As the election is around the corner, horse-trading intra and inter party becoming more intense. Aspiring candidates are eyeing for winnable seats. I was told that my name was mentioned during the negotiation between the opposition pacts in Penang. Anyway, I took the outcome of the negotition in a stride.
As the Chinese proverb:
塞翁失馬 (sai weng shi ma). (Lost a horse)
A man who lived on the northern frontier of China was skilled in interpreting events. One day for no reason, his horse ran away to the nomads across the border. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?" Some months later his horse returned, bringing a splendid nomad stallion. Everyone congratulated him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a disaster?" Their household was richer by a fine horse, which the son loved to ride. One day he fell and broke his hip. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"
A year later the nomads came in force across the border, and every able-bodied man took his bow and went into battle. The Chinese frontiersmen lost nine of every ten men. Only because the son was lame did father and son survive to take care of each other. Truly, blessing turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing: the changes have no end, nor can the mystery be fathomed.
Definition of horse-trading: Negotiation characterized by hard bargaining and shrewd exchange
