Antland, Antland Over All

bklinger

In T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, young Arthur is turned into various animals by Merlin as part of Arthur’s education.  When he becomes an ant and is placed in an ant colony that is preparing to go to war with the neighboring colony, he hears this message broadcast throughout the colony (p 129).   Anyone listening to Russian pronouncements on Ukraine will find it strangely familiar, especially F. In case you’re wondering, “mash” is the food which Merlin gives in abundance to both colonies, satisfying all their physical needs.

  1. We are more numerous than they are, therefore we have a right to their mash.
  2. They are more numerous than we are, therefore they are wickedly trying to steal our mash.
  3. We are a mighty race and have a natural right to subjugate their puny one.
  4. They are a mighty race and are unnaturally trying to subjugate our inoffensive one.
  5. We must attack them in self-defense.
  6. They are attacking us by defending themselves.
  7. If we do not attack them today, they will attack us tomorrow.
  8. In any case, we are not attacking them at all.  We are offering them incalculable benefits. 

Photo: Russian war rally [CNN].