HOW TO TREAT A TREE (otherwise known as The Capitalist, the Scientist, and the Native American)

A Native American, a Scientist, and a Capitalist are walking together one sunny afternoon when they suddenly bump into a large tree.

That Capitalist cries, "WHAT was THAT?"

The Scientist says, "It is a tree, to the best of my knowledge."

The Native American is silent.


"What's it doing here?" asks the Capitalist.

"It is living DNA, reproducing and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen" says the Scientist.

The Native American mumbles something incoherent under his breath.


"Is it usefull?" asks the Capitalist.

The Scientist mumbles something incoherent under his breath.

The Native American finally speaks up:


"It is a living spirit and a gift from God. It provides air, food, medicine, and fire, yet it can also be poisonous. We should be mindful of this because how we treat the tree is a reflection of how we treate ourselves."



All three fall silent.

The Native American quietly pulls a blanket out from his satchel, and unfolds it to reveal dozens of peyote buttons. Together, they munch away the sunset and ponder their relative meanings until dawn.

the end