Two hungry bear cubs found a head of cheese the size of a good piglet lying in the grass.
“We must divide it equally, so as not to deprive anyone,” said the first.
“I am the eldest, I am entitled to more!” said the second and tried to take the cheese from his brother.
“I'm the youngest, I get more due!” the first one shouted.
They began to argue, and then even fight.
Suddenly, a fox emerged onto the clearing. With a sweet, honeyed voice, she offered:
“Please don't fight. Such nice little bears, such intelligent and fair-minded two brothers! Allow me to assist you in dividing this cheese equitably, to the satisfaction of all. Our aim is to foster a society where everyone's rights are upheld through the fair and just redistribution of resources— or in this case, cheese."
The brothers scratched their heads, exchanged glances, and handed the cheese to the fox. The fox proceeded to split the cheese into two halves, with the left side noticeably larger than the right.
"That's not equitable!" the cubs cried out. "Make it equal for both!"
"Ah, you are right," responded the fox, grinning. "Let's strive for equality in outcomes."
The fox took a bite out of the larger half of the cheese.
Now the other half was larger! The cubs shouted:
“It is unfair, it’s not equal!”
"And again, you speak truth," the fox sighed. "We'll need to take from this side as well. The lengths we go to for social justice!"
Even as the fox's mouth overflowed with cheese, the cubs persisted:
"It's still not fair! One part remains larger!"
The fox kept dividing cheese until only two small slices remained.
“You see,” she said. “Equity means an equal outcome. It's not much, but it is equal!”
The brothers stretched out their paws for the little slivers of cheese. The fox acted as she was just about to give it to them, but then she said:
"Wait a minute, kids! Have I not worked selflessly to ensure fairness and social justice? Surely I deserve some compensation? A small token, say, these two pieces?"
With that, she popped the remainder of the cheese into her mouth and vanished into the bushes, wagging her tail.
The brothers sat in silence, their stomachs still rumbling with hunger.
The moral: When you hear them say, "Social justice is about creating a fair and equitable society where everyone’s rights are recognized and protected, and decisions are made fairly and honestly," HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR CHEESE AND RUN!
