Leader

Hearken ye now unto a tale: A tale of daring, strength, courage. A tale of woe, danger, and spite. A tale whose ending is yet to be written: This is the tale of a powerful tribe of once proven warriors whose cultural notions celebrate freedom, idealism, and strength tempered with compassion.

From within this tribe a leader arose, in his hand a bow with flaming arrows. In his mouth a tale of lost glory. Yet, this was truly a man with a hardened heart full of only selfish desires. Leader challenged with powerful rhetoric for the head seat of the tribal council. This leader was a native son of the tribe from a powerful subclan. Many were his admirers: especially amongst the older, influential tribal clans.

Large portions of the tribe were swayed as they had been disillusioned by some of their recent elder’s decisions. Disillusioned with cultural changes that occur over time. Their hearts were hardened to the tribal members with desire for acceptance of new ways. They had not the compassion to seek the best in other ways. Nor the willingness to seek acceptance or understanding thereof. They were swayed by the seeming strength of this man. Swayed, and enthralled by false visions of a return to a “better time”, a “better value system.” “Yes,” they shouted. “Let us return to the days of glory when our tribe trod this land of ours with pride and conviction.”

These members of the tribe raised up this man, their beacon of hope, in spite of the warnings of more discerning persons. This man was elevated and given a mandate to bring the tribe back to a time of strength, glory, and honor. But Leader was truly an evil sorcerer with a parasite in his mind. This parasite whispered in Leader’s ears … “You are the one. The savior. Only you have the vision to accomplish what must be done…” As this parasite delved deeper into Leader’s thoughts, worming its way into the deepest recesses of his desire for self glorification… Leader began believing he was truly … omnipotent. Believing only he had the right of all things. Naysayers began to be berated. Other tribes began to fear the tribe. Tribal allies, once brothers with whom the tribe had fought side by side, began drawing back in fear. “Surely,” they said, “this man is a demon.”

Still, Leader’s followers clung to him. Despite all entreaties to cease… all urging to look beyond…, they swarmed raptly at his feet listening and believing as the parasite inside gloried in it’s vindication. Those who saw past the increasingly illogical rhetoric began vehemently decrying of Leader: Begging the elders and tribal council to depose this demon. Stating, “He will destroy our tribe.” Stating, “His self serving heart will bring ruin upon not only us, but our friends and tribal allies.” And still his followers, some now in fear of the leader’s power; his gleefully vindicated followers, dragging them from their longhouses and temples, continued to uphold him.

Many continued to believe in Leader. {woe betide} For the parasitic demon was a self replicating entity able to worm it’s way into the minds of those blinded to truth. Those who saw only a return to what they believed had been better times. A time when the tribe had been strong, respected, and a beacon unto the scattered tribes.

As time passed, visitors to the tribes councils and lands began to be looked upon with fear. Will these visitors take our women…, corrupt our offspring? Will they take food from the mouths of our babies? The leader loudly decried that none from outside the tribe can be trusted. His corrupted followers drank from this tainted fount. They began rounding up any they deemed to be from elsewhere and forcing them from the tribal lands. ‘Go ye back to whence ye came,” they cried… even as women and children wept and men decried their innocence and benevolence of intent. And the leader smiled.

Leader’s councils stroked his psyche, even as those with clear minds yelled “No! This is not right. Always in the past we have welcomed new blood into our tribe and been made the stronger for it.” But the elder councils, in either fear or adoration, turned a deaf ear.

Then the leader began to look jealously upon the riches of other tribes. “Why then do the eastern tribes have an abundance of those things which we need? Why should we trade when we can take? So he sent out warriors. Warriors with false missions sent to secure those things for the Mother Tribe. Sent to take by prowess of arms what had once been peacefully traded for. And great was the dismay of the other tribes. Those tribes who had once proudly fought with and cherished the friendship of the Mother Tribe looked on in dismayed horror as Leader’s tribal warriors did his bidding. Leader came unto them and said, “Fight with us against these eastern evils.” The erstwhile allies of the tribe, once happy to be counted it’s friends, drew back. “Nay,” they spoke. “This we shall not do. Your tribe has been deceived by an evil spirit.”

Now, unto this very day, I say to thee… we know not what shall be the outcome of this. But, I beseech thee, do not listen to evil whispers. Do not raise up thine hands in violence against those from other tribes solely because they are not of your own. Do not allow the demon parasite fertile ground within which to sew it;s seeds of doubt, discontent, and violence. Instead, I beseech thee, follow not this leader of demons down the path of hatred.