Tug or Hug a War?

Seaside Food Fight! 

I caught these gulls in a tug of war near a lobster dock where some of the bait had been tossed in shallow water.  First--the gull on the left took hold, but could not fly off until the gull on the right picked up the other end.  Second, back and forth went their tug of war, fighting over the fish.  Then third, guess what happened?  Both lost their grip and a gull swooped in from above with perfect timing and flew off with it.   A fight for food?  The morale?  In the fight, they both lost--or should we say were too "gull-able" and fell prey themselves.  

How often do we say that there were "no winners, everyone lost," except perhaps the lawyer or any third party who swoops for spoils.  The question that lingers is the food one.  Of course for these gulls--this is their food, without question.  However, what do we end up fighting over in our lawsuits, custody fights, right of way, possessions--how often do we violate the real value of the relationship or property by fighting over it?  It is painful indeed to sit in family courts and watch couples fight over their children and arrange visitations that do not serve the best interests of their children.  In short?  The principle they fight for ends up being sacrificed. 

 Hug O' War a poem by the late Shel Silverstein [Author of A Light in the Attic]   I will not play at tug o' war
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses
And everyone grins
And everyone cuddles
And everyone wins.