I know, I know....this is a story, but I think the lesson could be taken to heart when dealing with Iraq, Afganistan and including Mexico. We being the boy. They being the snake;
An AniKituhwagi Story..The Little Boy and the Rattlesnake
This is what I was told as a boy.....A little boy was walking down a path one day and when he came across a Rattlesnake. The Rattlesnake was getting old. Quite old in fact.
Looking up he asked " please little boy, can you take me to the top of the mountain? I hope to see the sunset one last time before I die."
The little boy answered "No Mr. Rattlesnake. If I pick you up you will bite me and I'll die."
The rattlesnake answered, " No, I promise I will not bite you. Just please take me to the top of the mountain. I beg of you."
The little boy thought about it and finally picked the Rattlesnake up and holding it close to his chest carried it to the top of the mountain.
They sat there and watched the sunset together and marveled in it's beauty. After the sun was completely down,the Rattlesnake turned to the little boy and asked, "Can I go home now? I am tired and I am old."
Feeling sorry for the Rattlesnake, the little boy once more picked the Rattlesnake up and held it tightly and safely to his chest. He walked all the way down the mountain, holding the Rattlesnake to his chest.
It was very late when they reached the bottom so the little boy, with kindness in his heart, took the Rattlesnake to his home where he fed it and gave it a comfortable place to sleep.
The next day the Rattlesnake again turned to the boy and asked, " Please little boy, will you take me back to my own home now? It is time for me to leave this world, and I would like to die in my own home."
The little boy felt that since he had carried the Rattlesnake safefly before, and the snake had kept his word, that it would do no harm. Surely it was safe to grant the Rattlesnake's remaining wish and take him home as he asked. So he carefully picked the snake up, took him close once more to his chest, and carried him back into the woods, to it's home to die.
Just before he could lay the Rattlesnake down, it turned and bit him in the chest sinking it's fangs deeply and injecting it's deadly poison. The little boy cried out and threw the snake to the ground.
" Mr. Snake, why, why did you do that? I was kind to you, but now I will surely die!" cried the little boy.
The Rattlesnake looked up at him coldly, grinned and said, " You knew what I was when you first picked me up! So says Spirit Hawk ^i^