Of Sheep, Wolves, Sheepdogs, and Mutts

Submitted by Bill St. Clair on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:46:46 GMT  <== RKBA ==> 

Joel Simon - Joel reminds us of the metaphor of sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs, and says that he doesn't want to have anything to do with any of that. He's a mutt. I'm a mutt, too.

I'm a mutt. (I've used this analogy before, and it always drives dog lovers nuts: They prefer "mixed breed.") I couldn't care less about herding sheep, or about oppressing them. I have no interest in sheep at all. I know exactly on which end my teeth are kept, and I keep them sharp. I reject all demands that I have them pulled for the benefit of the flock. The flock, as I may have mentioned, does not interest me. I reject aggression, and to the extent my circumstances allow I reject violence, but if violence is forced upon me I will not delegate its use. In that case I'll do it myself. And in that case my aggressor will find me perfectly capable of dishing it out. I'd rather avoid a fight than engage in one, but it would be a terrible mistake to class me among those you consider to have "no capacity for violence."

Mutts are not sheepdogs, and they are not showdogs. I'll never be pretty, and I'll never be rich, and you'll sure as hell never catch me in a blue uniform or any other kind of uniform. All I want, from sheepdogs or wolves, is to be left alone to pursue my life. As long as I get that one little thing, I'm as harmless as a sheep. When I stop getting it, from sheepdogs or wolves, the differences will become apparent. Neither sheepdogs nor wolves should try to speed that day, for neither are my allies. Aggressors all look alike to me; they look like food. I'm a mutt.

And I'm way not the only one.

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Comments (1):

Grrrrrr.

Submitted by Kent McManigal on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:53:17 GMT

I think I am a coyote. I'm not a creature of the pack.

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