Comments on: Sheep, Wolves & Sheepdogs

By: Schadoe

Schadoe — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:46:18 +0000

@ B0utch
The military never made us anything buddy, it gave us the tools to learn from ourselves.
What are your sources concerning 9/11? Exactly nothing!
Another point, this isn’t about the government just yet champ. It’s about those evil wolves sheep and sheep dogs, maybe also a cross of the three… Versus those who walk the path to protect the public, sheepdogs.
So allegedly I am a evil sheep that was trained to kill sheep… I’ve never killed someone in my career, but sure did save a person while I served. Take that u bastard!

By: Beargod

Beargod — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:40:48 +0000

Great write up, really. I have never read this character trait described so well. I have shared this compulsion for as long as I can remember.

Just today I was asked why I always carry a ‘big scary knife’ to the office:

Q: “Do you have that thing in case you are attacked?”
A: “No, I have this thing in case *you* are attacked.”

When I would go camping as a little kid, I would stay up all night watching the fire, making sure my family was safe as they slept. Only when the sun came up would I feel I was ‘off duty’ enough to sleep. They wondered why I was tired and I never told them. “He sleeps too much” I would hear them say, and I would be happy knowing they slept safely. They had no idea what happened when the flock was asleep, just like many of the commenter on this thread.

Don’t worry about what these idiots are saying. They can talk all they want, but we know when it comes down to it, they will be the ones waiting for “someone else” to step in and deal with the big scary.

I think the problem today is that the sheepdog who winds up killing a lamb intentionally does not
seem to be fairly punished, which screws up the whole system. LEO and military taking advantages of citizens cannot be tolerated. This rule should be at least as important as the “don’t let the sheep get eaten” rule, since it’s the backbone of the entire system.

When sheepdogs go bad those sheepdogs damn well better get killed in front of the sheep, other sheepdogs, and most importantly the wolves.

You kill your own sheepdog in front of the wolf, and he’s going to look for another flock for his own self preservation.

Start doing this and the trust of the sheep goes up while the wolf population goes down.

By: b0utch

b0utch — Sat, 28 May 2011 18:23:01 +0000

in the end it’s all about what you know or what you don’t know, some people here seems to see themself as sheepdog, but went to war and killed people!? I’ve never seen a sheepdog kill anything, if you went to the army you ain’t a sheepdog, you are just a sheep trained in killing other sheep, maybe you have elvolved into sheepdog during the years but remember that all you learned while being a sheep is wrong, todays goverment are merly just ”mirage or facade” 9/11 was an inside job, I don’t say dick Cheney did it because this is stupid, Cheney is another sheep! who’s the shepperd !? the shepperd was killed a long time ago and replaced by the wolf corporation, the wolf is not roaming around the farm, the wolf is running the farm, a farm of slaves where money is the disguise of slavery. bark bark bark wake up people

By: Jsalins

Jsalins — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 20:22:34 +0000

* sorry, meant to put “Instead of attacking…” not “Instead if attacking” (clarifying to avoid confusion–and judgment, for that matter–from any haters out there. Haha)

By: Jsalins

Jsalins — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 20:16:09 +0000

I will simply state the truth, and I don’t give a damn how people against this truth may respond. This was an amazing article to read. I feel exactly the same and am very encouraged. These are dark days where people are so arrogant to the world around them. Of course sheep will be offended and become defensive after reading this article…it is a selfish trait. Instead if attacking, be encouraged and at least try to transform into a sheepdog. Have some guts! I’m a 21 yr old guy in Baltimore who sees what’s going on around him. This world is crazy-make a courageous difference FOR those around you. Wherever I am, whether it’s a plane or at church, I ask myself, “If something happens…this is how I would jump into action.” I’ve always considered myself as a sheepdog and want to be a cop by next year…that would be awesome. Anyway, God Bless the author who put this up, Lt. Grossman, and the other great sheepdogs out there! P.S read the book “The Wolf and The Sheepdog” by “John Smith” –an awesome book that I read.

By: Nomad

Nomad — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:42:05 +0000

So you think calling other people “dumb”, “ignorant”, “fearful”, “weak”, and generally referring to them in a smug, superior manner is professional? I think there have been horrible comments and arguments from both sides here. Please don’t let the extreme viewpoints of a few make you lose sight of the fact that we are all just people. Some have gifts that enable them to do jobs not everyone is able or willing to do. That doesn’t make them any better than anyone else, and if we behave as though it does, we are no better (in fact we are actually less) than the people we are trying to “convince”. Sheep, sheepdogs, wolves – it’s just an analogy, and don’t try and oversimplify the human experience by lumping everyone into three tidy little categories. They just don’t fit. Some of us have a job to do that should never have to be done, but we do what has to be done because we are able to. In an ideal world, we could all be sheep… I think someone came to earth before and encouraged us all to be sheep… do you remember why you do the job you do? Never forget that laying down our arms should always be the end goal. Vigilantly prepare for the worst – but always hope for the best.

By: Nomad

Nomad — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:20:50 +0000

I am what the people posting on this discussion would refer to as a “sheepdog”. While I am proud of the service I give and understand that there are different “gifts in men” from which all can derive benefit, I find myself recoiling in disgust at the way many of the so-called “sheepdogs” on this blog refer to the “sheep”. The smug, superior way society is delineated into three neat groupings and the “sheep” are referred to as “ignorant”, “dumb”, and privileged to have the protection of the vastly superior “sheepdogs” turns my stomach. Are there arguments given here that extend from opposite extremes of perception? I sure hope so. You “sheepdogs” commenting here need to know that we are no better than the people referred to as “sheep”; don’t let a few with extreme viewpoints determine your attitude toward people. That’s right – PEOPLE. We are all just people; the whole sheep and sheepdog analogy is just that – an analogy! Have you forgotten what real life is? In an ideal world, there would be no need for “sheepdogs”. It’s an ugly job that shouldn’t have to be done, but we do what we have to do. Tyrannical warlords in third world countries (you know who I mean) hold that same view towards people – predators and prey. Eat or be eaten. Don’t fool yourself – pretentiously claiming love for “sheep” and a sense of duty while snubbing your nose at them and calling them ignorant is only one step away from those same tyrants whom you have at times been called upon to engage. You never found vets from early wars with this attitude… Do your job, and if you need special attention or accolades for it (“appreciation”, “gratitude”, “love”, etc.) – you’re doing it for the wrong reason.

By: 1st MSOB-Alpha Co.

1st MSOB-Alpha Co. — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:30:45 +0000

After 4yrs infantry, 5yrs MARSOC, and 7 combat deployments I offer this:
For those foolish enough to have read this, with no personal knowledge of what it takes to save or take a life, and proceed to input their banter on the subject…YOU are welcome. You are welcome for the simple fact that there are Sheepdogs in today’s world who choose to sacrifice so that you can have your fill of ignorant internet commentary from the safety of your home. You are welcome for the ability to use your freedom of speech to display the fact that your entire wealth of knowledge is based upon YouTube videos and things that you “heard around somewhere.” For you other sheepdogs that may read this, I hate to break it to you gents, the respect and love you seek from the very sheep you protect will never come. It’s not their place to understand why it is we do these things, and it is not their place to be thankful for that which they do not understand. It is our role to continue to be “The unwanted, doing the unforgivable, for the ungrateful.”
Great re-post of a fantastic essay by Lt. Col. Grossman. Well done CJ.

By: Lifesaver

Lifesaver — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:12:12 +0000

I am an Aussie sheepdog. (pronounced “ozzie”)

Every summer I rescue plenty of men, women and children from the waves and deal with serious medical emergencies on the beaches of Sydney. I am also ex-army, and I am also a fire fighter.

Why is it that many police seem to lack honour (English spelling), or seem to lack an understanding of honour or even common restraint?
There are great cops out there, don’t get me wrong, and I always call them “sir” even though they are not commissioned officers, I still give them upfront respect and courtesy.
However, many cops seem to be no better than bullies and thugs with badges. I can understand the frustration with a society that gives them such a hard time, but come on, you get paid to do a noble job protecting people, maybe they should be given better people skills training?

I must also state that there are also firefighters that are just as bad at being a bunch of pri&ks too, also mainly I assume as being a result of a lack of honour and basic “niceness”.

Why be a grumpy pri&k when you can just suck it up and be nice?

Also, why do the local government and state government authorities try to make our jobs so hard? They don’t give lifesavers any real authority, they try to make volunteer lifesavers pay for parking, and they continuously complain of the costs of saving human life! WE DON’T GET PAID to save lives! Imagine the cost increase if the no good councilors actually did have to pay us.

I am not going to talk politics, or about overseas wars, but I will say one more thing. Why do airport security have to be so stupid and the rules so obviously stupid? Is my can of coke really going to blow up the plane? Are my nail clippers or safety razor going to really hurt anyone? If this is true then cut off my hands, they are truly a threat to life if I was so inclined. Some things are just silly.

By: Claire

Claire — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:44:08 +0000

The one thing I take from these comments is the professionalism of the responses of the sheepdogs, and the cheap and petty comments made by the sheep. There is no intellectual discourse from the sheep. This is just the perfect example of what the article tries to impart.