Mariupol before and after.
THE COLOUR OF FRIENDSHIP
Once
upon a time the colours of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they
were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favourite.
Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was
chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look
over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is
the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep
sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would
all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the
world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time
you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there
would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the colour of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious
for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think
of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all
the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so
striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the colour
of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into
the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color
of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."
Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the colour of royalty
and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign
of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as
much determination:
"Think of me. I am the colour of silence. You hardly notice me, but
without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection,
twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and
inner peace."
And so the colours went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own
superiority. Their quarrelling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a
startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to
pour down relentlessly. The colours crouched down in fear, drawing close to one
another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamour, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colours, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate
the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique
and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colours united and joined hands.
The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a
great bow of colour as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow
is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the
sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
Author Unknown
