Comments on: Sheep, Wolves, & Sheepdogs

By: samaritan

samaritan — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:03:44 +0000

Make no mistake, if Gabrielle Gifford actioned against the the shooter, then she IS a Sheepdog. Simply because she does not where a uniform does not mean that she is not willing to protect her flock. Sheepdogs are not only Soldiers and Police, they are all of those that will not stand idly by and watch bad things happen. Sheepdogs will defend those that will not defend themselves.

Soldiers and Police will protect the flock. However, in the moment when they are not around and you need them, it will take a while for them to arrive. You are now faced with a decision: do you protect yourself and your flock, or do you wait for what will happen?

I often think about what a pacifist is. If a pacifist in the truest sense of the term is one that will not execute any form of physical force (violence), then a pacifist would sit idly by and watch bad things happen to good people. A “pacifist” would watch it happen because that is the way of the world. A “pacifist” would not even call the police (sheepdogs), because that would also be acting in a physical manner, even though it is through a proxy (the sheepdogs).

Unfortunately, there are people among the sheepdog ranks that have soiled the integrity of the group. That does not mean that all of our vanguards are bad. Similarly, there are bad people among the ranks of the civilian population. This does not make all civilians bad.

By: It's not a good thing

It's not a good thing — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:28:41 +0000

The sheepdog/sheep/wolf analogy is not a good thing. It’s a dishonest thing (not only did the “sheep” at the Gabrielle Giffords shooting not hide behind the sheepdog, they tackled the wolf long before the sheepdogs ever showed up.) Worse yet, it’s a dangerous thing. Grossman can claim that the sheepdog are restrained, but police and military brutality are both common and well documented and his dehumanizing attitude toward civilians only encourages such behavior.

Klein came up with “crow” to dehumanize those who dare to point out those who disagree with this analogy. Klein, you too are part of the problem.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:10:03 +0000

A friend wanted me to read this. now i understand why.

\makes total sense, and is a very moving piece. and for once in my life, i completely agree. this completely describes me, i am a sheep, scared of everything, denying that no bad will happen when i know in reality it will.

I am proud of our Americans who are sheepdogs, and i have always been proud to be an American, but now i feel it as 1-x stronger. i understand it much better.

thank you.

By: SGT S

SGT S — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:23:42 +0000

Well said. Well said indeed.

By: Klein

Klein — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:31:04 +0000

JD,
It is sad that you take should a good thing and try to twist it like that. Because of you comment, I think you’ve just created a new category: crows. Crows are dirty creatures that feed of from what is left, what is not being guared, and what’s dead. They are flithy creatures. I think you were once a sheep and then became a crow. What a shame.

By: educated student

educated student — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:49:48 +0000

I have family that according to this article that are sheepdogs. As a young adult I know i am a sheep, but have learned to take steps not to be a sheepdog, but more of a sheep-pup. I appreciate everything that I see them do for us to live a free and protected life. The things I have seen and heard of them going through and what they experience in their line of duty to protect our population is what I would call heroic and brave. We attempt to run successfully under a democracy, although it may be corrupt on a couple accounts, we still attempt. Whereas certain other countries supposed “sheepdogs” would rather kill a citizen than provide any protective assistance. Therefore when I hear someone say “I hate our police” or “screw the cops” or go to places where soldiers come home from the war and protest frustrates me because they are so immature or naive to understand all they do for us. So, If you happen to be a wolf… bless your sorry soul. If you are a sheep maybe learning to be your own “sheep-pup” would not be so bad. Now, if you happen to be a sheepdog, I applaud you if you are doing your job as you should be.

By: S

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 01:33:48 +0000

The part where I think you are mistaken is this: “Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.”

Even if the horrors they commit are aimed at “the deserving,” nobody walks away unscathed.

Self-righteous, maybe. But not unscathed.

By: The Sheepdog | A Soldier's Perspective

The Sheepdog | A Soldier's Perspective — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:39:05 +0000

[...] few years ago, I posted an article from LTC Dave Grossman called Sheep, Wolves, & Sheepdogs. It was an excellent verbal illustration of why we need a military in light of the happy-go-lucky [...]

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 10:26:53 +0000

Great article! Here are my thoughts as a combat veteran (Baghdad Surge):

Our wolf is someone else’s sheepdog.
Our sheepdog is someone else’s wolf.
Sheep.. are just sheep.

The world has always been, and will always be this way.

By: zeframcochran

zeframcochran — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:36:50 +0000

It is better to ‘have and not need’ than to ‘need and not have’.
Is this not the lesson we all should abide? Our military, law enforcement, and all those that put our lives on the line ‘To Serve’ others do this every day.
There are countries, example South Korea, where it is mandatory to serve 24-26 months in the national military; there is no choice of IF they will serve. If this were to be true in the United States, I believe these comments would be quite different. South Korea follows the ‘have and not need’ part.
So, simple lesson here… please stop bashing the ones that serve with pride. We will be there when you ‘need’ us.