An Analogy

 Here is a story intended to comment on race relations. Can you see the relevance? What other areas of human interaction might this story clarify?

O

nce upon a time, a middle-aged couple went to a distant country for a vacation. Because they enjoyed hiking, they soon collected their gear and set out for a path to the peak of a high mountain.

“The path upward to the top is difficult,” said the couple’s driver as they rode to the base of the mountain. “Many who begin it lack the inner strength to persevere, and quit before they reach the summit. But those who are truly committed and can draw on spiritual as well as physical strength are wonderfully happy at the view from the top.

“We’ve hiked some rough trails,” said the husband. “And so far we have found that partnering enables us to survive a lot of problems.”

“We each supply the other’s weaknesses with our strengths,” said his wife.

The couple checked their supplies, grabbed their backpacks, water bottles, and hiking poles, and set out. The hike was indeed strenuous, but also refreshing and uneventful, until the husband slipped on a loose stone and fell into the freezing water of the stream they were crossing. The man’s wife helped him out of the water and, seeing a large rock nearby sat him down and helped him remove his backpack. Grabbing a towel she had been using to shade her neck, she did her best to dry her husband’s face and hands.

“I’m so sorry to be such a clumsy person,” the husband said.

“Nonsense,” replied his wife. “You just slipped on a defective rock. Could happen to anyone.”

Deciding that the best way to proceed was to continue the hike and let the man’s clothing dry as they walked, the couple soon resumed their journey. Unfortunately, they had barely taken two dozen steps from the large rock when the wife brushed against a stiff branch, which sprang back against her, knocking her down.

“Are you all right?” her husband asked, in a very concerned tone.

“My arm hurts,” the woman said. “I hope it isn’t broken.”

“Well, let’s check,” said her husband. “If it’s broken, we will head back to the starting point and radio for a pickup.” The man then gently helped his wife up and examined her arm. He discovered that she had only a mild sprain.

“I’m sorry to be so careless,” she said.

“You’re the most careful person I know,” he said.

A few days later, the couple reached the top edge of the extinct volcano they had been climbing. Unfortunately, they had only a few minutes to enjoy the beautiful vista. Then they heard loud, angry screaming and yelling coming from the meadow below. As they turned their attention to the noise, they heard a woman’s voice.

“I’m not going to help you out of this pit because you’re just a man. I hate men. Men are inferior, worms, slugs, horse manure.”

“And I’m not helping you out because you’re only a woman,” a man’s voice replied, with equal derision. “And besides, you’re ugly and worthless, just taking up space.”

“And you’re stupid,” the woman retorted. “Now get out of the way so I can use this rope to climb out. Jerk.”

“Sorry, stump face. This rope is to be used by men only.”

“That’s just what I’d expect a moron to say,” sneered the woman.

“What’s going on here?” the husband of the hiker pair asked,  as the couple reached the pit where the young man and woman were trapped.

“Just what we need, another disgusting man,” the woman in the pit scoffed, glaring up at him. “I thought things couldn’t get any worse than being trapped with this sub-human bozo here, and then I saw you. Can’t you drink some poison and improve the world?”

“Help me get away from this ugly witch here,” the young man in the pit demanded. “I’ve already endured three days of her pointless, offensive, zero-IQ, meaningless rant.”

Taking pity on the frenzied, angry young people, the wife helped the woman out of the pit and the husband helped the man out. The man and the woman sneered at each other and glared with looks of hatred on their faces. The hiking couple could not help but notice this.

“Why are you two so hostile toward each other?” the wife asked.

“Because women are dumb and ugly,” the man said in a  hateful tone. “And they are always in my face.”

“Because men are weak, defective, and brutish,” the woman said, hissing. “I never want to see another man as long as I live.”

“And I never want to see another woman forever,“ the young man said, through his teeth.

Half unconsciously, the husband and wife drew close to each other. The husband put his arm around his wife, protectively. Their reflexive affection was noticed by the young people. “Ugh,” they said together.

“You’re going to make me vomit,” the young woman said to the hikers.

“You are vomit,” replied the young man, emphatically.

“How can you stand to let that creature touch you?” demanded the young woman. “Doesn’t his stench just repel and nauseate you?”

“And why would you want to get close to a putrid female?” the young man said, staring hatefully at the young woman “She might bite you and give you some horrible disease.”

“You are a horrible disease,” the young woman shot back.

The husband and wife had listened to these diatribes with some concern. But they both were also somewhat amused, finding it difficult to believe that the young people could be serious. The wife was thinking about asking them if they were practicing for a scene in a rather bad play. The husband was thinking of satire, and of the phrases, “pompous posturing,” and “extreme exaggeration.” It was with this reaction that he spoke.

“Well, you know,” he said, taking a tone of mock authority and then glancing into his wife’s eyes and smiling, “once you get to know a woman—or two, or ten, some of them are not half bad.”

The hiker’s wife gave a fake cry of offense and playfully punched her husband in the arm. Then in deadpan, she said, “You know, honey, ‘till death us do part’ might be a lot sooner than you think.”

When the young people saw that the hikers were laughing together—and even enjoying each other—they waved their hands in dismissal and stormed off in opposite directions,  screaming most of those words you wish your children didn’t have to hear.

“I guess we blew that opportunity to counsel those young folks,” said the husband.

“Yes,” agreed his wife. “But it probably wouldn’t have made any difference. People who insist on putting others in little boxes and refuse to get to know those who aren’t like them can’t help but miss out on all the things and people who would offer the fullest, happiest, life.”

And don’t forget interesting and fun,” added her husband.

“Yes,” she said. “Sharing life with someone different is what gives us the knowledge we need to understand everyone and everything—including ourselves.”

“That’s well said, sweetheart,” said the husband. “And you’re right, too.”

“Well, of course I’m right,” said the wife, in a tone of mock seriousness. “Why wouldn’t I be?”