SEPT 6 — Picture yourself in a lush valley, somewhere in Africa living as a peasant in a hut, where you survive on what you plant and what you rear. The valley has two villages, one named Appeasement (hereinafter referred to as village A) and the other named Battle (hereinafter referred to as village B). In the valley roams a pride of indigenous lions which are the main threat to the human inhabitants. You, like many others in the valley, do not live in either village but on your own plot of land.

In the past village A, which then consisted of more than half of the human inhabitants in the valley would put out some sacrificial cattle for the lions to eat. The lions were pretty happy with the arrangement and thus did not attack village A.

However, it was different with village B. Representing about a quarter of the valley’s population, village B were not willing to sacrifice their livestock and the lions would often attack and kill members of village B.

The other human inhabitants representing about a quarter of the population lived on their own, with some offering sacrifices for the lions and some not. The ones living on their own tended to be attacked infrequently by the lions.

However, now the human demographics in the valley has changed with 25 per cent living in village A, 25 per cent living in village B and 50 per cent living on their own. Exacerbating the problem, the lion population has also increased by 50 per cent.  While village A with its tradition of sacrifice to the lions is not attacked, the attack on village B is attacked almost daily while those living on their own too are assailed more frequently.

Today, those of us living on our own, need to make choice. We could leave the valley to seek greener pastures as many have done or we could join up with village A or B. If we join village A, we would have to sacrifice some of our livestock to keep the lions happy but at least we would not be attacked. However, with an ever-growing lion population, can we afford the sacrifice in the future?

If we join village B, we know the attacks will come daily but if there are enough of us in village B and we are organised, we might be able to wipe out the lion menace once and for all. In the fight for survival, it is not always the human that dies; once in a while a lion dies, too.

Actually if all the humans in the valley united to fight the lions, they could be wiped out. It is just that the cost in human lives would be high. Those in village A are aware of this but are not prepared to risk their lives. Village A also does not believe that those in village B can be united or will be sincere and stick with their fellow villagers when the attack comes.

Village B, on the other hand, believes that this scourge of lions needs to be wiped out at all costs. They believe that it is man who should dominate this land and it must be done at any cost. But, realistically, there is no guarantee that the man next to you will fight on your behalf should you be attacked by a lion.

To a large extent, the lions also know to attack when the humans are few. They will attack village B strategically. There has always been a significant number in village B who believe that it is their right, bestowed by God, to rule this valley. Regardless of circumstances, this lot will die for their beliefs even if they have no idea how to kill a lion.

There is no way to predict the future but your life is in your hands and you can choose between village A (Appeasement), village B (Battle) or leave the valley altogether. To a large extent your choice will be governed by your values and your instinct for survival. It also depends on the choices of others in the valley.

The question is, what will you choose?

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.