Analysis of the Fable “Don’t Argue with Donkeys”

I just realized something. If the King decrees something contrary to judgment, that makes him a bad king. So, while the disagreement might seem arbitrary and petty, the worse villain is the Lion for decreeing a thing which is untrue, and then punishing the Tiger for what was. It’s funny, but this kind of represents all of the problems in Western Civilization today, that we justify the Lion in his bad judgment.

The fact is, the premise of Western Enlightenment rests on reason’s capacity to win. If we say that there is no capacity in some, and that trying to win them by reason is wicked and unlawful, and deserves to be punished, then we fundamentally undermine Western Society, and the King really does decree that the Grass is Blue.

This is not a good moral. At all.

Author Unknown. Edited by Hamilton, Jeffery W.. "Don't Argue with Donkeys." La Vista Church of Christ.org, archives. https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/bible-studies/moral-principles-for-young-people-volume-ii/dont-argue-with-donkeys/. Web.

However, as a fellow brother in Christ's story, I believe the point is good as a proverb for dealing with foolish people. However, the King in this instance is not a good king. He should never lie out of spite. Nor should a man be punished for speaking what is true by authority. Rather, authority should punish the Donkey, not the Tiger. Thus, the story shows our modern error in judgment.

Questions answered:

The Lion in the story was not just, and is an emblem of today's civil court system. That it explicitly, knowing what is right, justifies fools.

One ought to disagree with someone, if what they are saying is blatantly false, as if their idea gets perpetuated, and becomes law through the King, who then becomes persecuted? Obviously we do. Is it the Tiger's fault that the Lion's decree was unwise? Does not a wise King tell the truth, and reward truth tellers? Will not Christ reward us, for speaking the truth in Christ, and for disagreeing with the world? How does the Gospel get preached, if there can be no disagreement? If Lies are upheld by those in high authority?

We do not have to win every argument. But, that's not the point of this story? Is it? The Tiger went to the King to get a just discernment. And the King failed in this simplest of tasks.

No. Reality does not change because of beliefs. Nor does it change because of the Lion's decree.

I think there was no better way for the Tiger to handle it. As, he went to the authority, but the Authority lied and punished him, insead of the evildoer. As is what happens so often in this world. There is no authority, except what is depraved and wicked and unlawful ordinance. That is why so many people suffer.

Who should have been punished was the Ass and not the Tiger.