The Perfect Analogy -"Woof"

It's been a while since I read something this OUTSTANDING. I've copied it from a fellow submariner's blog- Ultraquiet No More. All I have to add is AMEN.

Sheep, Wolf or Sheepdog.....

This letter was written by Charles Grennel and his comrades who are veterans of the Global War on Terror. Grennel is an Army Reservist who spent two years in Iraq and was a principal in putting together the first Iraq elections, January of 2005.

It was written to Jill Edwards, a student at the University of Washington who did not want to honor Medal of Honor winner Colonel Greg Boyington with a plaque. Greg Boyington was a graduate of UW, and a USMC pilot during WW-II. Miss Edwards objection was because he had killed people.

Ms. Edwards and other students (and faculty) do not think those who serve in the U.S. armed services are good role models. _________

To: Edwards, Jill (student, UW) Subject: Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs

Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed memorial to Col. Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor winner. I suspect you will receive a bellyful of angry e-mails from other military men like me.

You may be too young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of generations of servicemen and servicewomen on whose shoulders you and your fellow students stand. I forgive you for the untutored ways of youth and your naivete. It may be that you are, simply, a sheep. There's no dishonor in being a sheep as long as you know and accept what you are.

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. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. They are sheep.

Then there are the wolves 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. 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 uncharted path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.

"We know that the sheep live in denial; that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. 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. But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed.

The world can not work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. 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. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, Baa.

Until the wolf shows up; then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.

Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle.

That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. 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.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes. The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference. You want to be able to make a difference. There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population.

There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. 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.

Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. 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.

Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When they learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd and the other passengers confronted the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers, athletes, business people and parents from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.

"There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men."... Edmund Burke.

"Only the dead have seen the end of war."... Plato

Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice.

But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision. 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. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love.

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.

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between.

Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. It's ok to be a sheep, but do not kick the sheep dog.

Indeed, the sheep dog may just run a little harder, strive to protect a little better and be fully prepared to pay an ultimate price in battle and spirit with the sheep moving from baa to thanks.

We do not call for gifts or freedoms beyond our lot. We just need a small pat on the head, a smile and a thank you to fill the emotional tank which is drained protecting the sheep. And when our number is called by The Almighty, and day retreats into night, a small prayer before the heavens just may be in order to say thanks for letting you continue to be a sheep. And be grateful for the thousands, millions of American sheepdogs who permit you the freedom to express even bad ideas.

Sorry, Texas- CT Summers ROCK!!

I love Texas as much as the next Texan, but let's be real. It can get kinda warm in the summertime. Today just happens to be one of those days that makes me glad to be a Texan in yankeeville. I won't rub it in.

It's been a hard week for me with (one) a increasingly busy school schedule and (two) an empty house in Houston that is not currently on the market due to an air conditioning unit leak that damaged some sheet rock in the ceiling. I do have some wonderful assistance from Dad, Ethan, an excellent realtor, Kevin Williams and Walt Hays. It should be finished and good as new by tomorrow. Let's all pray for a buyer to come our way! Thanks so much to everyone helping me out down there.

A quick Nolan update...
The guy is blowing nuclear power school away. The toughest training pipeline the navy has to offer and the ensign is barely batting an eyelash. I won't minimize the unbelievable amount of time he is putting in to do well, but I'm beginning to see that he didn't join the navy to follow in his big brother's footsteps, but rather to show HIM HOW IT'S DONE!! He just scored a ~3.5 on his heat transfer final. BZ, ENSIGN.

Goodbye, Texas!

It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to the Lone Star State. The fam left the motherland this past Thursday as duty calls us back to the fleet. I will likely always consider it home as I have for the past 29 years of my life. Will we ever reside in Texas again? Perhaps. And I am not so thick headed to believe that Texas is the only place with good people...it just has the best people. (or HAD them:) j/k Connecticut will be our home for the next little while (state song?-YANKEE DOODLE!). Wish us luck in yankeeville.

Here are a few things that I love and will miss about Texas.
1) Bluebonnets
2) Blue Bell Ice Cream
3) The unabashed and prevalent display of the flag
4) Texas Hill country
5) The River Walk, Schlitterbahn & floatin the Guadalupe
6) friendly country people
7) Los Cucos
8) Longhorn cows
9) undying patriotism
10) high school football
11) Texas Sunsets and Thunderstorms
12) smoked briskets that'll make ya slap yo mamma!
13) Sunday dinners, frisbee with the boys, Scharmans, Kecks, Bayles, Kirkhams, Allens, and all the other great neighbors.

i love mexican food

Thanks to my Dad, I am addicted to talk radio. At times I have to turn it off because the frustration is too much to handle. I'm sure Emily wishes I listened less, because I come home hopped up on current events and in the mood for an intellectual conversation. I do recognize that I often hear one side of the issue; however, I find myself in agreement with a majority that is in that media.

As part of our civic responsibility, I think we need to pay more attention to what's going on in our country, as frustrating as it is, in order to be prepared to fulfill Joseph Smith's prophesy that we will rescue the constitution when it hangs by a thread. It does not take long to write a congressman and I think our children's future is worth the time. There is no doubt our families are under attack.

How many of us can recognize when a proposed law is unconstitutional? Pres Benson stated in a wonderful talk entitled Our Divine Constitution, that we need to know this incredible document better.

Anyway, I have digressed a lot. This blog was going to be about the immigration problem in our country (hence the title) but I think I'll save it for another day. I love our country and have gained a unique appreciation for the founding fathers. I read 1776 and reccomend it. Try counting all the times divine intervention saved the Americans.

The Gun Issue (Excluding my arms)

I spend my days at the state-funded historically black university- Prairie View A&M University. Go Panthers! And several nights a weeks, for the last 2 years, are spent at the incredibly diverse University of Houston. Go Cougars! (Rumor has it THE James McCoy, shortly-to-be accomplished master architect is a distinguished alumni!) Since I spend the vast majority of my time at either institution of higher learning, I have been unexpectedly very affected by the recent massacre at Virginia Tech. I've experienced a myriad of emotions, probably similar to many others whose hearts ached to hear of such a senseless act.

The question occupying my mind is, "Was it avoidable?" Now, I know that it is fairly unproductive to sit here and point fingers or play the blame game; for we all know who is to blame- a mentally deranged, tormented soul named Cho. The only interest I have in rehashing such a horrible act is to gain some 'lessons learned' to prevent a similar atrocity from happening ever again.

I do not possess a membership card from the NRA, but I do whole-heartily support the 2nd amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Up until now, I would have said that a zero tolerance policy for firearms at certain locations, such as schools, is a good thing. But what has that done except create 'safe zones' for evil people to kill innocent people with little fear (at least in the short term) of reprisal. School shootings are on the rise. Why? Do the criminals consider the period of time that they will hold all the power of life and death? Likely.

Despite all the legislation and circuit breakers in place to keep guns out of the hands of evil people, how easy is it to get a gun illegally? -Surprisingly easy, I'm afraid. Therefore, the only people following the gun laws are laws-abiding citizens that have proven capable of opposing these madmen! Law enforcement personnel cannot be everywhere. Can we depend on them solely to keep us safe? Not for me and my family. If I can prevent some murderous crime, with or without a gun, I'm going to do it. So, VT-preventable?- I think not. Did 32 people need to die? No. One only need look to the numerous examples of responsibly armed citizenry preventing or minimizing crime, to include the shooting just a few months ago at Trolley Square Mall. Here's my final question: Who is glad that no one in that dorm or engineering building at Virginia Tech on Monday 4/16 at 9:00AM, or in Columbine High School several years ago, was lawfully carrying a concealed handgun?

As for me, I have not gained a testimony that this is one of those things we just need to submit to, knowing their occurrences are seldom, despite increasing. Does the Lord expect us to defend our families from evil and be prepared against the day both spiritually as well as physically?

Keeping perspective

Yesterday, the Chicago Sun Times reported that some BYU faculty and students want to withdraw an invitation to Vice President Cheney to come speak on the campus because he does not measure up to the universities integrity policy. Read the article here.

Why I let this stuff get to me I don't know, but it is frustrating to me to see supposedly educated people with such a liberal thought convention. It may be their opinion that Cheney is a bad guy, fine- they can think what they want. But at least admit that it is by assumption and inference that they hold that opinion.

It is well known that faculty and students of higher education lean to the left in this country. Maybe this stems from the egoism that causes us to reject plain and simple truths. Specifically, that "it's just not possible that Iraq really was trying to acquire yellow cake uranium!" Why is this so inconceivable? Because it would force us to do something about it. It is so contradictory to me that the left is so adamant on the fact that Bush manipulated the intelligence for political purposes, but that nearly all the free world that thought the same thing, did not!

I guess what I am driving at is this; If we abandon the Iraq now, we are partially responsible for the outcome. If we stop seeking out and killing the terrorists, they will not just leave us alone- they will continue to plot and plan our destruction. Let's just face the fact that there is evil in this world that must be stopped. I heard a quote from some philosopher that goes something like, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

I believe Dick Cheney to be a good man who believes in stopping evil.

A Quick Nolan Update

Our newest little sailor is doing even better than expected. I believe him to be driven by an unquenchable desire to show up his older brother...His inner monologue may say, "Naval Academy, I scoff at you! HA!" After three weeks of bearcrawling everywhere and burying yourself in sand multiple times a day, Nolan has passed his first major inspection with flying colors. The more physical phase is behind him as the hours he spends in class increases. He reports in a severely raspy voice that he is still sore, but his body is just now catching up, slowly. As I had a problem with laughing, I asked how creative and funny the drill sergeants are. He cracked a smile when one DI asked a candidate, "SON! HOW MANY EYEBROWS ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO HAVE!" Then proceeded to have him pretend to be Ernie while calling, "HEY, BURT, SIR!" All in all, he makes me proud.

So I hope you all are having a fine Navy day, because I'm sure Nolan is.

ps CORRECTION! it's Burt with the unibrow. oh well, even DIs make mistakes. Maybe Nolan should point that out to him.