Page 11 - Fables volume 2

The Great Debate

The Grand Arbiter was called upon to decide an argument
between two members of the running rodentia.
“I’ve had complaints about the two of you. What’s your story,
lemming?”
Smarting under the rebuke, the lemming scowled and bristled. “It
is obvious to me,” he vociferated, “that life is a dynamic quest from
birth to death. You must set goals, reach them, set new goals. That is
how you learn and grow. When opportunity knocks, open the door, I
say. Take chances! Follow the herd only when it’s going where you
want to go. Who knows where you’ll end? You won’t find out staying
home. Keep moving toward an objective, even if you don’t know
what it is, exactly: that’s the thing to do.” He pointed at the hamster.
“I don’t know why he rejects seeking new horizons: it’s going to
stunt his growth, one way or another.”
“And you,” said the Grand Arbiter to the hamster. “What have you
to say?”
The hamster blinked, perhaps giving careful consideration to the
question. “The wheel of life is never-ending. Everywhere we see
evidence of this: the movement of the sun and moon around the
earth, the endless repetition of night and day, the eternal return of the
seasons in their fixed progression. There is nothing to be gained by
struggling against nature. We must follow its circular movement,
rejoicing in movement for its own sake, because we are made to run
in circles. In that way we can experience the infinite in our own tiny
everyday worlds.” He shrugged. “My friend here cannot seem to
grasp the simple truth that ‘revolution’ means returning to your point
of origin.”
The Grand Arbiter frowned. “And the two of you find no
common ground, no means of reconciling your view?”
“No way!” exclaimed the lemming. “He’s obviously so blinkered
that he cannot conceive of anything beyond his nose. He says he’s
content. I say he’s complacent. Where would any of us be if we just
stayed home? No development, no advancement, no stimulation!”

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