"If a country is governed wisely,
its inhabitants will be content.
They enjoy the labor of their hands
and don't waste time inventing
labor-saving machines.
Since they dearly love their homes,
they aren't interested in travel.
There may be a few wagons and boats,
but these don't go anywhere.
There may be an arsenal of weapons,
but nobody ever uses them.
People enjoy their food,
take pleasure in being with their families,
spend weekends working in their gardens,
delight in the doings of the neighborhood.
And even though the next country is so close
that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking,
they are content to die of old age
without ever having gone to see it."
Stephen Mitchell
Source: Tao Te Ching - 6th Centry BC
http://www.thebigview.com/tao-te-ching/
An interesting quote from Tao Te Ching, a book of ancient Chinese philosophy, with it's simplified version of what life was like during the 6th Century. I am thankful that I can feel both the peace of home and famiy and have the opportunity to travel, see other places, and experience other cultures in our world. I'm thankful that I have had the opportunity to hear the Kauai Rooster's crowing at all hours of the day.
History of the Kauai Rooster and Chickens:
"Wild Chickens, roosters and families of baby chicks are everywhere, running through parking lots, backyards, roads, jungles and golf courses. The roosters are usually a beautiful red color, occasionally speckled with white spots. The hens are good mothers, constantly looking after their small chicks. They do not just cock-a-doodle-doo at first light, but all day too.
The story about where they came from is that early Polynesians and Europeans brought chickens to Kauai. The Filipinos brought the brightly colored fighting cocks, and Walla, the wild chickens. It is said that with Hurricane ‘Iniki, the domestic chickens and fighting roosters were freed from their cages to roam and multiply."
http://www.kauai-vacations-ahh.com/articles/kauai-chickens-roosters.htm
Photo: Feeding one of the Kauai Roosters at Mokihana
12/14/07
2 comments:
What a great photo (I kind of have a thing for roosters, heh-heh)! What an amazing history of them, too -- sounds like they're everywhere. How cool!
Hi Mom,
What a brilliant photograph. I have a memory of the roosters in Kauai waking us up from a deep, restful slumber back during my visit (was it 1991?).
Enjoy!
Jessica
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