Saturday, February 2, 2008

Koans For Our Time

A man had moved to a new town, and went to the butcher shop there to buy meat for his dinner.

After the butcher wrapped the meat and the man paid him, the butcher said, "I see you're new in town. Would you like to come to my neighborhood for a barbeque, and meet some of the other townspeople?"

"I couldn't possibly. You're a butcher. The butcher's trade is an unclean one", said the man, as he walked out with his steaks.



A woman said to an armed policeman (who earned far less than she), "Why do you not catch more criminals?"

The policeman responded, "we'd like to, and we do our best, but we can't be everywhere at once. Have you considered purchasing a gun?"

"Certainly not", said the woman. "The use of guns is immoral, and people who use them are contemptible. I expect people like you to protect me."

"At the risk of my own life?", asked the policeman.

"Of course!", exclaimed the woman.

The policeman laughed, and walked away.

"I think it's terrible how little respect the police have for people!", the woman complained.



A woman sought to pass a law in her town that would limit where military recruiting offices could be located, a law similar to those limiting pornographic bookstores.

A soldier asked the woman, "Do you think our country should have no soldiers?"

The woman responded, "Of course we need some soldiers. But they can be conscripted when our government wants them. People should not be presented with the choice of becoming a soldier."

The soldier laughed and walked away.

"That reminds me. It's terrible how little respect the military has for my favorite political party", the woman reflected.

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