The Scorption and the Turtle

Dear Friends,

Let me share with you a brief story that is quite famous here in Israel. I think it speaks for itself.

The Scorpion and the Turtle

The Scorpion came to the riverbank and wanted to cross but could not swim it himself. He saw a turtle swimming in the river and called to the turtle to carry him across on his back. The Turtle looked up at the Scorpion and said: “Why would I take you on my back across the river? At the first chance, you will sting me and I will die.” The Scorpion said to the Turtle: “Silly Turtle, why would I sting you? If I sting you while we are crossing the river, you would die and I would drown.” The Turtle saw the logic in the Scorpion’s argument and agreed to carry the Scorpion across the river. The Scorpion climbed on the back of the Turtle and as the Turtle reached the halfway point of river, the Scorpion stung the Turtle. As the Turtle was dying and sinking into the river he gasped: “Why did you sting me, for now we will both die?” The Scorpion responded: “Yes, that is true, but you forget, this is the Middle East.”