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THE TORTOISE, THE ELEPHANT, AND THE HIPOPTAMUS:

One day the tortoise met the elephant, who trumpeted, “out of my way, weakling I might step on you!” The tortoise was not afraid and stayed where he was, so the elephant stepped on him, but could not crush him. Do not boast, Mr. Elephant, I am as strong as you are! Said the tortoise, but the elephant just laughed.

So the tortoise asked him to come to his hill the next day morning. The next day, before sunrise, the tortoise ran down the hill to the hippopotamus, who was just on his way back into the water after his nocturnal feeding. Mr. Hippo! Shall we have a tug-of-war? I bet I’m as strong as you are said the tortoise. The hippopotamus laughed at this ridiculous idea, but agreed. The tortoise produced a long rope and told the hippo to hold it in his mouth until the tortoise shouted “Hey” then the tortoise ran back up the hill where he found the elephant, who was getting impatient. He gave the elephant the other end of the rope and said when I say “Hey” pull, and you will see which of us is the strongest. Then he ran halfway back down the hill to a place where he couldn’t be seen and shouted “Hey” the elephant and hippopotamus pulled and pulled, but neither could budge the other. They were of equal strength. They both agreed that the tortoise was strong as they were. Never do what others can do for you. The tortoise let others do the work for him while he got the credit.

ALI BABA NEWS PAPER would like you to read between the lines and figure it out for yourself. The world of power has the dynamic of the jungle, there are those who live by hunting and killing, and there are also vast numbers of creatures {hyenas, vultures} who live off the hunting of others. These latter, less imaginative types are often incapable of doing the work that is essential for the creation of power.

Peter A. Amon

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