Why do some people fight?

*BTW, it's Mahatma Gandhi's birthday today :) I'm not actually clear on what kind of person he is (I know he did a controvesial yet peaceful demonstration back in India); I'll have to read up about that :)

Indeed, mutual understanding is a difficult thing. Just imagine how the world can be a much better, more peaceful place without all the misunderstandings.

-From Brunei Times
ONCE there were two boys who were great friends and determined to remain that way forever. When they grew up and got married, they built their houses facing one another. There was a small path that formed a border between their farms.

One day, a trickster from the village decided to play a trick on them. He dressed himself in a two-colour coat that was divided down the middle. So, one side of the coat was red, and the other side was blue. The trickster wore this coat and walked along the narrow path between the houses of the two friends. They were each working opposite each other in their fields. The trickster made enough noise as he passed them to make sure that each of them would look up and see him passing.

At the end of the day, one friend said to the other,
"Wasn't that a beautiful red coat that man was wearing today?"
"No", the other replied. "It was a blue coat."
They started arguing heatedly and eventually began to beat each other.

Just then, the trickster returned and faced the two men, who were punching and kicking each other and shouting, "Our friendship is OVER!" The trickster showed them his coat. He laughed at their silly fight. The two friends stopped fighting and screamed at the trickster saying, "We have lived side by side like brothers all our lives. Now you have started a war between us."

"Don't blame me for the battle," replied the trickster.
"I did not make you fight. Both of you are wrong, and both of you are right. Yes, what each one saw was true. You are fighting because you only looked at my coat from your own point of view."

I can imagine several international conflicts arising from such misunderstandings *sigh* Do I personally know someone who have had fights due to something similar? I hope not :)

Peace and understanding everyone :)