Piper: Civilization Striker

An approach to 'civilization customs' with the symbolic German tale of the Piper (Hamelin) who reminds us of the value of teamwork...and distancing.

A modern approach/re-telling to the civilization-symbolic German folk-tale of the eerie Pied Piper of Hamelin. Happy New Year (signing off), 

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The Piper traveled to Hamelin and made a contract with the town mayor in that part of Germany to rid the humble but industrious town of its rat infestation, using a special flute-music lyrical trick which was effective in hypnotizing and drawing out rats from their hiding-places. The Piper took all the rats of Hamelin and dumped them in the river, forever ending this horrid problem in that part of Germany. However, the town mayor betrayed the servicing Piper and paid him only half his contractual fee, and this enraged the Piper so much that he decided to kidnap all the children of Hamelin and disappeared with them and never returned. Only one child was left behind to tell this sad tale! 

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The story of the Piper is one of retribution and wrath. It's one of betrayed contracts and the consequence of defaulted customs in a time of great labor or serious work in a symbolic area of human civilization (Germany). When we think of that single child who's left behind by the Piper in Hamelin to tell this sad German folk-tale, an omen about betraying customs and contracts regarding fees for agreed-services, we think of the duty that lone child carried in presenting to the world the symbolism behind that abandoned area of obligation or customs failure. We think of the 'gray place' of Hamelin (Germany) created simply by a failure in contracts. The consequence was unforgettable. 

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This story of the Piper has ironic applications to many facets of civilization throughout world history! Why, for example, did the corruption of the mighty Roman Empire seem to overshadow any benefit/laurel offered by any single even momentarily dutiful civil leader or Centurion or Senator or Emperor? Why, for example, did the Holocaust of WWII seem to overshadow any long-term tradition evaluation regarding the uniqueness of the Jewish people, in preference for more 'political' dialogue regarding their newfound unquestioned sovereignty from threatening 'savages' of war? Why, for example, do we critique media celebrities in the TV-era for flaws we all share (e.g., vanity, gluttony, apathy, ignorance, etc.)? 

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The old sad tale of the Piper remains therefore a reminder, a 'haunting' in oral tradition, reflecting a timeless fascination with the use of symbols of lore to re-present values and ethics and moral understanding through the complex (sometimes 'gray') lens of absolute truth. The Piper should've been paid his agreed-upon fee by the Hamelin mayor. The Piper felt compelled to then kidnap all those kids, to leave behind one 'witness' to relay the now timeless/infinite sad-story of that part of Germany. We keep the weight of contracts in mind to remind ourselves of the 'value' of reflection in determining our 'humility' towards the grave consequences of simply betraying one another. Isn't that a 'deceptively simple' defense? 

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"Money is everything" (Ecclesiastes)