Mango Peel

by David B. Swanger

It has been reported that great multitudes of people eat the
peel of the mango fruit, seemingly unaware of the more
delightful portions within. When the practice is questioned
by those who know better, the usual reply is this: "Mango
is mango, I like it, and that ends it." Any attempt to
enlighten members of this horde invites scorn and derision,
especially from those who have assumed the role of
"defender of fundamental mango truth."

Eaters of mango peel are so happy, so jubilant, that most of
them spend copious amounts of time singing praises for
having been brought into the practice. But there is hope.

Once in a great while a lucky fundamentalist will accidently
bite into a deeper level of mango, thus expelling forever (for
him, at least), the old "mango is mango" notion... the idea that
any mango morsel is equal to all other mango morsels.

The lucky (and therefore, extremely happy) initiate will
realize that his enlightenment resulted from his own efforts
and not from any external promptings. And so in future,
when that old slogan is heard, he will be happy to know that
the slogan bearer is merely extolling the virtues of mango as
he knows it. And he will be pleased that the poor soul is at
least interested in mango at some level.