Saturday, July 10, 2010

Why The Bat Has No Friends

(With Thanks From Oban's Myths & Legends )

This is a re-told Native American Fable;

Many years ago there was a great war between the birds and the animals. No-one knows why. It just happened. The creatures with wings flew to the battle site and made their camp. Those who had legs, walked there. Bat joined the birds. "Hey, I've got wings. So I must be a bird. And there are more of us, so we should win!" The first battle was long and hard, but gradually slashing claws and tearing teeth began to win over beaks and wings. Bat could see that the birds were losing so he hid behind a bush.

When the battle was over the animals walked back towards their camp. "Man, did we kick those birds' butts or what?" said Buffalo, spitting out a few feathers. Yeah! We kicked their butts" cried Bat in his high pitched voice. The animals stopped. "What are you doing with us?" shouted Beaver, slapping the ground hard with his big, flat tail. "You've got wings. You're with the other side." "Yeah, that's right" growled Bear. "And I'm going to eat you!" "Guys! Guys! Get Real!" said Bat, pointing into his mouth. "When have you ever seen a bird with teeth? Of course I'm one of you!" "I suppose so," grumbled Bear.

The next day there was to be another battle and Bat walked to the site with the animals. "Let's rip their beaks off!" he yelled. This time the birds flew as an army with the sun behind them, its bright light blinding the animals. Tearing talons and flapping wings tore into furry bodies. The birds were winning. Again Bat hid behind a bush. When it was all over and the birds started to fly back to their camp, Bat silently joined them.
"That was a good victory today", said Eagle. "Yeah! We kicked their butts" shouted Bat. "Hold on" said Crow. "You were with the other side." "Guys! Guys! Get Real" said Bat. "When have you ever seen an animal with wings like mine? Of course I'm one of you." He flapped his wings vigorously. "I suppose so", said Eagle.

And that's how it was in each battle. When Bat saw that the side he was on was going to lose, he pretended he was on the other side. Eventually the birds and animals got tired of fighting each other. They all came together while their Chiefs held a council of truce to decide how things would be settled. It was very difficult for Bat to pretend that he belonged to both sides. The Chiefs knew what he had done.


"Friends should always help each other and not pretend to be one thing when they are another" they said.
"Bat has wings, but he is not a bird. He has teeth, but he is not an animal. From now on, Bat will only fly at night when other birds are asleep and the animals are hunting." All the creatures nodded in agreement. "You will always be alone, Bat. You will never have a friend among the creatures that fly or from those that walk!"

And that's why Bat always flies at night and doesn't have any friends.


The End

While we all live and learn and nothing is carved in stone, I love the people that are steadfast, that can agree to disagree on minor points while standing pat on the big picture. It took me some deep soul-searching and reading and talking and listening in order to reach my decision to make the mistreatment of mothers of the EMS/BSE my primary focus. For others who don't think this issue is as important as others, I have no argument with you as long as you don't talk out of both sides of your mouth. To turn an adage on it's side, it's just as important that, once you start talking the talk, you continue to stand by your words. If you think you might have been wrong, then go your way and wish those who stick with it well.

There are all manner of people involved in the area of activism connected to adoption and loss to adoption. No one is going to see everything the exact same way. And that's what makes people and life interesting. We are not always going to be every one's cup of tea.

I might not be the most beloved person in adopto-blog land. But I still have friends.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

*Sandy, hand waving in the air!*
I am, I am, I am!!!!

Robin said...

And that's funny because we are both "batty."

Unknown said...

LOL!!

Von said...

Well now tell me, that bat was an adoptee!

Robin said...

Actually, I was thinking that it had all the earmarks of an adoption attorney or PAPs before and after the closing of an adoption. heh heh...good one, Von.