Once upon a time, there was a Zebra that contemplated itself in a reflection
it saw in the water. The Zebra developed a sense of self-awareness.
As
the Zebra contemplated things about itself, it became perplexed. It wondered if
it was a white animal with black stripes or a black animal with white stripes.
And so the Zebra saw a wise Baboon and thought to ask the Baboon his opinion.
The Zebra asked the wise old baboon: "Sir, am I a white Zebra with black stripes,
or a black Zebra with white stripes?"
The wise old baboon looked at him
and said: "You are what you are."
The zebra was confused, and asked him:
"What do you mean?:
The baboon again said: "You are what you are!"
Not
wanting to anger the wise old Baboon, the Zebra returned to the Savannah.
Discouraged
and confused, he told his friend, the Giraffe, about the encounter. The Giraffe,
in between munching on leaves, said, and he asked the same question of the Giraffe:
"Am I a white Zebra with black stripes, or a black Zebra with white stripes?"
The
Giraffe replied: "Oh, that's easy - you're a white zebra with black stripes."
Surprised, Zebra asked how Giraffe knew this.
"Simple," said Giraffe,
"If you were a black zebra with white stripes, you'd have asked said 'What I be?'
and the answer would have been: 'You is what you is.'"
