The Jackass

"Nope, not gonna do it." His arms were crossed, as was his mind. "I refuse to give in to injustice."

"You have no choice. Do it or die!" attested a voice from the surrounding crowd.

"See?" jumped the Jackass, "That's exactly what I'm talking about: blackmail. You say I don't deserve to live? Who are you to say that?"

"It's not me saying it. It's just life. It's just the way things are, right or wrong. You have to live with it."

"If God wants me dead then why live anyway? You think this a joke? Lives are on the line. Someone's got to put an end to this."

A newcomer inquired as to the subject of debate. "What's the deal? He doesn't want to work or somethin'?"

A bystander replied: "He doesn't want to eat."

"You can't change the world. Nobody can. You want to stop eating? Go ahead!"

But the Jackass' arguments gained momentum. Why should anyone die from a lack of food? Articles were printed with "What was their crime?" under the photos of children who starved to death. Did their maker want them dead? If not, then why force on them the need for food? Editorials outraged, "IS GOD A JACKASS?"

The ever present crowd around the Jackass parted for the 60 Minutes crew. They listened in to the voice over. "He's a man with a shocking and some say scandalous view on God. It's his contention God does not want us to live, that we are meant to suffer and even the innocent must die. It is this "reality" he protests by a refusal to eat food, saying if his Maker truly wants him to live then that is what will happen. We caught up with him, sitting on a broken dumpster and looking rather haggard."

The Jackass surveyed the surrounding sea of humanity. A nervous hush quieted them as the first question was asked.

"Surely you don't believe God wants you dead?"

"No one who wants me to live would make me live at the mercy of other people."

"But mankind has lived for thousands of years."

"And lived like dogs. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Don't get all cocky because you live the good life."

"It's not just me but millions of others. Are you saying we are all wrong?"

"I don't have to say anything. The evidence speaks for itself. Food has been used as a weapon since the beginning. People are assholes. Each person should be allowed to stand on his own merits. We killed Jesus and we know he did nothing wrong. Why the hell should I hold out hope from you fuckers?"

"Well, why do you think God wants you dead if that's your point of view?"

"Because God doesn't want us to be assholes. He wants us to learn to live together and share the world. Each of us has a stake in making this work. Right now, if one person stumbles, we beat him up and chastise him. Instead, we should help him up and ask why he fell. I say to you: The world has the capicity and resources to feed itself, so why don't we?"

Many pundits actually tried to reply as to reasons not to feed ourselves. But shame had now replaced anger. The anger that had drawn in the crowd as a moth to a fire. They dispersed in silence, leaving the Jackass in solitary confinement. For that, he had only one reply:

"Fuck it. Call in to Popeyes."