A Palestinian native of Bethlehem on his Donkey. This color photochrome print was created between 1890 and 1900 in the West Bank.

Zawaj.com Humor Files

Goha and his son were on their way to a nearby village. The son rode their donkey while Goha walked alongside. On the way they passed some people who pointed at Goha and his son. “Look at that ungrateful boy, they said.” He is riding the donkey and his poor old father is walking.”

When he heard this, Goha said, “You get off the donkey and I’ll ride.” Soon they passed another group of people who said, “Look at that heartless man. He is riding the donkey and his poor young son is walking,”

Goha thought about this. “Get on the donkey, we’ll both ride it,” he said. Again Goha and his son passed by some people who pointed at them. “Look at those people abusing that poor donkey. How cruel,” they said.

Goha thought about this as well. “Let’s both get off the donkey,” he said to his son, and so they both walked alongside it. The people they passed by looked at pointed. This time they said, “Look at those fools, walking along when they have a donkey they could ride!”

After some thought, Goha said, “I have a good idea. We’ll carry it!” As they walked on another group of people looked at them staggering under the weight of the donkey. They pointed. “Look at those fools,” they said. “They are carrying a donkey instead of riding it!”

Goha turned to his son and said, “See, my son, how hard it is to please everyone?”