An April Fool's Story

Among the many things I admire about Marianna Grossman, Executive Director of Sustainable Silicon Valley, is her flair for the artful and the true.  A favorite example can be found with this week's SSV event - Making the Case: A Story-Telling Workshop- to be held unapologetically on none other than April Fool's Day.

The term "fool" has been much-maligned and mis-appreciated in our modern culture (not unlike the term "myth" -- but that is a subject for another day.) 

Let us remember the original role of the "Fool".   From wikipedia:

        The Royal Shakespeare Company provides historical context for the role of the fool:

In ancient times courts employed fools and by the Middle Ages the jester was a familiar figure. In Renaissance times, aristocratic households in Britain employed licensed fools or jesters, who sometimes dressed as other servants were dressed, but generally wore a motley (i.e. parti-coloured) coat, hood with ass's (i.e. donkey) ears or a red-flannel coxcomb and bells. Regarded as pets or mascots, they served not simply to amuse but to criticise their master or mistress and their guests. Queen Elizabeth (reigned 1558-1603) is said to have rebuked one of her fools for being insufficiently severe with her. Excessive behaviour, however, could lead to a fool being whipped, as Lear threatens to whip his fool.

 

That's right, Fools.

Fools must stand out and even invite ridicule.  Fools must speak what is true.  Fools will let down their leaders if they do not speak boldly. But as in all fields, disrespect will not be tolerated, as it assumes the worst from our leaders and undermines the potential for positive action forward.

It's our day on Friday, Fellow Fools. I stand with you with pride. 

Today's kings are counting on us.