Conversions

 The meeting had commenced. The room was dark with only a candle in the middle or a large table lighting up the room. There were 20 people in the room, all in their late thirties. These were hard working men aged beyond the years and with looks of sombreness.

‘This cant be allowed to continue on.’ said one of the men standing at one end of the table, his head facing down and his hands leaning on the table. 

‘For generations we have depended on arzyl, it has kept our families fed and our societies thriving. And some of us are giving it up as if traditions mean nothing!’

There was a low hum from the room. People were looking at each other to judge the mood of the room. A few continued to look down.

‘These conversions must be stopped. What are we if we give up our traditions. How can we trust potaloo!’

Another man sitting in the corner calmly objected.

‘By turning to potaloo we are only looking after our families. We all know how tough the produce has been the last few years. Do we not care for our families?’

‘It doesn't have to change who we are’

The first man fiercel objected, ‘give up your traditions and that is as good as dying off of our people. This madness must stop’.

‘Let us go and destroy the places of potaloo. Let us take matters into our own hands. We dont give up without a fight.’

The room was energised. Those who were hesitant just cowered under the pressure of conforming to their friends.

The men pick up their weapons, crude farming tools and set out to destroy the ‘temples’ of potaloo. This was an action that would have repercussions and retaliations. 

The conversion was from cropping wheat to growing the new product from the west - potato. The time was the 17th century and the place of occurrence was Ireland.