The Kingdom of Eldoria

Article By Hanoch Agassi

The Legend of the Kingdom

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Eldoria, there was a land of great prosperity and wisdom…It was ruled by King Alden and Queen Lysandra, whose castle stood at the heart of the land, surrounded by a bustling city where merchants, scholars, and artists thrived. The people of Eldoria were known for their unity, for though they had different beliefs, trades, and customs, they lived side by side, learning from one another.

One day, a dispute arose between the Guild of the Sun and the Order of the Moon. The Sun Guild believed that the kingdom flourished through hard work, discipline, and tradition. The Moon Order, on the other hand, believed in creativity, change, and the pursuit of new knowledge. For many years, these two groups had worked together—the Sun Guild building strong foundations while the Moon Order wove new ideas into them. But over time, small disagreements turned into resentment.

“The Moon Order has no respect for the ways of our ancestors!” said the Sun Guild.

“The Sun Guild refuses to embrace progress!” retorted the Moon Order.

At first, they merely avoided one another. Then, they stopped speaking altogether. Merchants aligned with one group would not sell to those in the other. Inns refused guests of opposing beliefs. Even within families, brothers and sisters stopped dining together because one supported the Sun and the other the Moon.

Seeing this, King Alden called his advisors. “We are dividing ourselves,” he warned.

“If our people continue down this path, Eldoria will weaken.”

But the guilds would not listen. “We only wish to protect what is right,” said one side.

“We cannot work with those who reject our ways,” said the other.

Seasons passed, and the kingdom began to suffer. The once-thriving marketplace grew empty, as merchants had fewer customers. The roads fell into disrepair, for the builders refused to use plans designed by the scholars. The festival of unity, which had been celebrated for generations, was canceled—no one wished to attend an event where they might see their supposed enemies.

Then came a harsh winter. With resources scarce, people needed to rely on one another more than ever, but the division had become so deep that none would ask for help from those they had shunned. Famine and sickness spread, and the kingdom, once prosperous, stood on the brink of collapse.

Queen Lysandra, who had watched all this in sorrow, devised a plan. She invited the most respected members of both groups to the castle under separate pretexts—one to discuss rebuilding efforts, the other to plan for the future of trade. When they arrived and realized they had been brought together, they were furious.

“We cannot work with them!” they cried in unison.

But the Queen merely gestured toward the great hall, where a feast had been prepared. “You may leave if you wish,” she said. “But tonight, you share this space. Eat in silence if you must.”

At first, no one spoke. Then, slowly, an elder from the Sun Guild muttered, “These honeyed figs remind me of my childhood.”

A woman from the Moon Order, despite herself, smiled. “Yes, I had the same thought.”

Another added, “The market used to be filled with figs like these. Before… everything.”

And then, a young apprentice hesitated before saying, “We miss those days, too.”

One by one, they spoke—not about their differences, but about the kingdom they all loved. And as they did, they saw how much they had lost by refusing to work together. They had thought they were protecting their values, but in their separation, they had only made Eldoria weaker.

In the weeks that followed, the roads were repaired. The festival was revived. And though the Sun Guild and the Moon Order still disagreed on many things, they learned that their kingdom—their home—was more important than their quarrels.

Thus, Eldoria was restored, not by one side winning over the other, but by remembering that a kingdom divided cannot stand.

Reality Check Incoming

Many well-intentioned people strive to support different causes and ideals. This is not a problem—in fact, it is beneficial. A diverse society thrives when individuals recognize different values and work toward them, each contributing to the greater whole.

The problem arises when people believe that their perspective is the absolute truth, dismissing all others as false. Instead of recognizing that each viewpoint holds a piece of the larger truth, they become entrenched in their own beliefs. This leads not to mutual enrichment, but to loss for all. Instead of learning from one another, people shut each other out, narrowing their perspectives and weakening the very causes they seek to uphold.

Commerce, healthcare, culture, and all aspects of a functioning society rely on open communication and movement—of ideas, goods, and people. When division disrupts these exchanges, the entire system begins to unravel. History has shown time and again that societies fragmented by ideological rigidity suffer decline, not progress. For example, the Late Roman Republic saw its downfall as political factions refused to compromise, leading to civil war and the rise of autocracy. Similarly, the Byzantine Empire weakened as religious purges and ideological dogmatism fractured its institutions, making it vulnerable to external conquest. More recently, the Cultural Revolution in China demonstrated how ideological purity tests led to widespread persecution, economic stagnation, and social collapse before the country had to rebuild anew.

If you find yourself on one side of a division—whether it be political (Pro/Anti-Trump), ideological (Pro-Palestinian vs. Pro-Israel), ethical (Vegan vs. Omnivore), or environmental (radical conservation vs. industrial development)—take a step back and reflect on the bigger picture. Don't use the excuse that the others are not willing to dialogue; you don't have this privilege if you candidly want to promote society. Find ways even if it seems you are the only one trying. Seek to share your insights in a way that invites dialogue rather than resistance. Aim to foster understanding rather than alienation.

A strong society is not one that silences dissent, but one that weaves together differing perspectives into a shared future. It is only through open dialogue, mutual respect, and the willingness to listen that societies grow, evolve, and achieve lasting greatness.

At New Acropolis, we foster Unity Through Diversity by promoting dialogue, cultural exchange, and philosophical inquiry across the globe. Through classes that explore universal and timeless wisdom, along with cultural events and artistic celebrations, we create spaces where diverse perspectives converge. By encouraging learning, cooperation, and mutual respect, we aim to build bridges rather than barriers, strengthening the fabric of society through shared understanding.