
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 16, 1993                   TAG: 9309120269
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: H. ODELL "FUZZY" MINNIX
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THANK YOU, KING DAVID, BUT NOT YET, PLEASE ...

BEHOLD DAVID, king of Lick, looked to the north, south, east and west, and said unto his princes and mighty men, ``There is much spoil in the lands that surround the kingdom of Lick. Our coffers are almost bare and our people have many needs. We must build more towers that reach to the heavens. In this way all will know that I am, indeed, a great king, and will come and live among us and bring with them much gold and fine goods.''

The king's mighty men only nodded their heads so as not to upset the king. ``We must now go into the lands of the Salemites, the Vintonites and the County-ites,'' continued the king. ``We must make war against them and conquer all their lands. For we must have their gold if I would build a city like no man has ever seen.''

``O King, live forever!'' spake one of the king's mighty men, the Prince of Bev. ``But did we not make war on the Vintonites and the County-ites? And lo, we suffered a great defeat on the plains of Tanglewood and the lakes to the north, and took many losses at the hands of the Terriers.'' This he spake, knowing the king must have a very short memory.

``And, O mighty one,'' continued the Prince, ``perchance you have forgotten that the king of the Salemites, and all his mighty men and their merchants, and even unto every subject, have said they want no part with us now and forevermore.''

``O King, live forever!'' spake the Earl of Mac, another of the king's mighty men. ``Peradventure we could engage these people in trade and show forth friendship and persuade them to join in our efforts to be a mighty kingdom.''

The king stroked his beard and said, ``This will take too long, for these are a simple people. They see no need to build great towers that reach to the heavens; they see no need to build a great oasis that will house many caravans and bring merchants from all over the world. These people must have someone to lead them who has my vision.'' This the king spake because others in the kingdom of Lick had also claimed to have vision.

The king then made this decree to the people of Lick: ``I will now go on a journey to a distant land, and upon my return, I will put forth a plan that will turn all the surrounding kingdoms to my side.'' And those in the kingdom of Lick who scribed with pen and quill spake unto David, ``Thou art surely a mighty king who will do many wonderful things, and of thy wisdom there can be no end.''

Upon his return from the distant land, King David set forth his plan. He would visit a damsel in the land of the County-ites, and she would bring many friends into her house to hear the mighty king.

In the damsel's house the hours waxed long as David spake these many sayings: ``Pray come and join us in the kingdom of Lick, where never more will you have need. You will have much gold from foreign merchants who visit my city. All of you will have chariots and fine robes, and you can help to build the great oasis that will house many caravans and bring much wealth to my city.''

And the damsel and her friends sat with eyes like full moons and heard all that the king promised, and some said, ``Surely this is a wise king.'' And the king decided that truly he did have great wisdom, and he would continue in the land of the County-ites until this simple people could see that only he was the great king of all wisdom, and they would surely follow him.

And King David lived four score and 10 years, and each day in all those years, those in the kingdom of Lick who scribed with pen and quill carried the king about on their shields and cried unto him, ``O King David, thou art truly great among all men.'' And each day King David went out to war against the County-ites and all those who surrounded the kingdom of Lick, even until the day he died.

\ H. Odell "Fuzzy" Minnix is chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

by CNB