Master Po had just finished another enlightening session with his favorite student, young Grasshopper, and was looking forward to some time alone in deep meditation. But his solitude was not to come, as another student approached for his wise counsel.

“Master Po, something is disturbing me, and I need your wise counsel. Can you help me?”

Knowing that this was going to be difficult but honoring his commitment to help all students, he replied, “Of course, young Dung Beetle. What is troubling you today?”

“There is much social unrest in the village. One Person said, ‘Black lives matter!’ Another yelled, ‘All lives matter,’ and was shunned by the crowd. I do not understand why the crowd was angry with him.”

“Of course, you do not, Young Dung Beetle. So, tell me why this is confusing you,” proposed Master Po.

“Well, we are taught that all life is sacred, and we should all be treated as equals,” remarked the young student.

“That is true in our temple,” replied Master Po. “But it is not always true in the rest of the world.”

“So, why should one groups lives’ matter more than the others?”

“Well, young Dung Beetle, they are not saying that their lives matter more, or that other peoples lives matter less. They are merely trying to point out that it does not feel like their lives matter to everyone else,” explained Master Po.

“But I do not understand,” cried young Dung Beetle!

“Of course, you don’t,” exclaimed Master Po, trying to compose himself to combat the young student’s ignorance. “Let me explain it to you this way: All lives matter, as all people need food to eat,” began Master Po. “But some people are denied, not only food to eat, but, also, the means to earn money to buy food by the people who have food. In this way, they can control the hungry people and bend them to their will!”

Observing the puzzled look on Young Dung Beetles face, Master Po tried another approach.

“Once, as a young monk, I traveled to the big city to learn about its culture. I had but a few possessions and a few morsels of food. As I walked along the streets, I saw a hungry man outside of a restaurant. Another man had just left the restaurant after completing a rather large meal. He refused to share any food with the hungry man. I approached both men but offered only one of them some food. And, who did I give the food to?”

“Ugh, the man from the restaurant!?!” replied Young Dung Beetle.

“What!?!” exclaimed Master Po. “I mean, why would I give the food to the man from the restaurant?”

“Well,” began Young Dung Beetle, with the usual stupefied look on his face. “The man in the restaurant obviously deserves the food. He has worked hard to make money to buy the food so he will appreciate it more!”

“Wow,” shuttered Master Po. “I gave the food to the hungry man! With food, he gained strength and was able to work and earn money to buy more food.”

“But I do not understand!” cried Young Dung Beetle.

“Of course, you do not, Young Dung Beetle. That is because you are a dumbass.”

Enough said.