PLANET OF THE GRAPES

Far, far away in a Galaxy beyond the range of the Hubbell telescope there is a planet composed of small, identical worlds clustered together like grapes on a stock. The humanoids that inhabit these separate worlds are also remarkably similar to each other, as are their society and infrastructure.

They all live inside the orbs rather than on the surface making use of huge, vast, interconnected tunnel structures. These tunnels are perforated at the top which allows for the sunlight to enter yet affords them protection from frequent small meteor showers.

Conformity rules this system of worlds as it does the humanoids on them. And thus it was that over the eons there was little or no progress or change. Deviation from the norm was a capitol crime.

One-day a large meteor struck a glancing blow at the Grape cluster knocking off one of the worlds. It spun madly for a time and then began a long journey through the universe finally coming into proximity with the Earth's atmosphere.

Except for a fluke, it would have crashed but because of its weight, composition and angle of approach it flattened out and skipped, like a rock thrown by a child, across the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean and rolled up onto the shore.

At the time Earth was sparsely populated. European cultures were agrarian with a high degree of diversity and tolerance. Women as well as men served to govern and share labor. There was harmony in the villages and the many tribes lived peacefully with each other.

The visitors from the Planet of the Grapes were gradually assimilated into the various groups who welcomed them and helped them to deal with life on a planet surface. They intermarried with their benefactors and soon became a force that opposed the bucolic life of the natives.

Because of their influence, bickering between the genders broke out followed by warfare between the tribes. The newcomers had introduced intolerance and suspicion. Jealousy and fear replaced trust between neighbors.

These newcomers from the Planet of the Grapes proclaimed themselves as beings that were heaven-sent by god. They asserted that there was only one belief, one set of values and it was theirs. They forced conformity on the group by quenching any kind of opinion that was against what they pronounced.

And so the melting pot bubbled away over the years until all human DNA become fairly standard. Even now few can really say for sure, biologically, which of us are more Earthling and which more Grapeling. The genetic markers are there but our science has not advanced far enough to distinguish them.

But one need not go to science to spot the differences. The Yin and the Yang occurs in varying degrees in each one of us. The clues are there for any that wishes to read them.

The Yang believes that the environment is there for their use and abuse. They care little for the suffering of animals and their first love is money. Their second is scheming how to take it from others. They believe women must be subservient to men.

The Yang demand that everyone must conform or be called traitors. They always act as if they are being attacked when someone disagrees with them and they belittle their opponent. They insist that god talks to them and that everyone should obey them because they are superior beings.

They hate the weak and if it were not for the Yin opposition, they would herd all the poor and needy into a boat and sink it. They cannot stand it when a person, group or country does not agree with them. They love the power of war and use it to prove how strong and patriotic and right they are.

The Yin revere the environment and understands how fragile it is. They feel compelled to help anyone in need to become able to help themselves. They see god more in nature than in the spiraling church steeples and clerical robes. They consider all to be equal and celebrate diversity.

The Yin and the Yang = the Earthling and the Grapelings = the Progressive and the Conservative. Revisionist histories rock. "BRING THEM ON," cowboy!

twanda@sover.net

2003-027

Copyright 2003 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@sover.net.