Sheep or Warrior

 

To sheep, sheepdogs are strange creatures. Sheepdogs are always alert, sniffing the air for danger, and reacting to the slightest sounds. They are lovable animals, kind to the lambs and respectful of older sheep, and always obedient to their masters. Though not violence by nature, they love to fight to protect their sheep and will do so until the death of the wolves or themselves. While sheep pretend that wolves do not exist or that they are in another forest, the sheepdogs know that wolves exist and are always ready for them.

In the 1920’s, Shoeless Joe Jackson, a phenomenal baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and a hero to many young fans, was caught up in the Black Sox Scandal, where he and a few teammates conspired to throw the 1919 World Series. As Shoeless Joe emerged from the courthouse on day, a young fan called out the immortal line, "Say it ain't so, Joe!” The line is now quoted whenever people are in denial about the downfall of something which they once believed, such as headlines during the 2007 baseball steroid scandal. When faced with a potential a threat, many people deny the threat and cry out “Say it ain’t so! Then, if the attack occurs, their denial leaves them defenseless. Even if they survive the attack or the threaten attack never occurs, they psychologically shattered by the fear and feelings of helplessness they experienced when they had to face reality. Deniers think they are getting by, by saying it isn't so, but denial is a buy-now-pay-later scheme. You may feel content for the moment, but at some point, you will have to pay the price.