There was a significantly wealthy merchant in Ancient Greece. He lived in an enormous mansion surrounded by acres of land and gorgeous private gardens.
However, his luxurious life was disturbed by the poor and depressed locals, as he had the mightiest fig tree in town. This tree was a guaranteed pass to the other world; the locals were trespassing on his private land to hang themselves on it.
No one knew exactly whether our rich merchant was upset by seeing death around him so often, or whether he was just annoyed by it as it added needless hassle to his busy schedule. Nevertheless, he decided to cut the fig tree down. He asked one of his servants to announce to the public that they had exactly one week to kill themselves before the tree was gone.
Was our merchant being cruel by inviting people to kill themselves, or was he being utterly ‘democratic’, which was rather fashionable in those days?
cruel!?!! he was a selfish bastard!
Death is the transaction par excellence in a world that has no better use for trees.
Too bad that life in town also was non-existent, probably since they sent the old man from the previous post out fleeing to the wilderness.
_____
“And see the land… And what the land is, whether fat or lean, whether there are trees in it, or not.”
He just needed to put a sign up ‘Private property, keep out, trespassers will be hung’
He was being democratic by giving them an option. The tree was on his property and it was therefore his tree. It was beautiful, but alot of times, beauty is good when it’s observed from afar and that’s what the neighbors should have done; look but don’t touch.
Cruel or democratic? <— Democratic
The Farmer is subject to the tyranny of the majority at the moment and is simply redressing the balance.
I wanted to say he was mean but no! He was not mean! He was a terrible combination of thoughtlessness, ignorance, egoism and brainlessness!
Poor inhabitants of the village were trying to say something by hanging themselves on the tree! Three words: “We are hungry!” Or maybe “Life is tough!” Or maybe “Need your help!”…-
Instead of helping the desperate community solve their problems by maybe improving employment- he decided to get rid of the fig tree which is actually a heaven-sent environmental object! People will probably continue dyeing on his property by using other means. He is a fool helping worsening public health problems!
He was a great example of indifference that’s going on in many levels of our lives today. Nothing has changed since Ancient Greece!
Wonderful pictures! We thohgut of you as we went thru Hillsboro coming down to Cannon Beach. Sher told us there was flooding on the coast highway and our car would not get thru as the water was getting higher hence we came thru Portland.Looks like you have a great family tradition lots of fun.