J is for Jiving Judges – A to Z Blog Challenge

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Beating the Odds…Lucky Folktales Around the World to Brighten Your Day. Each post highlights that the stars aligned and what would have normally been…bad…turned out after all. Considering what we – as humankind – have experienced the past year, how nice is it to remember that all of us can “beat the odds” to some level in our lives.

And we’ll admit now…some are actually myths, legends, or epics rather than only limited to folktales. So is that a type of “loading the dice”? Ah, but the stories were too wonderful to pass by.

JUDGES-

From Ethiopia

Between 1987 and 1989, Ethiopia’s government restructured their Supreme Court. More training was made available to judges through the Supreme Court Council. They hold annual meetings to review and approve procedures that are then shared with all the other judges of the land. However, the case load is huge and people complain on how long it takes to have time before a judge. Obviously, in this story, it appears the judge was available the next day!

What makes judges dangerous?

Some people believe that the “most dangerous” or powerful are the judicial branch of governments. People are imperfect and yet are pronouncing judgements that can end lives, marriages, or bonds with children. Many judges are as fair as possible considering the circumstance, but this story has a judge willing to take away a man’s wife because she is too smart compared to his ignorance. Hmmm. Though, considering that I have adopted three kids through foster care, I have also been grateful to the judges that made that possible. Hope and pray you have a kind judge!

50-words-or-less summary:

Neighbor wanted man’s wife. Claimed she’s too smart for him. Judge gives man riddles. Wife able to answer so judge says she’s too smart. Wife invites judge and neighbor for meal. She leaves chicken unplucked, burned stew. Judge says man can keep her. “Not so clever.” Success! Stays married!

That man was lucky to have his amazing wife! They had a fabulous meal afterwards as she had a second chicken prepared the correct way and stew that was divine. The man was humble enough to know that his wife was smarter than him. Yet, he and his wife were the perfect pair and having a divorce due to the lust of a neighbor? Yeesh. Sometimes we need to deal our own justice in what seems unfair in life. Finding mercy for ourselves can be tastier than…chicken.

Finding “The Clever Wife” and Background:

“The Clever Wife” from When the World Began: Stories collected from Ethiopia by Elizabeth Laird, find online here: https://www.amazon.com/When-World-Began-Collected-Ethiopia/dp/0192745352/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?dchild=1&keywords=%22When+the+world+began%3A+stories+collected+from+Ethiopia%22&qid=1618286512&sr=8-1-fkmr1

More about Ethiopia’s Judicial System:

http://countrystudies.us/ethiopia/114.htm

And if you REALLY want to go deep into the Judicial System:

https://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/Ethiopia.html

Please share in the comments…or anything on your mind. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings with virtual as well as proper-distanced/masked/outdoors.