The Tale of the Tortoise and the Hare
Once upon a time, in a forest, there lived a hare who was very proud of his speed. He often
bragged to the other animals about how fast he could run. "No one in this forest can beat me in a
race!" he boasted.
One day, a wise old tortoise, tired of the hare's arrogance, calmly said, "Hare, I may not be as fast
as you, but I am steady. I challenge you to a race."
The hare burst out laughing. "You? Race me? This will be over in no time!" he said. Nonetheless,
he agreed, and the animals of the forest gathered to watch the race.
The fox was chosen to mark the start and finish lines. At the signal, the hare zoomed ahead,
leaving the tortoise far behind. Confident in his victory, the hare decided to rest under a shady
tree near the finish line. "I’ll nap for a while," he thought. "The tortoise is so slow; I have plenty
of time."
Meanwhile, the tortoise plodded along steadily, never stopping or looking back. Hours later, as
the sun began to set, the tortoise approached the finish line. The animals cheered loudly, waking
the hare from his nap.
Panicking, the hare sprinted towards the finish line, but it was too late. The tortoise had already
crossed it.
The tortoise looked at the hare and said wisely, "Slow and steady wins the race."
Moral: Overconfidence and arrogance can lead to failure, while perseverance and determination
can lead to success.
The Story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a 42-year-old African American woman, was riding a bus in
Montgomery, Alabama. At that time, racial segregation laws required Black passengers to sit the
back of the bus and give up their seats to white passengers if the bus became crowded.
Rosa Parks was sitting in the "colored" section of the bus when the driver ordered her and three
other Black passengers to stand so white passengers could sit. While the others complied, Rosa
refused. Calmly and firmly, she said, "No."
Her act of defiance led to her arrest, sparking outrage and inspiring the African American
community in Montgomery to take action. Under the leadership of a young minister named Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr., the Montgomery Bus Boycott was organized.
For 381 days, Black residents of Montgomery refused to ride city buses, opting instead to walk,
carpool, or find other means of transportation. Despite threats, violence, and significant personal
sacrifice, the boycott continued until December 1956, when the Supreme Court ruled that
segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
Rosa Parks’ bravery became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, and her single act of
resistance helped ignite a nationwide effort to end racial segregation and discrimination in the
United States.
Moral: Small acts of courage can lead to monumental change. Standing up for what is right can
inspire others to take action and create a better future.
