The grasshopper war
The very first word in the history of Western literature is “rage” or “wrath.” It is how Homer’s “Iliad” begins. Mars is known for his hot temper. As is Neptune. And we all know that it is woven into the human narrative throughout time.
I was thinking about this uncomfortable reality of the human narrative again watching the news, and the horror of what is happening daily between Israel and Hamas. I’m guessing I’m not the only one who feels helpless and wonders “what can I do” knowing deep down there is very little you and I can realistically do to effect meaningful change for families a world away.
I have no words of comfort about this, but as often happens when I don’t have answers, I do have a story. It is from the Lenapé people, a northeastern Native American tribe from pre-colonized America. and it is called “The Grasshopper War”
Long, long ago, the people of two villages liked to visit back and forth whenever they could. The men of the villages would hunt together, the women of the villages would work together, and the children of the villages would play together.
One day, as the children were playing together, a boy from the village across the river saw a streak of green in the grass and, following it, eventually caught the largest grasshopper he had ever seen. Soon a group of the other children gathered around him. They all agreed that it was the largest grasshopper they had ever seen.
But one of the boys from the first village grew envious. Why shouldn’t he have that large grasshopper? After all, it was found on his village territory! So, he snatched the grasshopper from the other boy and this set off a fight, like a chain reaction, a free-for-all began between the children of the two villages.
Hearing the screams of the children, the village women rushed from the fields and lodges where they were working. Seeing their children attacking one another, they began defending their children. Soon they too were pummeling one another and pulling hair.
When the men returned from the day’s hunt, they found their women and children huddled all around; injured, bleeding and worn out from the prolonged fight. None of them could recall any longer why the fight had taken place, and only reported being attacked by the members of the other village. Anger then grew between the men, and the village chiefs swore vengeance on the opposing village and the friendly exchanges between the villages ceased.
It was many seasons later that the truth was discovered. What had begun as child’s play and a jealous argument grew into a needless fight and unnecessary years of discontent between the two villages. Friendships were lost and much unfounded anger was exchanged. This fight is remembered in Lenapé tribal histories as “The Grasshopper War”
So while it is true that there isn’t much you and I can do for a village an ocean away, we CAN be mindful in our own little corner of the world of our own anger, justified or unjustified. And when we feel it bubbling up, choosing first to slow down and ask a few questions BEFORE engaging in heated debates …
about grasshoppers.
References
Story retold as based on a poem by Lillian Arnold Lopez from her book Pineylore
