Tuesday, June 27, 2006
The Step Temple
Once upon a time, an intergalactic traveler from earth came upon a planet so like his own that for a time he felt he had lost his bearings and was actually back home, for the flora and fauna were the same as on earth and humans spoke the same earthly languages and were greedy and full of vanity. But he noticed that all the buildings were in wonderful condition, there were no slums and the people were universally healthy and well attired. He inquired as to why this general prosperity prevailed and was told that the reason was that there had not been a war for 18,000 years.
"How can that be," he asked,"when you are exactly like earthlings, full of conceit and avarice?"
"Quite correct," came the reply,"but we also are full of cowardice. If you look closely, you will notice that in every city and hamlet, we have erected a step temple at least fifty feet high. In the center of the temple is a pit, at the bottom of which is an eternal flame. If a nation wishes to go to war, the leader is escorted to the top of the temple by two strong young men. Immediately after he signs the edict to go to war, he is flung into the pit, for if he is willing to sacrifice the lives of beautiful young men, he must also be willing to sacrifice his own life. On this planet, we detest hypocrites. After the leader has given his life, the new leader, if he wishes to continue with the declaration of war, must also give up his life. By this means, we eventually arrive at the official who wants to live, and thus all disputes are resolved peacefully. At the time of settlement, both parties are usually dissatisfied, but after a few years, people tend to forget and they adjust comfortably to the situation. In all these 18,000 years of perpetual peace, only three leaders believed enough in their causes to sacrifice themselves. To most of us, they are great heroes who died for their convictions, but to some skeptical historians, they were seeking an easy way out of impending trials for corruption."
Herschel Sternlieb
Brunswick
Once upon a time, an intergalactic traveler from earth came upon a planet so like his own that for a time he felt he had lost his bearings and was actually back home, for the flora and fauna were the same as on earth and humans spoke the same earthly languages and were greedy and full of vanity. But he noticed that all the buildings were in wonderful condition, there were no slums and the people were universally healthy and well attired. He inquired as to why this general prosperity prevailed and was told that the reason was that there had not been a war for 18,000 years.
"How can that be," he asked,"when you are exactly like earthlings, full of conceit and avarice?"
"Quite correct," came the reply,"but we also are full of cowardice. If you look closely, you will notice that in every city and hamlet, we have erected a step temple at least fifty feet high. In the center of the temple is a pit, at the bottom of which is an eternal flame. If a nation wishes to go to war, the leader is escorted to the top of the temple by two strong young men. Immediately after he signs the edict to go to war, he is flung into the pit, for if he is willing to sacrifice the lives of beautiful young men, he must also be willing to sacrifice his own life. On this planet, we detest hypocrites. After the leader has given his life, the new leader, if he wishes to continue with the declaration of war, must also give up his life. By this means, we eventually arrive at the official who wants to live, and thus all disputes are resolved peacefully. At the time of settlement, both parties are usually dissatisfied, but after a few years, people tend to forget and they adjust comfortably to the situation. In all these 18,000 years of perpetual peace, only three leaders believed enough in their causes to sacrifice themselves. To most of us, they are great heroes who died for their convictions, but to some skeptical historians, they were seeking an easy way out of impending trials for corruption."
Herschel Sternlieb
Brunswick
# posted by Gary Lawless and Beth Leonard @ 7:36 PM 
