Dark Fables for Modernity: The Bear and the Beavers

It came to pass that one day the Bear spotted a group of Beavers making a dam at the base of the stream from which all life in the forest draws its nourishment. Seeing that his hunting grounds would be diminished if the stream were clogged, he confronted the Beavers, and tore down their wooded dam. Enraged, the Beavers cried, “Why, Bear, do you constantly obstruct the natural progress of the helpless forest animals?” The Bear replied, “Show me a time prior to this instance that I have obstructed nature, as you say!” Now the Beaver, being cunning in their wit, said, “do you not obstruct the Salmon on their route to their birthing place?” Seeing an opportunity, the Salmon chimed in “He does do that! He does do that!” Soon the whole forest was in an uproar against the Bear, each animal with their own gripe against the oaf. Unable to see the fallacy in the Beaver’s accusations, the Bear was left speechless with no one to defend him. He lumbered away in his muddle-headedness, leaving the Beavers to their work.

            Not long after the bear returned to find a great lake where once the stream had been. The salmon looked to the bear, and said, “Our habitat is ruined, our children are forsaken, and you did nothing to stop this! Leave for now and forever!” Once again the rest of the forest chimed in, who had since been uprooted by the lake, and drove the Bear from the forest once and for all.

            The bear responded as he lumbered away, “The role of the righteous is not to be envied.”