The Parable of the Great Stone Blocks

One day while teaching, Josh was asked, ”Teacher, on the anniversary of the formation of the first trade union in the North American colonies, how fitting is it to see Walmart workers on strike?”

Josh spoke thus:

A mason was looking at a group of seams in a stand of stonework.

“That’s amazing,” the mason said to the mason’s apprentice, “Do you see how tightly those seams fit?  That’s because they were craftsmen built this wall.”

“I don’t see any mortar,” the mason’s apprentice said, “How did they build a wall with no mortar?”

“You don’t need mortar when the blocks fit that well,” the mason said, “The stones stay in place by themselves.”

“If our bricks fit better together, would we not need mortar?” the apprentice asked, “Because, when I put two brick together, they fit perfectly.  Do we not need mortar?”

“Bricks are small,” the mason said, “Bricks will shift if there’s no mortar.”

“But giant bricks wouldn’t shift,” the apprentice said, “Why don’t we make giant bricks?”

“Clay doesn’t make giant bricks,” the mason said, “Clay only makes small bricks.  Giant bricks would fall apart.”

“So why don’t we use giant blocks of stone?” the apprentice asked.

“Giant blocks of stone are too heavy to move,” the mason said, “But bricks are easy to move.  So we use many bricks to give us walls as tall as any walls made of giant blocks of stone.”

“The people who built this wall moved giant blocks of stone,” the apprentice said.

“It took many, many people to move those blocks,” the mason said.

“So we use few people and many bricks,” the apprentice said, “And the people who built this wall used many people and few blocks.”

“That’s democracy,” the mason said, “A lot of people, like a lot of bricks.  Each one is small and made of clay, but together they are as powerful as a giant wall of stone.”

“So aristocracy is giant stones?” the apprentice asked, “A small group of great stones transported by a great many people?”

“That’s how it is,” the mason said.

“So which is better?” the apprentice asked.

“Stone blocks last longer,” the mason said, “But bricks are easier to maintain.” 

“No, I mean democracy or aristocracy?” the apprentice asked.

“Stone blocks last longer,” the mason said, “But bricks are easier to maintain.”