On Sheep, Wolves, and Men

22 February, 2020

Sheep fear wolves.  As well they should.  Wolves are aggressive carnivores; sheep are passive herbivores.  Wolves are feral, sheep are docile.  Wolves are predators, sheep are prey.  Fear is rational.

Sheep hate individuals more than they fear wolves.  In fact, many sheep love, respect, and admire wolves.  Sheep will love the wolf who protects his larder from the other wolves.  They express their love in many ways: 

“He kept us free,” “He kept us safe,” “Thank God for Negan,” and, “I have observed him on television; he shall trounce those violent criminals.” (or, in the Original Klingon, “Ah seen him on teevee.  He’s go’n’ whoop them ter’rists.”)

Respect?  Admire?  I do believe.  One point and two questions:

The point  —  Che Guevara is on more T-shirts in America than Ron Paul, Sam Adams, Tom Payne,  Ben Franklin, or Emma Goldman.

The questions  —  Why do mass murderers become more popular after their convictions?  —  &  —  Why do convicted mass murderers get marriage proposals from strangers?

So why should the sheep HATE individualism, even as they LOVE their wolves?  Because individuals “cause trouble.”  They “stand out” and “rock the boat” and “make waves.”  They’re “asking for it” and they “think they’re better than us.”   Worse yet, even though it is Negan™ who is actually killing members of the flock, it is Rick Grimes™ who is “getting them killed.”

But worst of all, the sheep hate the individual because he is a walking rebuke to their constant betrayal of their alleged standards.  Sheep love their wolves because the wolves remind the sheep that they are not wolves.  Sheep hate individuals because individuals remind the sheep that they are not men.