Posted on 07/21/2012 5:36:46 AM PDT by BigBlueJon
"The following essay (an extract from the book, 'On Combat') was written by Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman, U.S. Army (Ret.) Director, Killology Research Group (www.killology.com). Colonel Grossman is a somewhat controversial figure - he authored the book - "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" - a very interesting topic that our politically correct society would rarely discuss......."
It's about the simple fact that there are monsters in this world and that they can "snap" at a moments notice or that they can "snap" with premeditated intent.
In reflection of the day's tragedy...I wonder if the problem is not that there are more guns at the hands of those who would do harm, but rather less guns at the hands of those who would do good in order to put their life in harm's way?
If you have the means and the capacity, get some much needed range time and familiarity with the tool that is a firearm. Practice with ease and earnest. Get your concealed carry permit. Carry not as a gun-toting "cop-wannabe," but as a "Sheepdog," willing to protect your self, loved one or stranger that is fellow in this wayfaring world.
Thanks for posting
Have passed link along to some local friends that I have been trying stress this exact point to. We practice this in our household and encourage others to do as well.
Have the 5 DVD set Bulletproof Mind from Lt Col Dave Grossman and reccommend it to anyone. Disc 4 discusses the sheepdog in detail
I am reading “On Killing” at this time. Very comprehensive book and probably not what most may think from its title.
Interesting book.
Unfortunately, the always-to-be-expected calls for more gun control (not less) is the screed being trumpeted by the sock-puppets of the socialist mass media. Teey need to be fought every step of the way...
We are ultimately responsible for our own safety and security. 911 will not save you, only let those concerned to come in and pick up the pieces.
Wake-up time for the sheep. If they don't, they will simply bleat a path to their own enslavement or demise...
srb
Thanks for the thread. Excellent, excellent article. It really hit home with me, because it resonated with George W. Bush’s doctrine regarding terrorists of “If you aren’t with us, you are against us”. As flawed as Bush was in many respects, he was right on that. And even with his “religion of peace” rhetoric, Bush was no sheep.
And most of the sheepdogs knew that instinctively, and it is why they mostly supported him as their leader.
The one thing I thought was, I know people who fully understand the evil that men are capable of, yet they aren’t really sheepdogs. Does that still make them sheep? On reflection, I have to say it does, but I suppose I would have to subdivide the sheep.
There are liberal sheep, who believe there are no wolves, and even if there are, if those wolves are treated with respect and given fresh meet such as lamb (abortion) or mutton (Obamacare seniors) then they won’t attack and eat the healthy productive sheep.
These liberal sheep fail to see that the wolves don’t just want meat. They want the BEST meat. They want the “meat” that does NOT want to be taken.
In other words, what the wolf likes is NOT sustenance handed to him on a plate, but POWER which he has taken from those who don’t want to surrender it. They want to exploit the fear of being eaten to gain power over even a single sheep.
So, the liberal sheep mostly deny the physical existence of wolves, and those who even do acknowledge their existence believe wolves are really sheep that have been malformed by the injustice, inequality and hatred of the flock. THESE sheep are the most annoying, and dangerous to the flock.
Even as wolves are tearing out the throats of the sheep around them and the ground runs red with blood and wisps of torn and bloody wool are carried throughout the flock on gentle currents of air, these sheep bleat at the others “Don’t be afraid! Don’t fight back or protect yourselves! It will only make the wolves more violent and angry which will result in more of our deaths. We just have to make the wolves understand we mean them no harm, we respect their views, and we can help them become productive and gentle sheep like us!”
These same liberal sheep would follow up with “You sheep over there! Yes, you Rams and Ewes who are standing in a line, shoulder-to-shoulder and flank-to-flank! You think you are trying to protect your ewes and your lambs by getting in the way of the wolves and sacrificing yourselves or trying to butt them with your horns, but you are doing nothing of the sort! You are only making the wolves angry, and more of us will die! We hate you, and from now on, the grasses you get to eat will be from the worst patches, and your lambs will be denied the protection of the inner flock!”
Those are the “LIberal Sheep”.
Then, there are conservative sheep.
The conservative sheep are thankful for the sheepdog. They know in their sheep hearts that they don’t have the teeth to go head to head with the wolves, they only have their numbers and their willingness to make it harder for the wolves to get at their lambs. When the sheepdog tries to get them to go in a direction, they go that way. They try not to make life hard for the shepherd, nay, they try to make it easier. When the sheepdog must sleep, as all dogs must, they take it on themselves to be extra watchful, to look for the wolves if only to sound an early alarm for their slumbering protector.
They recognize their only defense is in their numbers, and in whatever support they can lend the sheepdog. They realize that even though they be only sheep, their very existence is made possible in a world of wolves only by the sheepdog. They vow to provide whatever support to the sheepdog they can.
It helps a lot if you learn to love the sound of a purposeful "BANG," and the feel of the solid jolt of the grip slamming back into the heel of your hand, knowing exactly where a hole has appeared down-range, and leaning into it to savor the tangible power. Sort of like hitting a solid home run, over the fence every time! And knowing exactly what's going to happen if you ever have to use it to save a life --
The thought crossed my mind that nowhere in the world will you find a memorial to all soldiers who fought with honor for their people in a just cause.
It should not be defined by more than those three criteria.
They fought with honor.
They fought for their people.
They fought for a just cause.
Specifically, such a memorial does not honor or respect war or wars, nor the political leaders, nor the commanders, but just the soldiers who fought.
That they fought with honor can be claimed by them, but it is a matter of individual conscience, that they did not transgress the rules of war, nor abuse civilians.
That they fought for their people is also a matter of conscience, but it implies the defense of their people was what motivated them, not baser instincts, nor just following orders.
That they fought for a just cause is the highest bar to meet, because it not only takes into account the purpose of the fight, but also the consequences of the fight. Good intentions alone do not make for a just cause.
The only problem is that today, too many sheepdogs have as much contempt for the sheep as for the wolves. This is why we are moving toward a police state.
In the 1950s, the sheepdogs only had contempt for the wolves and they gave the sheep great latitude. Too many cops today see everyone as the enemy right down to the family lap dog. The author’s sentiment used to be right but is only half right in 2012. The sheepdogs used to be anxious to take on the wolves, now they are anxious to take on all comers.
Regarding the DVD set...I’ll have to check it out.
“On Killing”...I’ll have to check it out.
With all the chaos swirling around in the past few days, I wanted to bump this thread and to add another link to this ode to the sheepdogs among us:
http://mwkworks.com/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html
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