[tor-teachers] The Parable of the Clever Servant and Her Leaky Bucket

[Nathan of Guardian]

I did think of an alternate ending where the servants rise up and
liberate themselves using non-leaky buckets, but that is a story for
another time.

On Tue, Nov 24, 2015, at 10:51 AM, Alison Macrina wrote:
> This is great Nathan! Thanks for sharing. Also, a good reminder for us
> all to fire our bosses.
> 
> Alison
> 
> Nathan of Guardian:
> > Tired of the same old analogies and metaphors for talking about
> > encryption and security, I decided to embark on a bit of a creative
> > writing exercise inspired by Rumi, the 13th century Persian
> > poet/writer/teacher/thinker....
> > 
> > ****
> > 
> > A servant was given a bucket and told to draw water from the well down
> > the hill. The bucket was full of holes, making the servant's work
> > difficult, annoying and even dangerous, since she had to take more trips
> > through the woods at night to bring enough water to the house each day.
> > The woods were full of wolves and vagabonds, you see. The servant's
> > master would watch her from the house as she made trips to and from the
> > well throughout the day.
> > 
> > The servant, being smart and resourceful, decided to patch the holes in
> > her leaky bucket with tar and sticks. The repaired bucket kept all of
> > the water inside, and made the servant safer since she could easily
> > finish her work with less trips in the daylight hours. She also found a
> > faster path around the woods, that took her away from the house. She was
> > proud of herself, but apparently her master was not. He summoned her one
> > morning, and asked why she had repaired the bucket, and why she no
> > longer walked by the house. She was confused, as she thought he would be
> > pleased with her improved efficiency and safety. Instead he said
> > "Without the trail of leaks upon the path in front of the house, I
> > cannot easily see what you are carrying is actually water, and instead
> > wine you are sneaking in from your vagabond friends! I made your bucket
> > leaky on purpose, and the fact you have patched it and changed your path
> > proves you are up to mischief and wrongdoing."
> > 
> > The servant built up her courage and replied "Are you drunk each
> > morning? Are you bathing in wine? Of course not. You only need to taste
> > the water at your table, and see the clarity of that in which you bathe
> > to know I am honestly performing my duties. I am no friend to the
> > vagabond. I fear them. I only patched the leaks and found a better route
> > to make my job easier and safer, so that you may have your water, and I
> > may live a longer life." The master considered her wise words, and then
> > promptly threw her in the dungeon, since she was clearly too smart and
> > skilled to be trusted.
> > 
> > A new servant was called, given a new leaky bucket, and told that for
> > her safety, she should never ever patch it, and she must always take the
> > house path, else she might be eaten by wolves, sadly like the servant
> > before her.
> > 
> > 
> > 
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-- 
  Nathan of Guardian
  nathan at guardianproject.info