The three little pigs - as told to Zimbabwean children
Well the farmer piggies went first after given marching orders to get out of their cosy brick farm houses because the big bad wolf was busy marking new territory. The nasty colonial, imperialist porkers, said the wolf, were hogging all the space, it wasn’t fair that they grew all the food and that their houses were so big. Added to that, the big bad wolf had run out of money to keep the wolf pack’s high standards they had grown so used to - 25 years of riding on a pig’s back. So he decided to give the pack fancy new houses and acres of land.
So off the wolf-pack scurried, herding before them war-vet piggies to grow food and till the fields. But alas, they soon realised they only had enough resources to build houses of straw. They tried all they could to rebuild those old days when they had enough swill and pig scoff to keep their families fat and healthy. And it wasn’t long before piggies accross the land were getting hungry and starting to sound just a little dis-grunt-led. The big bad wolf knew it wouldn’t be long before they and the pack would be baying at his door. So this time he turned to all the little piggies accross the land and said: “little piggies your houses are pig sties, you are an embarassment to the pack.”
And he huffed and he puffed and he blew the houses down.
And he huffed and he puffed until the little piggies were spread far and wide accross the land, so far he couldn’t hear their cries.
But the world was less than blown away. Soon the wolf had to deal with all sorts of people all over the world complaining. He knew he needed to prove that he was, at heart, really a wolf in lamb’s clothing. But he had nowhere to put the hungry and shivering piggies.
So he quickly said he would build them new houses: “No problem,” said the wolf, “we’ll get the veteran boar brigade to build them houses of mud.” And all the hyenas on the wolf-pack pay roll got building the houses of mud.
Oh dear! The houses of mud looked really good, the soldier and police piggies were especially happy to see their new houses going up. But then the rain came down. And it rained and rained and rained. And the wind huffed and it puffed and it blew all the mud houses down.
“Let’s call in the United Nations” said the big bad wolf. After so many years of disguising himself in hoods and cloaks he was confident that he know how to trick the likes of the naive Little Red Riding Hoods of the world. And anyway, he also knew that his second-in-command She-Wolf - who happened to be married to the former wolf-army general - now owned the brick factories. Everyone would be happy - the piggies would get their houses and the wolf pack was already drooling at the thought of all that dosh that would be coming their way in Little Red Riding Hood’s basket of goodies! They howled and they cavorted for the feast soon to be delivered.
(Still here, and still waiting for a happy ending).
December 4th, 2005 03:29
nice picture you have… you draw it yourself?
Is this story about the government in your country?
December 7th, 2005 07:11
In most countries rabid dogs would be shot along with their rabid families.Why not Mr Wolf?
December 7th, 2005 14:48
We believe strongly in non-violent change and we wouldn’t advocate that as a solution to our problems at all. The last thing we need in our country is for people to start seeing assassination or similar as a solution to any and all political differences. That doesn’t build a stable future.
Instead, we believe that leaders should be held fully accountable for violations of human rights/crimes against humanity etc, in line with local and international law. Have you noticed how despots awaiting trial in the Hague suddenly seem to become inconsequential (which they no doubt hate!). As inconsequential as they are, they nevertheless represent a living warning to anyone else aspiring to despotism.
December 7th, 2005 16:48
Apologies - it was said tongue in cheek, but something must be done soon. As tempting as it may be to resort to violence, it is not an answer.
December 8th, 2005 16:03
No apologies necessary M. You posed a question that many people do, and in so doing gave us a good opportunity to re-state our principles and values. Thank you for that.