A parable

A scorpion asked a swan for a ride on its back across the Jordan River.

The swan said, "If I give you a ride on my back, you'll only sting me and I'll die."

"No I won't," answered the scorpion.

"Do you promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

So the swan let the scorpion on it back and started ferrying him across the Jordan River. Halfway across, the scorpion stung her.

"Now we will both drown, you fool! Why? Why did you do that, scorpion?" asked the dying swan.

The scorpion just shrugged. "This is the Middle East."

Tagged: middle+east, israel, lebanon, palestine