The Donkey Broker (1950s?)

[Music] [Music] Is this scene familiar to you? Not the street. For perhaps you have never visited that coffee house where a learned shake sometimes tells the old stories of Nasaredin Hocha. But this scene of two candidates for an election arguing the issues in public. Have you not seen this before in your own village or city? It is much the same all over the world. Speechm for votes. The chubby fellow there doesn't want to let his opponent be heard at all. You all agree, don't you? You don't believe them, do you? Well, I know who I'm going to vote for. My mind is made up. Have you decided so soon, Hamid? On who, may I ask? Oh, have there any choice? Certainly not that tall fellow with a quiet voice. He's no sort of a leader. Are you sure, Hamid? The tall fellow, as you call him, hasn't had a chance to speak out there. I know him. He has a good grasp of our local problems and how to work with them. Problems? The man who's talking now, the one I'm going to vote for. He doesn't talk of problems. He talks of our prospects for a bright and prosperous future. That's the kind of talk I want to hear. Words are cheap. You cannot measure their worth by the amount of them. I have made up my mind, Defendy, and all the members of my party, all my true friends will vote the way I do. You and your friends would be perfect victims for the donkey broker. What donkey broker is that? Offendi Burhan, I was thinking of a story about Naseredin Hocha. About how the Hocha once learned a bitter lesson that people like Hamid seem to have forgotten today. A hundred stories of the Hoch's wisdom, humor, and sometimes of his foolishness have come down to us over the [Music] generations and his donkey. A donkey that had anything but the pleasant disposition of his master. [Music] One afternoon, Nasuline set off for the marketplace at the gate of the city when a friend stopped him. How now, Hocha? Market day isn't until tomorrow. I know. At the rate this stubborn donkey travels, it will be tomorrow before we get there. At the big city market, the Hocha turned his donkey over to a broker who offered it for sale. One customer, wishing to find out the donkey's age, tried to look at its [Music] teeth. Another customer came and tried to lift the donkey's tail in order to inspect its hind quarters. [Applause] [Music] Finally, the donkey broker had to advise the hoocha. It is no use, sir. No one will buy your donkey. It bites and kicks whenever it gets a chance. The hoocher tried to turn the situation into a joke. I know. As a matter of fact, I did not really bring the donkey here to sell him, but to let all my friends see what I have to put up with. But the broker wanted to help Naser. Your donkey has some good points. Hocha. Perhaps if you trained him each day with a heavier load, got him used to working hard, he would be more valuable. There's an old saying that a donkey with a light load often lies down. Nasuline was considering these quiet words of advice when a second donkey broker full of praise for the donkey asked, even demanded that the Hocher allow him to put the donkey up for sale. The Hocher was dumbfounded and confused, but this newcomer was so sure of himself and spoke so positively. This broker carefully turned the donkey's best side toward the crowd and tied him with heavy ropes on a raised auction block where nobody could get near him. Here, here, here. Come on closer, everyone. Take a look. This is the finest donkey I've seen all year. A splendid beast of burden. An animal to do all your heavy work for you. Hear that strong [Music] voice. Look at that fast action. See how steady he [Music] stands. Nothing bothers him. So steady you can drink coffee while riding him. Soft mouth, coat like velvet, so young and spirited. What have I offered for this magnificent animal? Who wants to be the proud owner of this 4-footed champion? [Music] Excited by this broker's fancy words and praises of the donkey, the people at the market began bidding, at first low, but then in higher amounts that were shouted as much out of competition between the bidders as from their desire to own the animal on the auction block. Even the Hocher himself was caught up in the frenzy and called out the amount of all his savings. Sold. Sold to the Hocher. I'll take your money right here. Then the Hocher realized what he had done. Given his savings to buy his own donkey back, just because he had heard it praised to the skies. Now all the big talk was over. The Hocher was right back where he started. Perhaps wiser, but sadder and poorer for his foolishness. The lesson of that Hocher story should not be forgotten today, my friends. The people to put trust in are those who are honest in their advice, not those who speak in the loudest voice and make big promises. Not only in our town here, but in our country and even in international affairs. I think the same bit of wisdom from long ago holds true. What do you think? [Music]