
Everyone has heard of Robin Hood, Nottinghamshire's most famous son and the world's favorite folk hero. His adventures have been retold down the generations, from medieval ballads to Hollywood blockbusters.
Tradition tells that the outlaw Robin Hood poached (killed and ate illegally) the king's deer in the royal hunting forest of Sherwood and fought with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Stories relate how travelers through the forest provided rich pickings for the gentleman robber and his band of merry men.
Robin Hood is often seen as a champion justice by robbing the rich to give to the poor. Central to the legend is how Robin outwitted the Sheriff and King John, and turned the tables on corrupt churchmen and officials who abused their power over an oppressed peasantry.

If you look at the facts, the man took advantage of anyone who happened to come close. No too different from the online money-lenders. Robin Hood injured or killed anyone who he considered bad. Not so different from insurgents and rebels fighting modern warfare. He lived off other people's profits. Not so different from modern banks, which some hold largely responsible for the decline in the world's economy.
Does it help us cope if we know about the bad things going on around us?