The Perils of Trivializing Problems: A Tale of Collective Responsibility

Once upon a time, in a humble cottage nestled within a farming community far away, resided a farmer and his wife. Their barn was home to a cow, a pig, and a chicken.

One day, a mouse found its way into the barn, stealthily venturing into the farmer’s house. During its exploration, the mouse overheard a distressing conversation. The farmer’s wife had resolved to acquire a mouse trap to eliminate the tiny intruder. Astonished, the mouse hurriedly returned to the barn, seeking help and sharing the unsettling news.

The mouse relayed the message to the cow, the pig, and the chicken, but each, one after the other, dismissed the mouse’s concerns. The cow saw no reason to worry about a mouse trap, the pig grew irritated, and the chicken paid no attention. Left to fend for itself, the mouse felt abandoned.

Late that fateful night, the trap snapped, capturing more than just the mouse. Rushing to the scene with eager anticipation, the farmer’s wife was bitten by the snake ensnared in the trap. Her health rapidly deteriorated, and concerned friends suggested that chicken pepper soup could cure the venomous bite. Without hesitation, the farmer prepared the chicken.

Unfortunately, matters only grew worse. Friends and family continued to visit, and to entertain them, the farmer made a grim decision – he sacrificed the pig. As circumstances spiraled further, the farmer’s wife tragically succumbed to her illness. In grief, the farmer buried his wife and, in a heart-wrenching turn, arranged for the cow’s slaughter.

In the end, all the animals met their demise, while the mouse lived on, blissfully unaware of the calamity that had befallen its former companions.

Lessons:

1. We must acknowledge that neglecting seemingly small problems can lead to collective suffering. Once a problem becomes known, it becomes our responsibility.
2. When you hear the call to action, join in and contribute. Ignoring or belittling a problem only invites it to your doorstep. Remember the essence of TEAM – Together Each Achieves More.
3. Never trivialize any problem. Instead, raise awareness and escalate it until someone capable of addressing it can step in. Do not let the problem perish with you or assume it lacks importance.
4. What affects one of us ultimately affects us all. Let us embrace our duty as caretakers of one another.

In this tale, the consequences of disregarding problems highlight the urgency of collective responsibility. May we learn from this story and strive to address issues before they escalate, for the well-being of our communities and ourselves.

Adeolu Akinyemi