The Sheep, the Sheepdogs, and the Wolves
September 16th, 2005 . by CaryFirst, a big thank you to this guy for bringing this to my attention.
Second, go read this and then come back here. Warning: raw language ahead – this guy is passionate about this subject.
Finished? Good. We need to discuss something.
I don’t know what your politics are. I really don’t care, because I made a decision a long time ago to judge someone by their actions, not by their words. You get a much better reading of them that way.
I voted the way I did in the national election (it doesn’t matter which one, which year; the candidate I voted for didn’t always win) because the candidate I voted for was a sheepdog. A gray sheepdog. You can pose and posture all you want, but until you actually act on your convictions, you are nothing but a clanging symbol. Or a bleating sheep.
I served this country, and I took an oath to defend her against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I never broke that oath; I feel I am still under obligation to that oath and this country. Many people I served with are no longer with us because they took that oath to it’s extreme conclusion. When I took the oath, it was explained to us, a roomful of eager young recruits, that “foreign or domestic” meant that we were swearing to fight against even our own mothers if they were a threat to the freedoms of this country. With that in mind, the tearing away of the fabric that makes up this country, it’s history, it’s traditions, it’s very nature, should be seen as an attack by domestic enemies.
I am a Christian. I was converted to the Lord by a young man who went on to give his life in service. I am not for war, but I am not going to stand here and say that war is to be avoided at all costs. There is a reason there are no fully non-aggressive countries on today’s geo-political scene. The nature of man is to defend that which is his. God did not create man to be war-like; man became war-like when two opposing viewpoints were formed (over the nature of an offering to God, by Cain and Able). From that point on, wars were fought throughout history. No, Christianity was not always on the right side. Some wars were fought in the name of Christianity that were actually wars for one person to gain power over others. Those were wrong, and give Christians a history that is difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile. Christians are called to be good stewards of that which is bestowed upon them by God. That includes defending what is theirs, as well as helping others defend their blessings.
This is where the sheepdogs come in. I am a gray sheepdog. I am getting long in the tooth, but I will still stand up to any enemy, foreign or domestic, and say enough is enough. I will stand between the wolves and the sheep, despite how loudly the sheep will bleat that they do not need protection from the misunderstood wolf, and keep the wolf from advancing. If the wolf insists on coming closer, I will help take the fight to the wolf.
What I cannot understand is why the sheep continue to bleat even after the wolf has broken through the ranks of the sheepdogs. Yes, some sheep lost their lives, the sheep will bleat, but we have studied the way of the wolf, and it was the actions of the sheepdogs that brought the attack in the first place. Leave the wolves in peace, the sheep bleat, and they will leave us in peace.
That is not safe thinking. That is not sane thinking. You have studied that which the wolves wanted you to see. They did not allow you to study all facets of them, for that would have revealed the darker side of their existence. They have systematically denied that there was a dark side to them. The few wolves who have ingratiated themselves to the sheep by not attacking them right away, while not condemning the attacks by the rest of the wolves, are merely waiting for the day they themselves can make their attack. Then the sheep will bleat again, oh, you sheepdogs, always trying to foment hate against the wolves. You just don’t understand them.
That’s the problem. We do understand them. As long as the wolves did not attack our herd, we sheepdogs were more than happy to let them exist. They have a reason to be on the earth, just as the rest of us do. When they crossed the line and attacked our herd, bypassing the sheepdogs, then they became the enemy.
Now we have other sheep, who appear to be sheep, but who are really wolves in sheep’s clothing. They do everything in their power to discredit the sheepdogs and the Shepherd of the flock, knowing that even if a sheepdog were to raise the alarm that a wolf had slipped in amongst the sheep, the other sheep would cover the alarm with their bleating, saying that the sheepdogs are trying to discredit one of the most loved and creative sheep to ever film a documentary.
Last time I checked, providing aid to the enemy was a treasonous offense. By claiming that events that happened actually did not happen, or by misrepresenting how events transpired, these wolves in sheep’s clothing are giving more reason to the wolves to attack this herd than ever before. Do they think the wolves will let them co-exist if the wolves were able to successfully attack this herd? Do they think their misunderstood wolf friends would allow them to continue in the freedoms and lives that they enjoy today? Ask any citizen of a country where the Laws of the Wolf have been enacted just how quickly the lives and freedoms they took for granted disappeared. Also ask them how quickly their sheepdogs were rounded up and killed – er, “punished” for crimes against the (new) Shepherd. And, whatever happened to the old Shepherd, anyway?
I am tired of the Newdows and the Moores and the Garafalos of this country trying to make us out to be the enemy. If they believe that this country is doing it wrong, then they need to seek out another country where they will be allowed to do it the way they feel it should be done. Not by force, but by reason. As long as there are humans in control of the countries on this earth, reason will not win out. Reason backed by sufficient force will win. We need those who reason and those who are forceful to work together, as they have since the founding of this country, in order to continue to be a world leader. This two hundred and twenty nine year experiment called a Republic, a Representative Democracy, is the best model for it’s citizens there is. Don’t let the sheep tear it apart with their bleating. Allow the sheepdogs to do their jobs, and stand behind the Shepherd. When a new Shepherd is chosen, stand behind that one. Don’t discredit the leader; this show weakness to the wolves that they will exploit.
Now, are you a sheep? Or a sheepdog? Or are you a wolf? If you are a wolf, I will watch out for you, and you will not be allowed any closer than you are. If you are a sheep, I may not agree with what you are bleating, but I will defend to the death your right to bleat it, as long as you don’t cross the line of treason. If you are a sheepdog, I am honored to stand beside you.
A very long time ago, my father had a talk with me that was similar to the one I had with my daughter recently. He didn’t use the sheep/sheepdog/wolf example to explain how sheeple treat those who really protect them, though. His story was a bit more earthy. I was very young at the time and it didn’t really make sense then, so my memory may not truly do it justice.
He told me that most people look down on the true warriors most of the time, they hate the warrior, despise the warrior, don’t want the warrior around them or their children, and generally pile sh*t on the warrior until he is completely buried. But then something bad happens, and the pile of sh*t begins to shake, and the warriors emerge to the cheers of the people…..until the danger is gone. Then the people start building the pile again.
Kipling’s “Tommy” echoes the same sentiments from a time long ago:
I went into a public-‘ouse to get a pint o’ beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-‘alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.
Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ‘ow’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.
We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.
You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!
My only worry is that when the time comes again (and it will), that there won’t be enough of us left to stop the wolves.
You’re probably right, Len. THere won’t be “enough” to stop the wolves – but we will go down fighting, the wolves will know they’ve had a fight, and we will go to our reward, knowing that we did right.
I think I worried Kathy a little bit when I got to that part. I’m not sure what bothered her more…..thinking that it would happen, or thinking that I would be part of the first group of sheepdogs.
When the time comes, I’ll hold the line with you. Every tyrant removed from circulation will be one less that our grandchildren have to face.
LOL…..this conversation certainly ought to get us on “the list.” Oh well, it’s not like I wasn’t there already.
Great post; I am honored to stand with the other sheepdogs.
Enjoy our site.
S. Clark
Thank goodness for the sheepdogs who protect us. But honestly, I think some of the sheep have crossed over into treason territory with their comments. I wonder if they even realize how quickly the wolves would be at their throats if the sheepdogs looked away for a minute.
Len – I think we’ve always been on the “List.” They have a sense of who should be there. Luckily, they miss some, and those turn out to be the new leaders.
COQ Clark – I’ll hold a spot in the line for you.
Cube, the sheep never realize that, because – well, they’re sheep. Self absorbed, self involved, and self-righteous.
In the day and age where people are so secretive I really appreciate you sharing your true thoughts.
Regards
Sean Cody
[…] “O” Word was inspired greatly by Bill’s writing; specifically, my entry titled The Sheep, The Sheepdogs, and the Wolves was written after I had read his entry titled Tribes. I think it’s still […]