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The Bully and the Appeaser [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-04-14
Billy the bully walked up to Peter and, without saying a word, punched Peter in the nose. Peter asked, “What did you do that for?”
Billy said, “I punched you because I don’t like that hat you wear. It looks stupid.”
Peter said, “Please don’t hit me again, Billy. I’ll take off this hat and never wear it again!”
An hour later, Billy walked up and punched Peter again. Peter asked “What did I do?”
Billy said, “I don’t like your shoes. They’re shinier than mine, and I think you’re wearing them just to show off.”
Peter said, “Please don’t make me give up my shoes. They’re my only pair!”
Billy said, “Then shine my shoes so that they’ll look as good as yours do!”
Peter said, “But I don’t know if...”
Billy said, “Shine my shoes or else I’ll punch you again!”
Of course, Peter shined Billy’s shoes. “Now that I’ve shined your shoes, will you promise not to hit me again?” Billy said, “I’ll look into it.”
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The next day, Billy approached Peter and said, “I like how you shined my shoes, but now I want you to wash my car.”
Peter replied, “I don’t have time to wash your car right now. I’m running late for...”
Billy said, “I don’t care what you’re running late for! My car needs washing! If you don’t wash my car, I’ll punch your face again.”
Peter immediately got to work washing Billy’s car. When the job was completed, Billy said, “Not bad. But I don’t feel like driving my own car all the time. How about lending me yours?”
Peter said, “Now you’ve gone too far. I’ve done everything you demanded of me up until now, but lending my car is where I...”
POW! Billy punched Peter again. “Lend me your car, Peter, or else I’ll have to get rough with you.” Peter complied yet again.
---
Peter had a long walk back home. He called his friend Stu and said, “I have a problem with a fellow named Billy. He’s been telling me what to do, and when I don’t do what he says, he punches me.”
Stu said, “The solution is obvious. Just do what he says so he won’t hit you.”
Peter said, “But I’ve tried that, and...”
Stu interrupted, “Do as he says so he won’t hit you! What’s the big deal?”
“The problem with that is...”
Stu chimed in again and said, “You already know what causes Billy to punch you. If he does it again, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself!”
There are people who might think that Stu’s advice is sensible. And such people are likely to be repeatedly punched in the face.
THE END
* * * * * * * * *
This story is fictional. However, it has a message that I would like to get across to anyone who may believe that it’s a good idea for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appease Putin; or for any senator, representative, judge, media company or law firm who may think that it’s a good idea to appease a certain power-mad bully whose name rhymes with “dump”.
I used some common first names for the three main characters. All three are fictional and are not named after any specific people. If you’re wondering what the character names “mean”, here is how I came up with them: The name “Peter” sounds like “appeaser”; the name “Billy” sounds like “bully”; and the name “Stu” is the first syllable of “stupid”.
[END]
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