The Boy Who Cried Wolf … from Aesop’s Fables
There once was a shepherd boy who was bored as he sat on the hillside watching the village sheep. To amuse himself he took a great breath and sang out, “Wolf! Wolf! The Wolf is chasing the sheep!”
The villagers came running up the hill to help the boy drive the wolf away. But when they arrived at the top of the hill, they found no wolf. The boy laughed at the sight of their angry faces.
“Don’t cry ‘wolf’, shepherd boy,” said the villagers, “when there’s no wolf!” They went grumbling back down the hill.
Later, the boy sang out again, “Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!” To his naughty delight, he watched the villagers run up the hill to help him drive the wolf away.
When the villagers saw no wolf they sternly said, “Save your frightened song for when there is really something wrong! Don’t cry ‘wolf’ when there is NO wolf!”
But the boy just grinned and watched them go grumbling down the hill once more.
Later, he saw a REAL wolf prowling about his flock. Alarmed, he leaped to his feet and sang out as loudly as he could, “Wolf! Wolf!”
But the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn’t come.
At sunset, everyone wondered why the shepherd boy hadn’t returned to the village with their sheep. They went up the hill to find the boy. They found him weeping.
“There really was a wolf here! The flock has scattered! I cried out, “Wolf!” Why didn’t you come?”
An old man tried to comfort the boy as they walked back to the village.
“We’ll help you look for the lost sheep in the morning,” he said, putting his arm around the youth, “Nobody believes a liar…even when he is telling the truth!”
We are so bombarded by lies every hour of every day told by Republicans that if, by some miracle, one of them ever tells the truth, we will discount it as just another lie. The “Grand Old Party” has lost its integrity, its reputation, and sold its values to the highest bidder. Collectively, they are the little shepherd boy in the fable, and the people who watch Fox “News” are the sheep, while those of us who recognize a lie when we see one are the ‘woke’ villagers who are trying to ignore the lying, cheating likes of George Santos, Matt Gaetz, Marge Greene, Lauren Boebert, Kevin McCarthy, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and all the rest, while realizing the potential for danger. And the wolf?
Well, you see, the little shepherd boy crying wolf are the Republican politicians and media clowns who are painting Democrats as the wolf, but when the real wolf shows up, they may be surprised to find it isn’t at all who they thought. The real ‘wolf’ is a combination of climate change, guns, racism & bigotry, wealthy corporations, technology, and a few others. And yes, the wolf is really there, creeping ever nearer, unimpressed by the deniers and the conspiracy theorists who have laid the path, allowing him to creep forward at an even faster pace.
Filosofa's Word 
I like that you noted that the painting of the wolf happening between the political parties. It’s what’s happening and it’s such a waste of time and taking away from the real issues. Such a shame what politics has evolved to these days.
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Sometimes I think much of the political turmoil is actually intentionally designed to draw our attention away from the real problems. And it seems to be working, doesn’t it? Sigh.
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Jill, I think reporters and citizens need to ask simple questions when we hear something that sounds like a lie or comes from a source well-known (and some well documented) for lying.
“Do you really believe that or are you just saying it for effect?”
“That sounds untrue, what is your source?”
“Why is that important with so many others things we need to deal with?”
“Can I repeat back to you what you just said, so I can get your quote right?”
I am reminded of the CBS reporter who had heard Donald Trump repeatedly take credit for a piece of legislation. She finally stopped him and asked if he knew that legislation was passed in 2014 before he became president? The pushback was priceless, but the misrepresentation was not unusual. Keith
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We would all benefit from that, from politicians (and others) having their feet held to the fire, being questioned relentlessly about their statements. I had forgotten about that reporter reminding Trump that the legislation had passed years before he took office! I’m betting he vowed revenge against her, for that is his nature! And apparently it didn’t cost him the support of his fans. But yes, to the point, the media MUST start pushing back against the lies.
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A brilliant analogy Jill. Ideal story and well constructed representations.
This wolf is remorseless, it never sleeps, so well camouflaged.
In fact it is likely to be a pack, hunting down its human prey.
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And so we put a selfish, spoiled child in charge of keeping the wolves at bay??? Oh yeah, makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?
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And the wolves will dine well (there’s fable-style tale there somewhere asking to be worked on…)
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Hmmmm … possibly so … 🐺
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Interesting the number of brutal rulers who met sticky ends…..
Fate has its own wolf pack, and it never tires 🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
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That is very true, but unfortunately by the time they meet their fate, they have caused much devastation and loss of life. I wonder what life in a wolf pack is like? Do they have jealousies and greed, too? I’m going to be a vegetarian wolf, so I won’t be coveting the rabbits the others kill!
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Which is why in democracies we should always be on guard and ready to push back against anyone with ‘simple solutions’ which appeal to our angry sides. Or the disease of Conspiracy Theory
As for wolves, here’s one link for you Jill:
https://www.livingwithwolves.org/about-wolves/social-wolf/
🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
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Oh THANK YOU for this link!!! Fascinating and now, more than ever, I feel that I was always meant to be a wolf! They “raise their young as a group, and they care for injured companions.” What’s not to love? 🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
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Yep.
They have also been observed playing harmless tricks on each other too- thus a sense of humour.🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺
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I’ll fit right in!!!
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I knew ya would 🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺!
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Pingback: But Who Plays The Wolf? | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News
Those who have no common sense, follow the lead of someone who stand out, and it doesn’t matter if the individual sho leads knows absolutely nothing, we are all, following someone, because we are, blind.
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This is so very true. Rather like the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
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We certainly are heading in a definite direction, but we cannot know yet what the real end will be.
Science fiction is often based on the question, “if we continue on this line, what will the outcome be?” But humanity’s story is not written in stone. There is still time to change the plot development, and I thonk that is spmethong we have to remain aware of.
Despite the boy crying wolf, the sheep can still be saved by a watchful villager!
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I hope you are right and that the villagers, stressed and frustrated by everything, don’t turn on each other.
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That’s the wolf’s plan right now, turning brother against brother. But that wolf is too blibd to see, if bro starts fighting bro, there will be no one to buy their overpriced goods. There will be a temporary surge in the sale of weapons of war, but in the end both sides will be devastated, The funny thing about wars, and particularly civil wars, is both sides lose, including the winner!
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You’re so very right … in any war, there are no winners. Sigh.
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So why do we let our leaders cause them? As a weird form of population control? Or as a form of killing our young men and women who are more likely to choose wokeness over sleepytime!
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In a word … $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Money for the wealthy, yes! But that money does not trickle down to the average joe who is risking his or her life at the behest of the wealthy.
Poor people lose. Wealthy people win! Not what I call a desirable situation.
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I know that, and you know that, but some people are not deep thinkers and are easily swayed, easily convinced by the glib talkers.
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Because no one ever allowed them to learn to think for themselves.Which is wny I disagree with religion, and government. People are made to be “children” for their whole lives.
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Agreed. On most points, anyway. Human nature being what it is, I still believe we need government to ensure that the strong don’t trample the weak.
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A d what is happening rignt now. The strong (wealthy) are stealing from the weak (poor). Democracy is raping us as we speak.
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With the help of story wonderful thought shared.
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Thank you!
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