I had dinner recently with some hard-core "believe everything talk radio tells me" types... very paranoid. I made a joke about Cruz being a secret Canadian. The response I got was shocking. I was expecting they would laugh it off. They didn't.
They immediately got angry and took the position that Cruz wasn't a "reel 'merikan" because he held onto his dual citizenship this long and they said that "if he really cared about America," then he wouldn't have dual citizenship.
//jaw drops
This is a nation of immigrants and something like 40% of us weren't born here and most of the rest come from families that just got here in the last parent or grandparent. I can't see how this should bother anyone. Yet, these people were actually upset about this. Of course, they also believe a lot of other things that are provably false because the radio tells them it's true, but it was still shocking. And what I wanted to know is if this actually bothers anyone else.
Patriot, I'm absolutely not worried about the left on this. The opinion of the left doesn't matter and the public at large doesn't care. The problem seems to a different group... see my comment above.
Bev, My reading of the constitutional provision that matters says you just have to be a non-naturalized citizen (i.e. born an American). So having an American parent is enough... just like with Obama.
Back on fairy tales.... what do you guys think of Robin Hood? How do you see that?
I enjoyed the first three Robin Hood movies I saw (including the Costner movie and the Brooks movie that parodied it) but words cannot express my dislike for the Ridley Scott movie.
Never read the original story but Robin Hood struck me as an nice hero in a classic situation.
I didn't know Robin Hood was a fairy.
Robin Hood = Tea Party Tax Protestor.
Anthony, I loved the Disney cartoon and I like the Erol Flynn movie a lot, though I don't care for the more recent films.
What I wonder about though is the message. On the one hand, Robin Hood is about opposition to oppressive government. On the other hand, there is the whole "rob from the rich," give to the poor aspect, which is an underpinning of socialism basically.
K, Was he? Or was he a redistributor of wealth?
'...because he held onto his dual citizenship this long and they said that "if he really cared about America," then he wouldn't have dual citizenship'
They should be more concerned about his other duel citizenship which is MUCH stronger...citizen of the Republic of Texas! We are all Texans First THEN American! 8-}
Bev, LOL! So true.
In all seriousness, I was shocked. I guess the next crime against America will be foreign travel.
And Cruz's crime against liberalism is that he graduate Magna cum laude from Princeton AND Harvard Law and editor Hahvahd Law Review. How was that even possible?? His indoctrination did'nt work and he is a traitor to "his kind"! Ivy League Liberal elites, that is...
Bev, Clearly, that dirty Canadian is a master criminal. Where is Batman when you need him?
Any thoughts on Fairy Tales that taught you good lessons?
I was screwed up by Disney "princess in distress saved by handsome prince to live happily ever after" fairy tales. And YES, they taught me a very valuable lessons - be a contrarian!
LOL! So you're not a fan of fairy tales?
As an aside, I think that being contrarian is actually the point to a lot of fairy tales.
DANG! They got me anyway! Okay I'll show them. "Oh look what a lovely new suit the Emperor is wearing! I just love the color!" 8-/
Yes Bev, the Emperor's new health care plan is lovely.
Blech, even saying that hurts.
No, it doesn't bother me that Cruz was from Canada. I like Calgary and used to root for the Flames and Rough Riders.
I always had a little mixed feelings about Robin Hood, although I typically looked at it as standing up to oppressive, corrupt government.
I also liked the fairy tale of King Midas. Had all the material things he could ever want but lost his friends and family in the process.
Koshcat, I like Calgary. I like Montreal as well in hockey.
I have mixed feelings on Robin Hood as well. I like him and that he stands up to oppressive government, but it always had an air to me of "rich = oppressive."
Midas is a good one on many levels. I love the idea of "be careful what you wish for," and then the message you mention about valuing the wrong things. Good lessons there.
The tale of Alice and the Caterpillar teaches us the value of keeping things in appropriate balance. Ratty and Moley teach us how to be true and valuable friends by the way they constantly save Mr. Toad from his self-destructive tendencies.
On a separate "open thread" note, being a true Homes devotee, I sprung for the Blu-Ray preservation/restoration of the complete set of Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films. I have Andrew to thank for that. Such a purpose helps the suits fund important work to preserve and restore old classic film. It is true, these films are generally inferior to the Granada production with Jeremy Brett. That said, after watching several of them, I recall that it is Rathbone who really gets Holmes best. Don't get me wrong, Brett did a fine job, but sometimes over-acted. Basil, was simply, perfect in the role despite inferior stories.
Jed, LOL! Alice and the Caterpillar? I always thought that was about smoking pot! :P
I'm glad you're enjoying the Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films. How did I help you make that decision?
As an aside, I've been watching a ton of Gene Autry films lately and I'm truly enjoying them. This man is impossible not to like!
Andrew:Or was he a redistributor of wealth?
The people he was stealing from - pre-capitalism - were wealthy due to being government functionaries, IOWs, proven loyal to the crown and sworn to defend the crown's power in exchange for the land grants which were legalized by the crown. As I understand the legend, robbing the rich was done to return money taken by unjust taxes.
K, Excellent point. So if you were explaining the story to a child, you would want to make that clear, that these weren't "rich" who earned it, they were cronies.
Basil was my answer to one of the new questions you posed for the GFD series. That reminded me of him, and I checked out what was available in his current catalog.The Blu-Ray was done by CBS and MCI Home Video, the restoration was by UCLA. The BRD contains all 14 films. A couple of them have nice voice over narratives. I picked it up from one of the sellers that distributes for Amazon for about $30.
Excellent! I've run into some really great deals on Blu-Rays at Amazon lately, especially in the box sets.
I like the Robin Hood legend a lot. It is easily one of my favorite stories.
It's worth noting that the Robin Hood story is quite vague, there are really only a handful of essential plot points, and the philosophical strands that unite them can be easily altered to support a number of viewpoints. That's why so many causes seem able to lay claim to Robin Hood.
Even so, the use of Robin Hood to justify socialism is almost wholly inconsistent with even modernist interpretations of the legend. While any movement can ultimately turn to government authority to impose its will, there is a strong association of this with socialism. In a different discussion, I might posit that this trait is primarily what distinguishes socialism from Good Samaritanism.
Robin Hood, on the other hand, exists entirely outside of the government. In some of the early legends, he quite explicitly revokes his pardon at the end and returns to the forest. In most modern interpretations, he isn't quite so rude, but the credits roll on the hero while he is still a commoner.
In almost every iteration, subversion is Robin Hood’s main aim, not to topple the government, much less to stage a coup. This is very interesting. As such, he is an unusual protagonist who does not provide resolution in his own story. Rather, he simply scrapes up a meager justice for those he can help while the law remains tyrannical. It is only when outside events occur--the return of the rightful king--that Robin's resistance ends and his tale concludes.
This is a rather subtle and uncommon message: that movements have their ends and, upon achieving them, should end. This is quite possibly the only consistent lesson provided by the myriad interpretations of the legend. Unfortunately, it is easily overshadowed by other philosophies that get infused into the tale in each retelling.
It's maybe worth noting some of the 20th c. innovations to the tale so we can understand just how liquid the legend is. The 20th c. saw Robin reinterpreted from a regional bandit to a national hero. Along with this it became standard to depict Robin as a deposed noble. (Originally, Robin Hood was depicted as a yeoman, a non-noble landholder--essentially middle class. This may be primarily due to diminished understanding of medieval feudal structure.) It also became more common to depict Maid Marian as a noble, often of higher rank than Robin. Another recent addition is that Robin robs from the rich to raise King Richard's ransom. This apparently does not interfere with his philanthropy, though I don't see how.
Whether or not these recent changes, as with changes before them, undermine the tale is subject for debate. For my part, however, the lesson remains intact, if not heavily obscured.
tryanmax, Even so, the use of Robin Hood to justify socialism is almost wholly inconsistent with even modernist interpretations of the legend.
I don't think that's right. Any leftist will tell you that Robin Hood stands for the principle of "It's ok to steal from the rich so long as you give it to the poor." That's Marxist redistribution theory.
Even when they delve into the political motivations of the story, they focus on the Sheriff, not the false King, and they describe him as an oppressor, whose job is to keep the poor bankrupt so they cannot rise up against the ruling class. That is Liberation Theology.
BTW, I'm not saying you have to read it that way or that this might not be spin, but it is the spin I hear from leftists, and I suspect it's an easy spin to sell kids.
My counterargument to that was already embedded in the first argument, that Robin Hood is not a functionary of the government, a claim that cannot be maid about the Sheriff. That is a distinction easy enough to convey to kids, as is pointing out that the Sheriff, as functionary, took the money from the people first (another 20th c. modification). That's a conservative political perspective.
Also, the Marxist theory undercuts itself if you point out the people who enrich themselves through "redistribution" and hold it in contrast to Robin Hood living in the woods.
In the end, it only goes to prove my earlier point that the Robin Hood legend is vague enough to impose any ideology, but some stick better than others. If one takes my conclusive argument into account, that the only consistent message is that movements have ends, you'll find that Marxism and Liberation Theology can't fit because they can never recognize their ends as achieved.
tryanmax, Ultimately, I don't think the story is Marxist either, but I can definitely see how easy it is to spin it as Marxist, especially as the people doing the spinning can leave out the key parts and the story still makes sense.
Compare that with Midas. If you leave out any part of that, the story becomes pointless. So it forces you to reach the right conclusion. I don't think Robin Hood does. I think Robin Hood leaves itself open to spin.
Which, as you said originally, is why so many causes can lay claim to it.
That's why if you are explaining Robin Hood to kids, there really needs to be a heavy focus on the backstory and away from the simple logline: "He steals from the rich and gives to the poor."
Indeed. Part of the issue is that logline has been around since the 15th c. so you can imagine that the understanding of it has changed significantly over time. In those times, wealth was either amassed by confiscation or inheritance (from a confiscator). And while the thinking still exists that those are still the only ways to acquire wealth, an examination of the facts reveals such thinking to be as medieval as Robin Hood.
True. Which just tells that people (parents) need to be made aware of the details they need to make sure the kids know about the stories.
Robin Hood is not a fairy tale meant to teach a moral. Its one of many English folk stories and ballads about some outlaw hero who stuck it to the King/Lord/Duke/etc.
In fact, there are multiple ballads and folk tales about "Robin Hood".
Here is the oldest: "Robin Hood and the Monk"
"IN somer, when the shawes be sheyne,
And leves be large and long,
Hit is full mery in feyre foreste
To here the foulys song:"
Kit, we're talking books and fairy tales, not just fairy tales. Anything you would read to a child.
Any books or stories that influenced you as a child?
Why Mommie is a Democrat.
I've noticed that some of you seem to be confusing
Cachet: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cachet
with Cache: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cache
even adding an accent agu does not turn it into a prestigious word. :D
I have a story that is not generally known. It was a story about a very spoiled princess who was sent away to a cottage in the woods because she was so badly behaved her father could not tolerate her.
Over time, she was forced to take care of herself and her (current) home. It was either that or starve in filth. She learned that being capable was the real source of self-esteem -> centuries before the term was invented. When she understood all the work that just living involved she appreciated those who worked for her as well.
I can still place my 8 yr old self in my room as I read that and I remember taking that lesson into my little pea brain. Words to live by in my life.
darski, What was the name of the story?
Thanks for the clarification on cachet. :)
For the life of me I cannot find the title - I'm sure it was in either Grimm's or Andersen's stories. The title didn't stick - only the moral :D
It's a good moral. :)
Post a Comment