colors of friendship

I just got this e-mail:

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 most beautiful. 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 papayas. 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 lightening, 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
different? 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, to let us remember to appreciate one another.

author unknown