Once upon a time, the colors
of the world started to quarrel,
all claimed that they were the
best, the most important, the
most useful, the favorite. 
GREEN said: "Clearly I am the
most important. I am the sign
of life and of hope. I was
chosen for grass, trees and
leaves. Without me, all animals
would die. Look over the
countryside and you will see
that I am in the majority." 

BLUE interrupted: 
You only think about the earth, but
consider the sky and the sea.
It is the water that is the
basis of life and drawn up
by the clouds from the deep
sea. The sky gives space and
peace and serenity. Without
my peace, you would
all be nothing." 

YELLOW chuckled: "You are all
so serious. I bring laughter,
gaiety, and warmth into the
world. The sun is yellow, the
moon is yellow, the stars are
yellow. Every time you look
at a sunflower, the whole world
starts to smile. Without me
there would be no fun." 

ORANGE started next to blow
her trumpet: "I am the color
of health and strength. I
may be scarce, but I am
precious for I serve the needs
of human life. I carry the
most important vitamins. Think
of carrots, pumpkins, oranges,
mangoes, and pawpaws. I don't
hang around all the time,
but when I fill the sky at
sunrise or sunset, my beauty
is so striking that no one gives
another thought to any of you." 

RED could stand it no longer
he shouted out: "I am the ruler
of all of you. I am blood -
life's blood! I am the color
of danger and of bravery.
I am willing to fight for a
cause. I bring fire into the
blood. Without me, the earth
would be as empty as the moon.
I am the color of passion and
of love, the red rose, the
poinsettia and the poppy." 

PURPLE rose up to his full
height: He was very tall and
spoke with great pomp: "I am
the color of royalty and power.
Kings, chiefs, and bishops have
always chosen me for I am the sign
of authority and wisdom. People
do not question me! They listen
and obey." 

Finally INDIGO spoke, much more
quietly than all the others, but
with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of
silence. You hardly notice me,
but without me you all become
superficial. I represent thought
and reflection, twilight and deep
water. You need me for balance and
contrast, for prayer and inner peace." 

And so the colors went on
boasting, each convinced of
his or her own superiority.
Their quarreling became
louder and louder. 

Suddenly there was a startling
flash of bright lightning
thunder rolled and boomed.
Rain started to pour down
relentlessly. The colors crouched
down in fear, drawing close to
one another for comfort. 

In the midst of the clamor,
rain began to speak: "You
foolish colors, fighting
amongst yourselves, each
trying to dominate the rest.
Don't you know that you were
each made for a special purpose,
unique and Join hands with one
another and come to me." 

Doing as they were told, the
colors united and joined hands.
The rain continued: "From now
on, when it rains, each of you
will stretch across the sky in
a great bow of color as a
reminder that you can all live
in peace. The rainbow is a sign
of hope for tomorrow." 

And so, whenever a good rain
washes the world, and a rainbow
appears in the sky, let us
remember to appreciate
one another. 

Author unknown