Wednesday, October 1, 2008 10:17 AM

While having breakfast this morning and listening to BBC News on the radio I remembered a little story from The Crying Game, a 1992 film written and directed by Neil Jordan. The movie has nothing to do with politics, but the following story is an interesting parable for the way the political two sides (the mean and the stupid) are relating.

The Frog and the Scorpion:
The scorpion, wishing to cross a stream, asked the frog to let him ride his back over the stream. When the frog asked the scorpion how he could be sure that the scorpion would not sting him, the scorpion replied that if he did sting him, it would mean death by drowning for both of them. The frog complies, carrying the scorpion on its back across the stream. Before they reach the other side, however, the frog feels pain and realizes that the scorpion has stung him. He protests, "Why did you sting me, Mr. Scorpion? For now we both will drown!" The scorpion replies, "I can't help it, it's in my nature.