Story for the day/Oct 25

Subject: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: Auxiris
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 08:16 AM

Instead of a thought for the day, here's a story for the day :

Nasreddine's Son

Nasreddine Hodja's son was thirteen years old and had a very low opinion of his personal appearance. In fact, he thought he was ugly and had such a complex that he refused to leave the house. He said over and over again, " People will make fun of me! ". His father always answered him that he shouldn't worry about what people had to say because they will often criticise, no matter what you do, but his son didn't want to believe him.

Nasreddine said to his son, "In that case, you'll come with me to the martketplace tomorrow."

Early the next morning, they left the house together, Nasreddine Hodja riding the donkey and his son walking along beside him.

Some men were sitting at the entrance to the marketplace, talking. When they saw Nasreddine and his son, they said, "Look at that man, he has no compassion! There he is, at ease riding his donkey and he lets his poor son walk. Yet he has already enjoyed life for a long time; you'd think that he'd let his son ride the donkey for a change!" Nasreddine said to his son, "Did you hear that? You'll come to the martketplace with me again tomorrow!"

The second day, Nasreddine and his son did the opposite of what they had done the previous day : the son rode the donkey and Nasreddine walked along beside him. The same men were sitting at the entrance to the marketplace. When they saw Nasreddine and his son, they said, "Look at that child, he's rude and very badly educated! There he is, riding along on the donkey and his poor old father is obliged to walk!" Nasreddine said to his son, "Did you hear that? You'll come to the martketplace with me again tomorrow!"

The third day, Nasreddine Hodja and his son left the house walking, leading the donkey behind them. The men at the marketplace entrance laughed at them, "Look at those two idiots, they have a donkey and they're not even using it. There they are, walking, too stupid to realise that donkeys are made for riding!" Nasreddine said to his son, "Did you hear that? You'll come to the martketplace with me again tomorrow!"

The fourth day, Nasreddine and his son left the house both mounted on the donkey. At the marketplace entrance, the men didn't hesitate to show their indignation, "Look at those two both riding that poor donkey! Have they no pity for that poor beast?" Nasreddine said to his son, "Did you hear that? You'll come to the martketplace with me again tomorrow!"

On the fifth day, Nasreddine and his son arrived at the marketplace carrying the donkey on their shoulders. The men laughed at them, saying, " Just look at those two fools ; they should be locked away. The very idea, carrying a donkey when they ought to be riding it!"

And Nasreddine Hodja said to his son, "Did you hear that? Whatever you do in life, people will always find something to criticise, so you shouldn't worry about what they say!

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 08:26 AM

Hey!! I like it!!!

Do it again! I'll do one sometime too!

Great idea!

~S~

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 09:56 AM

Auxiris, that is a great story. Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: Tinker
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 10:45 AM

What a great teaching story... thanks... Can I use it??? Please.....
Tinker

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: MMario
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 11:37 AM

*grin* I've always liked that one...my gramma used to tell essentially the same sotry, only it was an old grandmother and her grandson in her version

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: mousethief
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 11:56 AM

Great story! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: Auxiris
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 01:17 PM

Thanks for all the "warm fuzzy" positive reactions, everyone. Mario, I'm not surprised that such a story (sotry! heh, heh) has travelled. . . would love to hear the version you know. I heard someone tell it recently at the storyteller festival that some friends organised and was able to lay my hands on a collection ("Sagesses et malices de Nasreddine, le fou qui était sage") of stories about Nasreddine Hodja. Since they seem to be appreciated, I'll try to find some time to translate a few more of them.

cheers,

Aux

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 01:37 PM

I don't get it. Auxiris tells a wonderful story about how people will always criticize no matter what you do. And you all prove him a liar by complementing his efforts.What would Aesop make of this?

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 01:38 PM

I don't get it. Auxiris tells a wonderful story about how people will always criticize no matter what you do. And you all prove him a liar by complimenting his efforts.What would Aesop make of this?

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: Jim Krause
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 02:44 PM

Thanks SINSULL for proving Auxiris' point. ;-)

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: MMario
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 03:04 PM

sour grapes!

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: BlueJay
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 03:34 PM

Punctuation marks belong outside the quotation marks. Bah Humbug. **BBG** LOL, FATST!

Really, thanks, Auxiris. I've never heard that one, it's priceless. In fact I printed it out for my nine year old daughter to read. Come to think of it, there are quite a few adults I know that should maybe take a look. Or is this all just an exercise in the futility of interpersonal relations? I don'tcare, it made my day. Thanks, BlueJay

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 01:36 AM

It's been a good while since I've heard (well ok, read) this story. I like how Nezruddin uses his trickster ways for good in this story as opposed to just getting over on somebody like a lot of trickster tales.
Thanks, Auxiris for posting this.

Rich

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: Auxiris
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 04:51 AM

Hello again, all. If I survive my visit to the dentist tomorrow, I'll post another one before going off to the wilds of central France to take care of my irises. Glad you liked the story.

cheers,

Aux

Subject: RE: Story for the day/Oct 25
From: Hollowfox
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 04:44 PM

Oh yes, Auxiris, please. You know how all of this got started? When Nasreddin was a little boy, he was the class clown. His teacher gave up on trying to catch him making the other boys laugh, but gave him a fitting "punishment"; that his fame would spread all over the world, but whenever people spoke of him, they would Laugh. Furthermore, he pronounced that whenever a Nasreddin story was told, another must be told in response.