Cultural tales, enriched with profound insights, frequently illuminate our understanding of abstract notions such as balance. The Rastafarian story of the chicken and the blue dove stands as a beacon, prompting introspection about our stance within the world's intricate puzzle.
The Tale of the Blue Dove and the Chicken
Among Rastafarians, an old tale unfolds around the chicken's intellect. Some may see chickens as creatures of limited wit, while others challenge this simplistic viewpoint, presenting a more nuanced narrative.
The blue dove, often soaring above, has a recurring chant directed towards its earth-bound counterpart: "foul fool." At first glance, this may seem like the dove is poking fun at the chicken's perceived simplicity. But as the story unravels, a twist appears. The chicken, far from being a mere brunt of a joke, reveals a shrewd strategy. Rather than searching for food or being self-reliant like the dove, it has managed to leverage humans, the dominant species, to cater to its every need - because we know they taste good too!
This dependency, while showcasing the chicken's cunning, also unveils an undeniable greed. This avarice, as the tale suggests, might be the real essence of the dove's chant: not a comment on the chicken's intellect, but a spotlight on its lack of self-sufficiency and unrestrained desire.
The Power of Diet: Echoes of the Ever-Feeding Chicken in Our Choices?
The tale doesn't just ask us to reflect on the shrewdness or apparent greed of the chicken in its relentless feeding. It nudges us to introspect: could our dietary choices, like the ever-feeding chicken, be subtly moulding our essence? It's not about morphing into chickens, of course, but about what our constant intake says about us. Dashwood and Ho (2007) highlighted that certain foods, notably isothiocyanates, can affect gene expression and DNA methylation patterns in human cells. When we mindlessly consume, akin to the chicken's never-ending appetite, are we, too, being influenced in ways beyond our immediate understanding?
The Central Tenet: The Imperative of Balance in a World of Excess
Amidst the tale of the chicken and the dove lies an insight even more foundational than a debate on intellect or greed: the overarching significance of balance. The International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile underscores balance as pivotal for holistic human development (International Baccalaureate Organization, 2013). In a world awash with choices, distractions, and temptations, why is balance held in such high regard? It's simple. As we're swayed by our desires, much like the chicken's insatiable greed for more, we risk losing sight of moderation. Balance isn't just a desirable trait; it's a necessity to navigate the cacophony of modern existence and find our own harmonising melody in life's vast orchestration.
I love chicken, maybe just a bit too much.
References:
Dashwood, R. H., & Ho, E. (2007). Dietary histone deacetylase inhibitors: from cells to mice to man. Seminars in cancer biology, 17(5), 363-369. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1044579X07000247
International Baccalaureate Organization. (2013). The IB learner profile. International Baccalaureate Organization. [online] Available at: https://www.ibo.org/contentassets/fd82f70643ef4086b7d3f292cc214962/learner-profile-en.pdf