Barack And The Wolf (A Cautionary Fairy Tale)

Early one morning, Barack opened the gate and walked out into the big green meadow.

On a branch of a big tree sat a little bird Barack's friend. "All is quiet" chirped the bird happily.

Just then a duck came waddling round. She was glad that Barack had not closed the gate and decided to take a nice swim in the deep pond in the meadow.

Seeing the duck, the little bird flew down upon on the grass, settled next to her and shrugged his shoulders. "What kind of bird are you if you can't fly?" said he. To this the duck replied "What kind of bird are you if you can't swim?" and dived into the pond.

They argued and argued, the duck swimming in the pond and the little bird hopping along the shore.

Suddenly, something caught Barack's attention. He noticed a cat crawling through the grass.
The cat thought; "That little bird is busy arguing, I'll just grab him. Stealthily, the cat crept towards him on her velvet paws.

"Look out!" shouted Barack and the bird immediately flew up into the tree, while the duck quacked angrily at the cat, from the middle of the pond.

The cat walked around the tree and thought, "Is it worth climbing up so high? By the time I get there the bird will have flown away."

Just then grandfather came out. He was upset because Barack had gone in the meadow. "It's a dangerous place. If a wolf should come out of the forest, then what would you do?"

But Barack paid no attention to his grandfather's words. Boys like him are not afraid of wolves.

But grandfather took Barack by the hand, led him home and locked the gate.

No sooner had Barack gone, than a big grey wolf came out of the forest.

In a twinkling the cat climbed up the tree. The duck quacked, and in her excitement jumped out of the pond. But no matter how hard the duck tried to run, she couldn't escape the wolf. He was getting nearer, nearer, catching up with her. Then he got her, and with one gulp, swallowed her.

And now, this is how things stood: the cat was sitting on one branch, the bird on another . . . not too close to the cat. And the wolf walked around and around the tree, looking at them with greedy eyes.

In the meantime, Barack, without the slightest fear, stood behind the closed gate watching all that was going on. He ran home, got a strong rope, and climbed up the high stone wall.

One of the branches of the tree, around which the wolf was walking, stretched out over the wall.

Grabbing hold of the branch, Barack lightly climbed over on to the tree. Barack said to the bird:

"Fly down and circle over the wolf's head. Only take care that he doesn't catch you."

The bird almost touched the wolf's head with his wings while the wolf snapped angrily at him, from this side and that.

How the bird worried the wolf! How he wanted to catch him! But the bird was clever, and the wolf simply couldn't do anything about it.

Meanwhile, Barack made a lasso and carefully letting it down, caught the wolf by the tail and pulled with all his might.

Feeling himself caught, the wolf began to jump wildly trying to get loose. But Barack tied the other end of rope to the tree, and the wolf's jumping only made the rope around his tail tighter.

Just then, the hunters came out of the woods, following the wolf's trail and shooting as they went.
But Barack, sitting in the tree, said: "Don't shoot! Birdie and I have already caught the wolf. Now help us take him to the zoo."

And now, imagine the triumphant procession: Barack at the head; after him the hunters leading the wolf; and winding up the procession, grandfather and the cat.

Grandfather shook his head discontentedly: "Well, and if Barack hadn't caught the wolf? What then?"

Above them flew Birdie chirping merrily. "My, what brave fellows we are, Barack and I! Look what we have caught!"

And if one would listen very carefully, he could hear the duck quacking inside the wolf; because the wolf in his hurry, had swallowed her alive.

If you disliked this reality check - then here are some other salutary warnings by "Grandfather" that you will prefer to bury your head in the sand and ignore:

• Obama May Be Ready -- But is America Ready?

• Real-Politik: Time For Democratic Primary Voters To Get REAL

• Obama vs Hillary: Read This And THEN Decide

• Plus Ca Change!

• Oprah's Endorsement: A Million Reasons To Respect It

• How Obama CAN Win: "Plan 9 From Outta Chicago!"

• Revealed At Last! Obama's Secret Weapon Against The Oil, Drug & Insurance Companies...

• Obama & The "Slum-Lord": Smear Or Time-Bomb Scandal?

• Note to liberal Hillary-bashers: It's The SCOTUS, Stupid!

• "The Untouchables" - Karl Rove unleashes $100 MILLION war chest

A Republican Election Tactician Salivating About The General Election Campaign

Comments

[mindact]

You might want to add the democrats loosing both houses of congress. One thing is clear, the clintons are willing to help the democratic party so long as it doesn't sacrifice their self interest. In a situation, where they potentially have something to loose, all bets are off.

The super delegates and the democratic party ought to think long and hard about who they want on the democratic ticket. Hillary, who's going to contnue the democratic experiment that her and Bill started, which has undeniably squandered a lot of the goodwill the democratic party enjoyed particularly in the swing states. Not to mention, a weakened republican party that can be energized by Hillary on the ticket, which will turn out to cause a pain in the fanny for the Democrats running for re-election, particularly in the swing states. Or Obama, who's likely to draw a lot of independents, who are more likely to vote for the democrats on the ballots, does not shakedown or demonize his opponents as evidenced from his time in the Illinios senate and in the national scene and get this, might even convince some aggrieved republicans to vote for the democratic ticket or worse case, sit their behind at home.

The choice is for the super-delegates. The floodgates have been broken and the mass defection is about to start. Al Gore experienced the Clinton's underhandedness first hand, Bill Richardson sees the character flaws of the clinton's big time, John Kerry experienced some of it, with Bill's unwillingness to really throw himself in the race on his behalf, might I even add John Edwards getting thrown under the bus by Hillary, when the mic picked up his conversation with Hillary on willowing down the amount of participants in the debate at the beginning of this process.

Net-net, the Clintons are bad for the party, their defeat in the primaries will curtail their influence in the party and totally diminish it once Obama wins in the general. Here's our opportunity to remake the party, with a new majority. Let's join Obama in this endeavor

[Nommo]

Is the problem really Obama's? It is really the nation's problem if the nation goes for the repub game. If we have not figured it out by now, then we will be reminded again and again that people get the gov't they deserve.

If they managed to find even one weapon of mass destruction would all be content? Just one? We can't get bent out of shape over infrastructure matters, the misuse of our military, the amount of poverty in this nations, then really, what the fuck?

The Republican slime machine is what we need to worry about next? Well, whoever it is that voted for them, please enjoy the entertainment.
I really hope that Obama gets down and dirty with y'all, and buries y'all in your own shit.

[barackoblogger]

yeah, yeah, yeah...

They're gonna come after us.

Hasn't anyone figured out yet that the more the attack us the better it is for us?

[patrice37]

Does Martin Lewis get paid for these things? This is so utterly terrible that I couldn't get through more than a few paragraphs. Since his earlier terrible posts have made clear that he's got an unseemly thing for Hillary, I guess I know how it ends, though. You know, Clinton isn't so bad that she needs this kind of help.

[gba]

I thought that the Obama supporters belonged to the well educated wine track of the Democratic Party...

[radlib1]

I think I get it. Hillary is the quacking duck.

[mawrm]

Haha! This is hilarious. There are those who "get" the fable and there are those who don't. What's pretty funny is to see who gets it and who don't - pretty much along the lines of which candidate they support.
Martin - great fable by the way!!

[anon004]

"This is hilarious. There are those who "get" the fable and there are those who don't. What's pretty funny is to see who gets it and who don't - pretty much along the lines of which candidate they support . . . "

mawrm, I didn't know who you supported so I went to your profile and read your comments. It's interesting to me that you are an Obama supporter. I think you assumed that I was one of those working class supporters of Hillary who wasn't quite smart or educated enough to "get" this post. Guess what? I am upper middle class and have a masters degree. I was trying, in a diplomatic way, to say that this post was poorly written and didn't make a clear point. BTW, I started out as an Edwards supporter, but by the time Super Tuesday came, he was out of the race. You want ot know who I voted for? Barack Obama. Do you still think I don't "get it" now that you know I voted for your candidate?

[Doofus]

The point to the story is that the duck gets

eaten by the wolf. Other than that, there's

a fine musical accompaniment. Story & music

by Sergei Prokofiev.

[SamThornton]

Afraid I'm constitutionally suspicious of someone who cites their own past screeds as proof of their current one as has Mr. Lewis.

This current fairy tale by the esteemed Mr. Lewis suggests that supporters of Sen. Clinton are growing increasingly desperate, willing to abandon all facades of reasonableness for the cloak of demagogic emotionalism.

[Ides]

Poor little black politician from Chicago. He's lived such a sheltered life he could never stand up against the Republican smear machine.

Hell, I could stand up against the Republican smear machine when I was 14.

[ATLiberal]

Yawn. Same old same old. Poor little Obama. He'll be eaten alive. Let's get the triangulation machine revved up. We can do it with our tried, true and frequently failed 50% + 1 strategy.

[texanna]

Your allegory was a bit strained, but the overall point of your article is well made. Democrats really need to divorce themselves from the corporatist media, take a deep breath and REALLY think about the two candidates we've got left and the future of the Democratic party. Certainly the corporatist media doesn't care about the long-term plans of the Democratic Party, so we need to resist their efforts to force-feed us the Obama-mania meme just because it's another easy way for them to make deadline. Without all of the hype, Obama might very well be the best candidate, but it's difficult to tell in the current over-heated environment. And, without all of the mysogyny coloring our thoughts of Sen. Clinton, she might very well be the best candidate. But, with all of the negative noise it's difficult to tell. We don't have much time left, and we should be putting that time to better use than diving into the echo pool that is being created for us by the corporatist media.

[MPeter]

Beautiful. Barack tames the wolf and cages him!
I think Obama has so far shown that he can tame wolfs and slay the Vampires that now populate Washington DC.

[lynnn]

You know why wolves (sadly) were on the decline and on the endangered list?

Bc Millions (of non lazy people) got out and shot them. Okay well some people clubbed em, it actually was a big movement for awhile to eradicate the wolf.

Wolves do run in packs, but people can come in millions.

[lynnn]

Yes that little Doe eyed idealist Obama, boy he just doesn't know about challenges, I'm sure he backs down from a fight. And being from Chicago, I bet he definitely doesn't know about nasty political games.

His run for president shoes he doesn't have character to face opposition and possible attacks.

Quiet Down people, your voices and your movement need protection, it's not safe yet, just wait.

[Herrington]

I like your mind lynn. Let's see if you like my story.

When I was 4 years old I had a waking dream. In the doorway to my bedroom was a half man half wolf. It terrified me so that I could not cry out. I am 56 years old now, and from time to time that wolf still visits me. He will never be a friend of mine, but I know who he is now.

Also from time to time, that terrifed boy will see the need to release that wolf, but only in response to the wolf's own kind.

[Countess]

Democrats would be out of their minds to nominate the Hillary Clinton the worst possible democrat. It is not just that she bought Bush's bullshit about Iraq and worked with Cheney and Lieberman to promote another war with Iran but because she has no appeal to independents who make up about a third of the electorate. If you want McCain in 2008 vote for Hillary Clinton and your wish will come true.

[anon004]

With all due respect, what exactly is the point of this post? That Barack Obama should watch for the Republican wolves in the general election? That Obama can overcome the Republican wolves, and Hillary Clinton cannot? I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, I just want to understand the underlying idea. I guess I'm just too literal for a post like this . . .

[YellerDawg]

I agree. Perhaps Martin should leave the fables to Aesop. His story has no clear moral. It is true that the Repugs will be rabid wolves in the general election. Whomever we nominate had better be ready.

[Ides]

It seems pretty obvious. The "elder statesmen" keep saying Barack Obama can't handle the Republicans, who will devour and destroy everything in their path.

Obama seems quite capable of doing so, so they should ignore the warnings and just do it.

Oh, and don't feel the need to destroy the Republicans, just take their power away.

[urbanrevolt]

Sergei Prokofiev, not Aesop... and NOT Martin Lewis. Peter and the Wolf.

This is someone else's story (from 1936).



How fitting is that.

http://www.philtulga.com/Peter.html#01
"Prokofiev invented the story and wrote the narration himself, drawing on memories of his own childhood.
"...And its moral — you can't be a hero if you don't take risks -"

[caj]

I'm with anon004: Say what? Think a wise person once said A good writer should always, "Simplify, simplify,simplify."

Or, at least, name the characters. Who is the duck? Who is the birdie? Who is Grandpa?

[Doofus]

The moral, about the importance of taking risks, in a story told by Prokofiev to his son in 1936, seems apt. I've read, even though the date is pre-WW2 (slightly), that the wolf was Hitler, the grandfather was Stalin, the duck represents Poland, the hunters the Allies, the boy somehow represents the noble youth of 'Mother Russia'. Perhaps a composer will just use any excuse to create great music.

[fmmcfarren]

I agree.. what the F!? Allegory of the Cave this is not.. nor even the boy who cried wolf..
A little illumination from Mr. Lewis would definitely elevate the discussion.