Who Loses When Disagreement Erupts?

Once upon a time, the pathways of kites and crows crossed that of a wounded fox lying helplessly under a tree. The kites and the crows decided among themselves that they would share the spoils of the fox in equal portions, with the upper half going to the crows and the lower part allotted to the kites.

The fox mocked their decision, finding fault with the way his body parts were being apportioned out.  “Don’t you know,” he addressed the kites, “that  by your very nature and in terms of the order of creation, your kind are superior to the crows?  I am baffled that you would let my upper part go to those lowly scavengers.  In my opinion, my head and brain, and all the other delicate portions should go to you kites.”

The kites took up the fox’s line of thinking.  In short order, the agreement between the kites and the crows fell apart and a war ensued between them.  Both sides fought valiantly,  and soon dead birds from each group began to pile up around the wounded fox.  With the numbers of both groups dwindling rapidly, the remaining handful of kites and crows listened to their wise leaders who said they must retreat to nurse their wounded and live to fight another day.  And so both groups fled the sorry scene. The fox then began to feast with pleasure on the dead kites and crows.  After several days of plentiful eating, he  left the place healthy, laughing at how the weak can benefit from the disagreement of the powerful.

LESSONS:  When your your enemies are threatening to devour you, remember the time-tested strategy of creating division amongst them;

Also: Do not let the desperate words of an enemy divide you from your allies.

Source: Knots by Nuradin Farah