An ASL Story and bonus Cartoon for our times….

Transcript: This is a story that happened long ago about a kingdom high on a mountain and the people who lived in the valley below it. The valley people once lived on that mountain, but over time, they became burned out with their environment. They wanted something more, something different. When they looked at the valley below them, they saw greener pastures all around and thought the land was better there, so they decided to break away from the kingdom and move to the lush valley below and make their lives there.

Many years later, the valley folk heard rumors that the kingdom on the mountain had a treasure buried deep underground. As the valley people thought about it, they began to feel that treasure belonged to them. They became enraged and lustful, wanting to seek their treasure again.

They rallied together and agreed to send a messenger up the mountain to talk with the king. The messenger went up the mountain and let the king know the valley folk wanted their treasure. The king responded, “Welcome my brothers and sisters. We are happy to share our secrets of this mountain with you. Come.”

But that messenger was puzzled and felt somewhat suspicious. Something felt funny. It was not quite right. Afterall, the king did not exactly say he would give them the treasure. Unsettled, the messenger went back to the valley people and let them know that the meeting with the king did not feel right. He told them the kind did not specifically say he would give then the treasure. The messenger was wary.

At this, the valley people became enraged and began to rally! Together, they decided they would band and fight. This was war! The valley people would kill for their reward and take back what they felt belonged to them. And so, they valley folk mounted their horses and polished their swords. They were ready to kill and go to war! Onward they marched. Upward they rode….

Meanwhile, the people of the kingdom stood with heads held high, ready to share their riches and secrets. But as the valley people approached, the people of the kingdom were overwhelmed and surprised by their rage. They were caught innocently in the battle that followed until their were killed off, one by one. Their bodies lay lifeless across the mountain while the valley people let out their wild battle cries of victory! It was finally time to take back their treasure!

They all gathered near the big stone and together, they pushed that boulder away. When they looked underneath the stone, what they saw struck them dumb. All they saw was a small stone with words inscribed.

“Peace on earth” was all it said. “Peace on earth.”

When the valley people realized that PEACE was the true treasure, when they grasped the meaning of it all, they wailed and cried out in wild remorse. Embarrassed and guilty, they struck their breasts and faces in sorrow and fled in every direction.

THAT. (Peace)

(ILY Wave)

Lyrics to Cartoon Video:

(by Lambert-Potter, sung by Coven)

Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
‘Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley-folk below.

On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the stone,
And the valley-people swore
They’d have it for their very own.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after….
One tin soldier rides away.

So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold for which they’d kill.

Came an answer from the kingdom,
“With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there.”

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after….
One tin soldier rides away.

Now the valley cried with anger,
“Mount your horses! Draw your sword!”
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.

Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it…
“Peace on Earth” was all it said.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after….
One tin soldier rides away.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after….
One tin soldier rides away.

Posted by LaRonda on Saturday, January 10th, 2009 at 9:52 pm.