The other sheep clamored in agreement, and they went together to the old bones of the dead wolves heaped in the corner of the pasture, and gathered fang and claw and made them into weapons. It is a conscious, moral decision. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. Sheep(le), Wolves and Sheepdogs May 1, 2020 Grumps America , Family , Society & Culture , Values If you’re not familiar with the concept of the three types of people: sheep, wolves and sheep dogs, I strongly urge you to read about it in Lt. Col Dave Grossman’s book, “On Combat”. Hope is not a strategy. This blog is about the daily adventures of me, the Little Round Guy and my Little Missus (or LM for short). But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Many heard it for the first time in the blockbuster movie, American Sniper. None of that matters. A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed memorial to Col. Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor winner. Those are the sheep. It is often a very thankless job, warranting many sneers and bewildered looks. Those wicked dogs are the cause of all; … We differ from you in one point only. The Sheep/Sheepdog Continuum. ! What do you have then? The sheepdogs have a mission…protect the sheep from the wolves and sometimes from the sheep themselves! Remember how many times you heard the word hero? Just dismiss them and we can live in peace.” The Sheep were taken in by the proposal and sent the Dogs away. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog. For example, many officers carry their weapons in church.? We will keep protecting our flocks, and they will look upon us a form of disdain and fear. Sheep, Wolves and the Sheepdogs William J. Bennett, in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997 said "Most of the people in our society are sheep. We live in freedom, but you bow down to and slave for men, who in return for your services flog you with whips and put collars on your necks. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up. It’s their own insecurity that keeps their mindset in the place that it is, and we can’t expect any more from them. Grossman conveys a story told to him by 'an old retired colonel' and Vietnam vet, that basically divides the human population into three separate — but closely associated — groups: sheep, wolves and sheep The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Upon this, the Wolves made supper of the Sheep. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed” ( On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs – … He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. Some of those people could do for themselves, they just choose not to. -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground. He might snap at the flock from time to time, just to keep them in line. That night, when the wolves came, the newly armed sheep sprang up with their weapons and struck at them and cried “Begone! When modern cybercriminals or other malicious actors, the wolves in our tale, target organizations large and small, most of the time they don't start by trying to solely exploit some technical vulnerability in a network or online system. Sheepdogs are also capable of violence. Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Wolves, Sheep and Sheepdogs. What is worth dying for? Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. But if we could genetically alter every sheep and turn each … There are still people among us that can’t do for themselves. Human sheep can change from cowering victims to sheepdogs by being armed, well trained and mentally prepared to use force in the defense of life. He looks a lot like the wolf. After you've read the story, please check out the link on the left, titled, "On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs- Lt. Col. Dave Grossman- for the origins of the Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs story. They didn’t have a choice. I'll make mentions of my family, friends, and other random figures that either make me chuckle or irk me senseless. On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs is included in Grossman's book, "On Combat" and is also an excellent read. If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. That night, when the wolves came, the newly armed sheep sprang up … The other sheep clamored in agreement, and they went together to the old bones of the dead wolves heaped in the corner of the pasture, and gathered fang and claw and made them into weapons. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. "Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. ! When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. Regardless of what Lovefraud readers may think about war, guns, the military, Iraq, etc., They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. -LRG. But the sheep fear the sheepdogs. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself. "Why," said they, "should we be forever waging this deadly strife? The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs is included in Grossman's book, "On Combat" and is also an excellent read. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones. Human sheep can change from cowering victims to sheepdogs by being armed, well trained and mentally prepared to use force in the defense of life. For those of us in the firearms community, we’ve all heard or read “On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs” by Col. Dave Grossman(Ret). “There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Sheepdogs can be loud, fast, and have sharp teeth – just like the wolves! Pull up, grab your favorite beverage, and have a gander. Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million. They were protected by a dog, who answered to the master, but despite his best efforts from time to time a nearby pack of wolves would prey upon the flock. There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. The “Sheepdog” Analogy is Deeply Flawed by Gregory Drobsny. One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me: "Most of the people in our society are sheep. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. ( Log Out /  They don’t have a choice. The sheepdog is bound by a contract or code of conduct to serve, balanced with a set of values that are life-supporting and socially acceptable. The following is an article entitled “On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs” by Dave Grossman. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The Fable of the Sheep, Sheepdogs, and Wolves There was once a herd of fat sheep deep in the peaceful, picturesque countryside. The question remains: What is worth defending? But you are not a critter. But you are not a critter. I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. The wolves like wounded and solitary sheep because – at heart – the wolves are cowards. Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if … You want to be able to make a difference. The movie just gives a summary of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s “On Sheep, Wolves & Sheepdogs” from his book “On Combat”; if you haven’t read the whole thing (which I highly recommend you do) you can do so here or here. I suspect you will receive a bellyful of angry e-mails from conservative folks like me. But you are not a critter. Wolves had not been able to get close enough to drag off and eat one of their number in a long time. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. It is a conscious, moral decision. Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. They didn’t have a choice. “The Dogs always bark on our approach and attack us even while we have done you no harm. ( Log Out /  Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The sheepdogs round up the sheep, promoting unity. Translations: Romanian. They didn't have a choice. The sheepdog has fangs just like the wolf does. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools. Only one. “The Dogs always bark on our approach and attack us even while we have done you no harm. As we’ve trained, and train others, we still have a vigil to hold for those who aren’t able for themselves. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. The Parable of the Sheep. Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed memorial to Col. Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor winner. If you look at a flock of sheep, they outnumber wolves or sheepdogs by 50, 100, even 500 to 1… and often more. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. "Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Human sheep have decided to be sheep and can change into sheepdogs if they elect to do so. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. Dave Grossman‘s concept of the “sheepdog” has had a big influence on both civilian concealed and law enforcement.The idea is that there are three kinds of people in the world*: Sheep, who will not or can not take responsibility for the own safety, the wolves who prey on them, and sheepdogs, who protect the flock. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa.". In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. 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 to become sheepdogs. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train. Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. It is a conscious, moral decision. The parable holds a very true statement in our lives. Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs.? Keep in mind, the flock will never try to harm another living thing. I just earned the 'Land of the Free (Level 4)' badge on @. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: "...denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn't exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn't know how to protect themselves. They’re unappreciative, non-supportive, and sometimes, they may even seem undeserving. Those are the sheep.” “Then you’ve got predators, who use violence to prey on the weak. They never take the time to think for themselves. We could let them fall to the wayside, but how much better than the wolf would we really be if we just left them to their own devices? Rather, it comes from the work of military psychologist Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, best known for his 1995 text On Killing : The Psychological Cost of … We differ from you in one point only. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. I'm sure you'll find it amusing at some point or another. Here is a definition from Wikipedia: ", If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They all need their back watched. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. The sheepdog’s violence is very different from the wolf’s violence. That cop looked me in the eye and said, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?". The other sheep clamored in agreement, and they went together to the old bones of the dead wolves heaped in the corner of the pasture, and gathered fang and claw and made them into weapons. They don’t have a choice. There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. Not so long ago and in a pasture too uncomfortably close to here, a flock of sheep lived and grazed. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It is a conscious, moral decision. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door. The sheep, sheepdog and wolf “parable” is just that; a parable. Grossman argues that “the business of being a sheep or sheepdog is not a … Sheepdogs can be loud, fast, and have sharp teeth – just like the wolves! As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. Those are the sheep.” “Then you’ve got predators, who use violence to prey on the weak. What are sheeple? The analogy has become popular in military and law enforcement circles. If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. They, for the most part, are docile. “There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs.” “Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn’t exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn’t know how to protect themselves. Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn’t exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn’t know how to protect themselves. They lurk warily at the perimeter looking into the darkness as if there were some evil that can’t be seen instead of basking in the joy of the sheep’s peaceful world. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling.". Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. I don’t, by any means, want to claim this as my own thought process, but rather share it as the best I remember it. Ryan’s family gave the moniker of “Sheepdog” to Ryan after watching a scene in the movie America Sniper where the Chris Kyle’s dad describes the world as having 3 types of people: There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. One day a group of sheep, more bold than the rest, met to discuss their dilemma. Those are facts. Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The sheep were unknowing of the dangers out there and were able to graze and sleep without worry, thanks to the sheepdog. All of a sudden, mass panic ensues. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. They lurk warily at the perimeter looking into the darkness as if there were some evil that can’t be seen instead of basking in the joy of the sheep’s peaceful world. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. To: Edwards, Jill (student, UW) Subject: Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs. The Sheepdog moves and looks to assess the threat, chasing down the wolf and bearing his teeth showing them that “This is my flock, you’ll have no free dinners here.” If the wolf feels like he has a chance, he’ll test the Sheepdog… only to find out he has another thing coming. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. Ryan’s family gave the moniker of “Sheepdog” to Ryan after watching a scene in the movie America Sniper where the Chris Kyle’s dad describes the world as having 3 types of people: There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We have a propensity for violence, but we are not violent by nature. It is a conscious, moral decision. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. This “wolves-sheep-sheepdogs” triad—the metaphor by which the film justifies Kyle’s bloody career—does not appear in Kyle’s autobiography. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? If every field was filled with sheepdogs, there would be little or no threat from wolves at all. Everyone who reads this site is familiar with the sheep, wolves, and sheepdog analogy, as popularized by LTC (Ret) Grossman in his book On Combat.We all fit into one of those categories, he says—we … Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. To: Edwards, Jill (student, UW) Subject: Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a way to try and articulate to an audience that there are those who have the warrior spirit and mentality and use it to defend family, friends, neighbors and citizens against evil. The Wolves approached the Sheep with a proposal of peace. One difference between real sheep and human sheep is the fact that real sheep are born sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They are sheep. We all fit into one of those categories, he says—we need protecting, we are a predator, or we are a protector. “There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs,” he tells them. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it … In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. But you are not a critter. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear helplessness and horror at your moment of truth. One difference between real sheep and human sheep is the fact that real sheep are born sheep. The sheep were naive, the wolves were predatory, and the sheepdog was the protector against the wolves. Human sheep have decided to be sheep and can change into sheepdogs if they elect to do so. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. Everyone needs down time. Until the wolf shows up. From the wolves. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. Grossman guesses this elite group represents just 1% of people. Upon this, the Wolves made supper of the Sheep. Denial kills you twice. The “Sheepdog” Analogy is Deeply Flawed by Gregory Drobsny. Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. Maybe I could have made a difference." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes.