More on Sheep, Sheepdogs and Wolves

Nearly two years ago, I wrote of Sheep, Sheepdogs and Wolves as discussed by legendary law enforcement and military trainer, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (Ret.).  It's time to revisit the subject.  First, some review.  Lt. Col. Grossman said:

One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:

"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.

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. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. ... For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.

"Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

"Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed." 

This is at once a recognizable and easily understood analogy.  The comparison of people to sheep is common and in most cases, as this one, there is nothing negative meant in the analogy.  Biblical comparisons to sheep imply that it was the sheep for whom the Good Shepherd so willingly--even eagerly--sacrificed His life.  In fact, as I discussed this with Col. Grossman, I suggested the possibility that in order for a sheepdog to be at his/her best, they should be among those who clearly hear and understand the voice of the Shepherd.

However, carry the comparison far enough there are some potentially negative characteristics that can carry over  [This notion was expressed rather forcefully by a cattle rancher friend of mine, some years ago...I'll skip the details, for now...].  An obvious example is mentioned above:  denial.  It is the default condition of sheep and, while it does not lessen the value, it tends to demoralize and even endanger those who employ it as a coping mechanism in our society. 

I was talking with a colleague who stated that he/she would never have anything to do with organized religion because of the many instances--in several different churches--where serious, abusive and violent crimes had gone unreported and unpunished because well-meaning pastors, priests and leaders had urged victims and involved parties to keep it within their church families and attempt to rescue the offender(s) through faith, etc.  As I reflected on this, the thought struck me that it isn't so much a weakness of the religions involved or organized religion as a whole, but is more a manifestation of this strategy of denial among those in the "flock."

Something that is true and observable is that the sheep really aren't comfortable with the sheepdogs.  They look a lot like a wolf--with all those teeth and everything--they are always keeping the sheep within the boundaries, barking at times and being scary, out at night howling at the moon, etc.  But when the real wolf is approaching, you will see the sheep line up behind the one, lonely sheepdog.  Again, it's not because they are bad, weak, evil or anything of the sort.  They simply are not prepared to enter that toxic, destructive realm of violence and combat and, indeed, shouldn't have to with the sheepdog on watch!  In fact, they generally don't even want to contemplate that it exists, let alone accept that it exists in close proximity or among themselves or prepare and confront it when it shows itself. 

So, when something heinous occurs in their midst--be it a small community, church, neighborhood, etc.-- they are more than happy to allow the pastor or minister to "handle it" and to declare the problem solved and go back to "normal" life.  The sheep are willing to let the wolf devour the neighbor, you see, rather than confront and stop him NOT because of cowardice or ill will, but because of a faulty coping strategy of denial.  The denial comforts and smooths the violence and the pain that comes with contemplation and comprehension.  It salves that nagging sense of duty that demands action and whispers to the conscience that "there's nothing I can do."

[NOTE:  I have observed that a hallmark, in many cases, of this sheep-like denial, is caught in phrases like, "He's a really good guy," "She's really very nice," or some variation.  Absent some concrete evidence of virtue--and even in the glaring face of rank offenses-- those unwilling to confront evil or point out that naked emperor out of fear of reprisal or disapproval/unpopularity salve their conscience with such vague pronouncements.  I recall doing this as an LDS missionary in Texas when asked by my President how a troubled companion of mine was doing.  I replied, "He's a good guy," (and he was!).  President Huntsman said, very forcefully, "Elder, there are going to be a lot of good guys in hell.  It doesn't mean anything to be a 'good guy.'  How's he doing?"  I then had to answer honestly that the man was still struggling to meet the demands of his position.]

Another example that I have seen first-hand is this.  Talk to a random citizen about the value of fire alarms and fire extinguishers in their child's school--in fact, suggest the possibility of removing those devices from schools and ceasing regular fire drills-- and watch the reaction.  They will likely be shocked at such a foolish suggestion and may even suggest you're out of your mind because those things are vital to the safety and protection of their kids.

Next, suggest to that person that it would be wise to have an armed presence in that same school--someone trained and authorized to carry a firearm and to use that firearm in certain narrowly-defined circumstances to protect the kids in the school.  I would suggest that there's about a 95% chance you'll get an equally stunned reaction and more suggestions that you need mental health intervention.

Yet consider that in the last 100 years there have been NO deaths or injuries of children in American schools as a result of fire.  Zero.  Nada.  But in the past 50 years, there have been literally thousands of kids injured or killed by violence in our schools.  Mathematically, we can accurately say that the injuries and deaths of kids by violence is infinitely more likely than injury or death by fire.  Yet most people will demand fire protection and drills to keep the kids safe while balking at the idea of armed security or police (don't even mention secretly arming teachers)!  

So, what's my point?  Today there are a couple of points that I derive from all of this.

1. We have been warned about "wolves in sheep's clothing," but what of the wolves in "sheepdog" clothing?  What of sheep in sheepdog clothing?  What about wolves or sheep, bearing sheepdog clothing seeking to usurp the role of the Shepherd?  What, then, is our duty?
   
   
2. The roles of sheep and sheepdogs are not static.  Each of us moves along a continuum between the two at different times.  Doubt it?  Observe a mild-mannered and gentle mother when she perceives a threat to one of her children.  Note that in one school shooting incident the shooter was stopped, disarmed and held by unarmed teachers. 
   Can we benefit from some self-evaluation and introspection--examining who, what, when, where we retreat into a strategy of denial?  Is it fear?  Is it confusion?  Is it laziness?  Is it the perception of opposing opinions held by friends and relatives--the fear of being isolated, alone and unpopular?  Do we apply the "good guy/nice lady" salve or some other cliche rather than speak truth--even clumsily?  If so, is this a warning sign of a tendency toward denial?
   Are there times when we are legitimately to act as a shepherd in our community?  If so, and we are seeking to emulate THE Shepherd, do we understand and accept how dirty and gritty and grimy that job is likely to be?  Do we fully understand the commitment involved?  Is that what causes us to balk and shirk duty?

I will not attempt to supply answers here.  But I do hope that each who reads this will seriously contemplate their own answers.  We live in difficult and increasingly desperate times.  Our world is in frantic need of sheepdogs--particularly those who hear the voice of the Shepherd--who are willing to risk comfort, wealth, reputation or convenience; willing to lay their "[lives, fortunes and sacred honor]" upon the "altar of freedom."  Will you stand among them?  Will you stand alone, if necessary?  Will I?


I do not know.


Perhaps most importantly, if you believe in such a day of reckoning, will you... will I... will any of us be able to stand and face those men and women who have gone before, sacrificing all at that day?  Will we be willing to look them in the eye and say to them--to Him-- that, "It was just too hard?"


Time will tell...