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March 29, 2009 - Sunday
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Current mood:  artistic Category: Friends
"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle,productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." We maywell be in the most violent times in history, but violence is stillremarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent peoplewho are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or underextreme provocation. They are sheep.Then there are the wolvesand the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. Do you believe thereare wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? Youbetter believe it! There are evil men in this world and they arecapable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is notso, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.Then thereare sheepdogs and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock andconfront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence then you are ahealthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity forviolence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have definedan aggressive sociopath, a wolf.But what if you have a capacityfor violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do youhave then? A sheepdog, a WARRIOR, someone who is walking the unchartedpath. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into theuniversal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. That is me, One Of A Kind.I will kill or die to protect the flock!We know that the sheeplive in denial that is what makes them sheep. They do not want tobelieve that there is evil in the world.They can accept thefact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers,fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids'schools. But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armedpolice officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands oftimes more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violencethan fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violenceis denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child isjust too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.The sheepgenerally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. Hehas fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, isthat the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep.Any sheep dog that intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will bepunished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least notin a representative democracy or a republic such as ours. Still, thesheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there arewolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where togo, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in ourairports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16.The sheepwould much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray painthimself white, and go, "Baa." Until the wolf shows up. Then the entireflock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.Forinstance, the students at Columbine High School were big, tough highschool students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not havehad the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; theyjust had nothing to say to a cop. But when the school was under attack,and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, those once-ignoredofficers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off ofthem.This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdogwhen the wolf is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11,2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, morethan ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officersand military personnel? Understand that there is nothing morallysuperior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Alsounderstand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffingaround out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at thingsthat go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle.Thatis, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogsare a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the gunswhen needed, right along with the young ones.Now, here is howthe sheep and the sheepdog think differently: The sheep pretend thewolf will never come, while the sheepdog lives for that day.Afterthe attacks on September 11, 2001, the sheep, that is, most citizens inAmerica said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes."The sheepdogs said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference."Youwant to be able to make a difference. There is nothing morally superiorabout a warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. Andthat is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment thatdestroys 98 percent of the sheep.There was research conducted afew years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These conswere in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults,murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority saidthat they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk,passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victimsexactly like big cats do in Africa selecting one out of the herd thatis least able to protect itself. Some people may be destined to besheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs.But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be,and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing tobecome sheepdogs.Seven months after the attack on September 11,2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, NewJersey..... Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 overPennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator fromUnited Airlines about the hijacking. When they learned of the otherthree passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd and theother passengers confronted the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, atransformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, businesspeople and parents -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they foughtthe wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground."There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men." - Edmund Burke.Innature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are bornthat way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are nota critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It isa conscious, moral decision. If you want to be a sheep, then you can bea sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay.When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if thereis not a sheepdog there to protect you.If you want to be awolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down andyou will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to bea sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a consciousand moral decision every day to dedicate, equip, and prepare yourselfto thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knockingat the door.This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog isnot a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice.It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject,head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior.Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us livesomewhere in between.Since 9-11 almost everyone in America tooka step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few stepstoward accepting and appreciating their warriors and the warriorsstarted taking their job more seriously. It's ok to be a sheep, but donot kick the sheep dog. Indeed, the sheep dog may just run a littleharder, strive to protect a little better and be fully prepared to payan ultimate price in battle and spirit with the sheep moving from "baa"to "thanks".Like good sheepdogs, we warriors do not call forgifts or freedoms beyond our lot. We just need a small pat on the head,a smile and a thank you to fill the emotional tank which is drainedwhile protecting the sheep. And when our number is called by "TheAlmighty", and day retreats into night, a small prayer before theheavens just may be in order to say thanks for letting you continue tobe a sheep. And be grateful for the thousands - - millions - - ofAmerican sheepdogs who permit you the freedom to express even bad ideas."
3:44 AM
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