Buckwheat and the Giant: Fables and Tales, and a Little Truth

Abstract

From what I can gather, this small, sturdy 328-page book is the political credo of a devoted father-and-son team. They believe that something is deeply wrong with the contemporary United States, and this is part of their attempt to get the country on the right track. I include the book in the collection because it does indeed include several fables. They, too, are a part of the argument. Thus far I have found three. One is at the top of the T of C on 76. The cartoon presents The Bex Boys and has an apparent title Fables for the 21st Century. Dad tells son Just remember the fable of the grasshopper and the ant. The ant works hard all his life and as a reward…. Son responds Somebody steps on him. In that T of C we see listed The Ass And His Shadow (85) and The House Dog And The Wolf (121). I also notice a joke that is new to me and may qualify as a fable: The Pig With The Wooden Leg Sits For Dinner (147). It turns out that this pig is very special to this farmer, since he saved his daughter's life. When asked about the wooden leg, the farmer responds You surely can't expect us to kill this pig all at once. The moral asks if the pig could be individual freedom and the rest of the family be ourselves. Notice also Two Monks And The Truth on 177. The monk who carried the naked girl across the river put her down miles ago; the scandalized monk has been carrying her ever since. When people want to make an argument, they turn frequently enough to traditional wisdom sources, including fables.