The Perpetual Cycle

When I was a little kid, my father used to tell me a lot of Molla Masreddin stories. For those who don't know or have forgotten who Molla Nasreddin is, I think you've missed out a lot in your life without knowing it. But instead of going on and on about "Molla", I'll refer you to this link and just mention that he's supposed to have been a funny character who apparently lived in the 13th century in our region of the earth. His stories have gone from mouth to mouth and from nation to nation for ages because they all (or almost) contain some insightful notion about the ways of the world. There's always something to remember from a Molla story should you wish to recount them to appear to be a wise man or woman one day.

I think it's a pity that the lack of popularity of our current-day mollas has created negative karma for the character and made the man fade from memories. There is a lot to be learned from the tales associated to Molla Nasreddin. One of those I couldn't stop remembering from my younger days while I was recently watching the horrendous events in Lebanon develop, was one that just hasn't left my mind for some time now. I've been thinking a lot about why that is, meaning why this specific story keeps coming back to memory, and I think I've finally found an answer to my personal enigma: I believe this tale actually sums up how the world has developed the way it has.

I'll explain: If you look closely, there are always two main sides in every event and the two usually have to make a deal to make something work. Only, the deal doesn't always work out the way it's supposed to. Take the latest piece of news as an example: President Ahmadinejad of Iran has invited President Bush of the USA to a TV debate. I think I already know how the debate, if it ever takes place, will turn out by applying the model of Molla's story to it. I also know how the Israeli-Palestinian dilemma will end just because I can associate this one story from the Molla collection with the events.

So read it carefully, you actually may learn something from this small tale and wonder to yourself why you hadn't thought of that:

One day Molla was wandering in the desert, all hungry and broke. After hours of walking, he finally reached a village where there was a caravanserai in which he could rest. As he was very hungry, he asked for food, but found out that the only food available was a soup that cost four Papasis. He couldn't help but notice that since he had only two Papasis left in his pocket, he wouldn't be able to afford to buy a bowl. That's when a stranger approached him and said that he had overheard his conversation about the soup, and as he also had only two papasis left, he suggested that they put their money together to share a portion.
Molla happily agreed and they bought a bowl. As they began eating, the man pulled out some salt from his shoulderbag and poured it into the soup.
Molla said "What are you doing? I don't like salt in my soup!"
The man replied "Look, half of this soup is mine, and I'll do whatever I wish with my half."
Molla didn't say anything further and decided to go on eating. That's when the man pulled out some pepper from his bag and started pouring it into the soup.
Molla, who was clearly annoyed, said "What are you doing? I don't want pepper in my soup!" to which, the man replied "Look, half of this soup is mine, and I'll do whatever I wish with my half."
Molla didn't say much this time either and began eating again. Only, he hadn't finished swallowing his next spoonful, when the man pulled out some lemon juice from his bag and poured it into the soup.
Molla, who was visibly angered this time, said "What are you doing? I don't like lemon juice in my soup!" Again, the man comfortably replied "Look, half of this soup is mine, and I'll do whatever I wish with my half."
Molla stared at the man for a second or two, and without any further hesitation, took out his schlong from underneath his robe and started pissing in the bowl.
The man said "What are you doing? You're pissing in the soup!"
That's when Molla replied "Look, it's my half of the soup, and I'll do whatever I goddamn wish with my half!"

And now you know why the world has gone astray.