The Camel in the River
A large and strong camel was trying to cross a deep river flowing fiercely. The speed and current of the water disrupted the camel's balance and began dragging him away. While being dragged, the camel saw his own dung floating past him with the water current faster than himself. The camel said "How strange that what normally should stay behind me now passes ahead of me and leads."
In environments where order is disrupted, incompetent and worthless things come to the front and appear superior. In moments of confusion and crisis, shallow things float to the surface and start walking ahead. Those remaining under the uncontrolled current cannot prevent worthless ones from passing them. Maintaining order and not getting caught in the current preserves merit and respectability.
Where order is broken, those at the back come to the front. Current brings confusion. Incompetence comes to the front in a crisis. Imbalance pushes the worthless forward.
Lack of control lowers respectability. One caught in the current loses their way. Order preserves merit.