“The real moral of the Æsop fable, as applied to the current day, is this: when Trump tells a lie, Americans die. That’s what happened during the pandemic, when his mendacity cost the lives of some 300,000 of us. And that, tragically, is what came to pass last Saturday in Pennsylvania.”
Interesting comparison. As always, your insights inspire thought. Aesop's sheep were innocent. Trump's sheep, clothed in blood red with maxi-absorbant pads, are cheering the wolf on. Their sheep-like followership could enable world destruction. They're frigtening because, despite innocent ignorance, they're a pack of fist-shaking, sheep-clothed wolves howling at their magnetic, orange, evil blob. Terrifying.
Please pardon typographer curiosity: are there letters f because the author wrote pre-1800-ish when the symbol f was employed to differentiate between hard and soft uses of letter s? Or is the reason something different? Now I want to see the book!
Thank you for the link. I wanted to see if there was anything weird going on. But no. And pardon if I misunderstand, but...
The f (not really an f but a "long s") isn't just an element of any single, old, obscure typeface. But I guess it must be an age thing -- distance from history. When I was in school, I think that long s symbol was an element common knowledge. But if, today, a writer isn't familiar, then that bit of history must be getting lost in time like the rotary phone and Telex.
In the service of preserving a small slice of history... The U. S. Constitution and virtually all old English-language documents are written with that symbol. It was kind of like a 27th letter of our alphabet. There must be a lot of references to it. This is just the first one I landed on. https://www.rd.com/article/long-s-us-constitution/
Dipshit 45 has no interest in governing, his only objective is to entertain so that his flock of sheep adore him. If it weren't a slur on a true art form I would say The Theatre of the Absurd describes his act best.
Aesops' Shepherd's Boy is a fable of "good propaganda". A few lies told as a prank, harmful results, hopefully lesson learned.
The WWF MAGA GOP is an authoritarian psyop, "destructive propaganda". GOP lies, repeated over and over again, become mantras to focus the minds of the confused and frightened.
the sad thing is that if he is elected he isn't going to solve the problems his cult thinks he will. If all immigrants are deported, there will still be crime. (And who will he choose NEXT as his Other? There is a perennial favorite out there--ask Adolf.) Whatever they see now as American Carnage is going to look at best just the same, since there isn't actually American Carnage that needs eradicating. If you think your crime ridden neighborhood is going to get better, it isn't. We won't be safer for leaving NATO. If prices "go back to what they were" there is a fair chance it will be the deflation connected with a Depression. Nothing is going to trickle down. If you are Catholic, the Christian Nation might not actually like you. And so on, and so on, and so on.
Above all, the sheep aren't going to be any better off.
I've thought about eliminating birthright citizenship. My great grandfather and grandmother came from Ireland in 1850. Can I PROVE they actually became citizens? Nope. If there is no birthright citizenship then my grandfather, father, myself aren't citizens. And any excuse can make my brother and me vulnerable.
Actually, my maternal family came over in 1636, and fought in the Revolution, so I'm actually probably safe (unless, of course, women no longer count). But think of the number of people, including a lot of folks whose families stretch back to a few years AFTER the Constitution, who could be in the same (departing) boat.
Well, there is this thing called ex post facto. But does it apply to constitutional provisions?? Who knows?
Æsop might have been BLACK? OMG, that's great!! Who knew? You just keep getting better and better, Greg, making connections to stories, fables, books, plays, poems, and history, that all connect to now. I haven't run across many authors who do this regularly and appreciate it every week. TWICE on Fridays! Friday's Five-8 was great!
I can imagine some descendant of yours writing a similar column many years hence and quoting Donald Trump, also leaving the seemingly random capitalizations in place. LOL
Maybe the most relevant portion of these "Instructive Applications" by Mr. Croxall, is this:
"These little Shams, when found out, are sufficiently prejudicial to the Interest of every Person who practices them but when we are alarmed with imaginary Dangers and Respect of the Public, till the Cry goes quite stale and threadbare, how can it be expected we should know when to guard ourselves against real ones?"
"Imaginary Dangers," like CARAVANS coming north through Mexico, are Donald's bread and butter. "The Cry" HAS gone quite stale and threadbare, hasn't it? Donald managed that along about mid-2017, and it's only gotten worse, yet the (mindless) sheep still follow this malignant shepherd. I still can't wrap my mind around that. It is a mystery I will never be able to understand, like quantum physics. "The Shepherd's Boy" is easy to understand, however, and we're at the point between the lies and the wolf devouring the sheep. Maybe THEN, they will understand.
I grew up reading Aesop’s Fables. As a matter of fact, I think I brought my old rag-tag copy with me when I moved. Being young, I never thought about the sheep; they were gone but I did figure out what happened to the stupid boy(most likely, at any rate). I too have referenced this fable a couple of times lately. Problem being, this nasty-ass “shepherd boy” won’t be fired, chastised, nothing. As in too many hierarchies, he’ll probably be kicked upstairs.
Having been raised to respect Aesop’s Fables, I find your analogy intriguing. And, using it, you’ve made a good point. But I find it ironic that it only fits the current situation—since millions in fact do believe the serial liar—when the roles in the Fable of the American people are so vastly split: democracy-loving Americans are the Husbandmen, and Trump voters are the Sheep. It’s a stark illustration of how divided we are!
Brilliant analogy! It’s been quite a day so far…lots of tears shed already. I received a notification from “Erin in the Morning” about President Biden ending his presidential campaign. She attached a letter from President Biden or I may not have believed it’s true. Here’s the funny thing, I’m still not sure it’s true. That’s how f’d up our reality has become. And I believe that is one of the goals of the “man who sold the world”’s lies - so we don’t know what’s true anymore. Total chaos and confusion. This whole thing has been a test of faith and strength. I have to believe that the best and highest good will come from all of this chaos. Timothy Snyder wrote a brilliant essay this morning on his Substack titled “Both Sides”. I highly recommend reading it. It discusses the media’s obsession with never picking a side and false equivalency. While I’ve never gave much credence to either, for me both-sides-ism and false equivalency died on June 24, 2022.
I'd heard a rumor that he would leave on Sunday. I figured if he made it through the day, he'd survive. But even I was surprised. I'm still processing, but I'm very encouraged by the quick collective jump to Kamala. That was what I most feared: the bros taking her out, too.
I had a weird thought today. Now I was(am) 100% for Biden. I’ve had a really hard time these past few weeks because I don’t understand how everyone cannot see what I see. I started to have a sneaking suspicion that maybe it was me that couldn’t see clearly. Then I wondered if this is what the MAGA believers feel like? They see something and it seems so true to them and so many people are telling them they are wrong. And it’s a heartbreaking place to be. But once the idea of V.P. Harris as our President started to take root in my mind, I can totally see that being the route we need to take. And I’m so excited to see that becoming reality. I have decided to surrender to whatever will get us a President and Administration that is the most accepting of ALL the people of this country and the world. Kamala is an extremely strong and intelligent person and I have faith that she will be a great president.
Comment #2 today. We are crossing the Rubicon. Dems need to throw open the selection and get it right. Why? Because Kamala is not universally backed, after an open and honest process if she emerges on top, must get 100% support, no questions asked. On the other side of the river there needs to stand two individuals who have full backing of the army. Suggestion, Corey Booker for President, Katie Porter as veep. Frankly, as in Indiana Jones, Dems need to CHOOSE WISELY! Me, I would vote for the Howdy Doody and Bozo the Clown ticket over dipshit 45 and the vampire.
Kamala hot Joe's endorsement and his $96 million, and raised $50 million herself yesterday. All those endorsements rolling in, and she will have enough delegates, apparently, by Wednesday. And now this is what everyone will talk about instead of will-he-or-won't-he-leave. I wanted Joe to stay, but this is the best possible outcome, IMO.
Agree. She is the natural choice. Let's hope she is up to the job. Certainly appears Dems are prepared to unify behind her. No bickering, no second guessing, just get on with ensuring dipshit 45 is slammed to irrelevance along with the vampire.
Sorry I was not able to catch this earlier. You are a man with the right words. I ignored everything with any reference to the RNC. It was a Schitt show and the sheep, in this case, lapped it up. How embarrassing for America.
Just a minor point, Hulk Hogan’s real name is Terry Bollea. BTW, I like Empress!
Thanks, Kathy! I'm glad you like it.
I fixed the spelling, but that proves my point about his irrelevance...
“The real moral of the Æsop fable, as applied to the current day, is this: when Trump tells a lie, Americans die. That’s what happened during the pandemic, when his mendacity cost the lives of some 300,000 of us. And that, tragically, is what came to pass last Saturday in Pennsylvania.”
We cannot let anyone forget this.
Indeed.
Greg Olear… I’m nominating you for President!!
If nominated I will not accept, and if elected I will not serve. ; )
[Sherman, in one of the best quotes of all time]
We sheep ought to remember what the good shepherds have for dinner. Lamb chops. Ain't no picnic for us. Billserle.com
Exactly!
Interesting comparison. As always, your insights inspire thought. Aesop's sheep were innocent. Trump's sheep, clothed in blood red with maxi-absorbant pads, are cheering the wolf on. Their sheep-like followership could enable world destruction. They're frigtening because, despite innocent ignorance, they're a pack of fist-shaking, sheep-clothed wolves howling at their magnetic, orange, evil blob. Terrifying.
Please pardon typographer curiosity: are there letters f because the author wrote pre-1800-ish when the symbol f was employed to differentiate between hard and soft uses of letter s? Or is the reason something different? Now I want to see the book!
You're right; it's not an exact analogy. His are COMPLICIT sheep.
Here is the link to the book...I'm just assuming the German; I don't know anything about old typefaces and rules:
https://books.google.com/books?id=sFhMAAAAYAAJ&q=The+Shepherd%27s+boy#v=snippet&q=The%20Shepherd's%20boy&f=false
Thank you for the link. I wanted to see if there was anything weird going on. But no. And pardon if I misunderstand, but...
The f (not really an f but a "long s") isn't just an element of any single, old, obscure typeface. But I guess it must be an age thing -- distance from history. When I was in school, I think that long s symbol was an element common knowledge. But if, today, a writer isn't familiar, then that bit of history must be getting lost in time like the rotary phone and Telex.
In the service of preserving a small slice of history... The U. S. Constitution and virtually all old English-language documents are written with that symbol. It was kind of like a 27th letter of our alphabet. There must be a lot of references to it. This is just the first one I landed on. https://www.rd.com/article/long-s-us-constitution/
Happy Sunday.
Dipshit 45 has no interest in governing, his only objective is to entertain so that his flock of sheep adore him. If it weren't a slur on a true art form I would say The Theatre of the Absurd describes his act best.
Well put, Old Man.
Excellent as always
Thanks, Mary!
Aesops' Shepherd's Boy is a fable of "good propaganda". A few lies told as a prank, harmful results, hopefully lesson learned.
The WWF MAGA GOP is an authoritarian psyop, "destructive propaganda". GOP lies, repeated over and over again, become mantras to focus the minds of the confused and frightened.
Both involve sheep being slaughtered.
Well said, Rick.
the sad thing is that if he is elected he isn't going to solve the problems his cult thinks he will. If all immigrants are deported, there will still be crime. (And who will he choose NEXT as his Other? There is a perennial favorite out there--ask Adolf.) Whatever they see now as American Carnage is going to look at best just the same, since there isn't actually American Carnage that needs eradicating. If you think your crime ridden neighborhood is going to get better, it isn't. We won't be safer for leaving NATO. If prices "go back to what they were" there is a fair chance it will be the deflation connected with a Depression. Nothing is going to trickle down. If you are Catholic, the Christian Nation might not actually like you. And so on, and so on, and so on.
Above all, the sheep aren't going to be any better off.
Excellent point, Susan. But it feels so good for the sheep to wave the MASS DEPORTATIONS NOW signs...
I've thought about eliminating birthright citizenship. My great grandfather and grandmother came from Ireland in 1850. Can I PROVE they actually became citizens? Nope. If there is no birthright citizenship then my grandfather, father, myself aren't citizens. And any excuse can make my brother and me vulnerable.
Actually, my maternal family came over in 1636, and fought in the Revolution, so I'm actually probably safe (unless, of course, women no longer count). But think of the number of people, including a lot of folks whose families stretch back to a few years AFTER the Constitution, who could be in the same (departing) boat.
Well, there is this thing called ex post facto. But does it apply to constitutional provisions?? Who knows?
Æsop might have been BLACK? OMG, that's great!! Who knew? You just keep getting better and better, Greg, making connections to stories, fables, books, plays, poems, and history, that all connect to now. I haven't run across many authors who do this regularly and appreciate it every week. TWICE on Fridays! Friday's Five-8 was great!
I can imagine some descendant of yours writing a similar column many years hence and quoting Donald Trump, also leaving the seemingly random capitalizations in place. LOL
Maybe the most relevant portion of these "Instructive Applications" by Mr. Croxall, is this:
"These little Shams, when found out, are sufficiently prejudicial to the Interest of every Person who practices them but when we are alarmed with imaginary Dangers and Respect of the Public, till the Cry goes quite stale and threadbare, how can it be expected we should know when to guard ourselves against real ones?"
"Imaginary Dangers," like CARAVANS coming north through Mexico, are Donald's bread and butter. "The Cry" HAS gone quite stale and threadbare, hasn't it? Donald managed that along about mid-2017, and it's only gotten worse, yet the (mindless) sheep still follow this malignant shepherd. I still can't wrap my mind around that. It is a mystery I will never be able to understand, like quantum physics. "The Shepherd's Boy" is easy to understand, however, and we're at the point between the lies and the wolf devouring the sheep. Maybe THEN, they will understand.
Thanks, Steve.
It will be interesting to see how trump's lies help or hurt him, now that he's up against a prosecutor who isn't old and doesn't stutter...
I grew up reading Aesop’s Fables. As a matter of fact, I think I brought my old rag-tag copy with me when I moved. Being young, I never thought about the sheep; they were gone but I did figure out what happened to the stupid boy(most likely, at any rate). I too have referenced this fable a couple of times lately. Problem being, this nasty-ass “shepherd boy” won’t be fired, chastised, nothing. As in too many hierarchies, he’ll probably be kicked upstairs.
The wolf ate the boy.
I didn't think about the sheep, either, until I read the actual fable on Saturday...
Right, the Boy is named VP of something or other, ha ha.
Having been raised to respect Aesop’s Fables, I find your analogy intriguing. And, using it, you’ve made a good point. But I find it ironic that it only fits the current situation—since millions in fact do believe the serial liar—when the roles in the Fable of the American people are so vastly split: democracy-loving Americans are the Husbandmen, and Trump voters are the Sheep. It’s a stark illustration of how divided we are!
Trump "belivers" HERD mentality will drive the US to the cliffs. Crashing into the Abyss.
May you not be right!
Thanks, Earl. It's true, we are so divided! But eventually, a Wolf becomes hard to deny...
Brilliant analogy! It’s been quite a day so far…lots of tears shed already. I received a notification from “Erin in the Morning” about President Biden ending his presidential campaign. She attached a letter from President Biden or I may not have believed it’s true. Here’s the funny thing, I’m still not sure it’s true. That’s how f’d up our reality has become. And I believe that is one of the goals of the “man who sold the world”’s lies - so we don’t know what’s true anymore. Total chaos and confusion. This whole thing has been a test of faith and strength. I have to believe that the best and highest good will come from all of this chaos. Timothy Snyder wrote a brilliant essay this morning on his Substack titled “Both Sides”. I highly recommend reading it. It discusses the media’s obsession with never picking a side and false equivalency. While I’ve never gave much credence to either, for me both-sides-ism and false equivalency died on June 24, 2022.
I'd heard a rumor that he would leave on Sunday. I figured if he made it through the day, he'd survive. But even I was surprised. I'm still processing, but I'm very encouraged by the quick collective jump to Kamala. That was what I most feared: the bros taking her out, too.
I had a weird thought today. Now I was(am) 100% for Biden. I’ve had a really hard time these past few weeks because I don’t understand how everyone cannot see what I see. I started to have a sneaking suspicion that maybe it was me that couldn’t see clearly. Then I wondered if this is what the MAGA believers feel like? They see something and it seems so true to them and so many people are telling them they are wrong. And it’s a heartbreaking place to be. But once the idea of V.P. Harris as our President started to take root in my mind, I can totally see that being the route we need to take. And I’m so excited to see that becoming reality. I have decided to surrender to whatever will get us a President and Administration that is the most accepting of ALL the people of this country and the world. Kamala is an extremely strong and intelligent person and I have faith that she will be a great president.
Comment #2 today. We are crossing the Rubicon. Dems need to throw open the selection and get it right. Why? Because Kamala is not universally backed, after an open and honest process if she emerges on top, must get 100% support, no questions asked. On the other side of the river there needs to stand two individuals who have full backing of the army. Suggestion, Corey Booker for President, Katie Porter as veep. Frankly, as in Indiana Jones, Dems need to CHOOSE WISELY! Me, I would vote for the Howdy Doody and Bozo the Clown ticket over dipshit 45 and the vampire.
Kamala hot Joe's endorsement and his $96 million, and raised $50 million herself yesterday. All those endorsements rolling in, and she will have enough delegates, apparently, by Wednesday. And now this is what everyone will talk about instead of will-he-or-won't-he-leave. I wanted Joe to stay, but this is the best possible outcome, IMO.
Agree. She is the natural choice. Let's hope she is up to the job. Certainly appears Dems are prepared to unify behind her. No bickering, no second guessing, just get on with ensuring dipshit 45 is slammed to irrelevance along with the vampire.
So far so good!
Sorry I was not able to catch this earlier. You are a man with the right words. I ignored everything with any reference to the RNC. It was a Schitt show and the sheep, in this case, lapped it up. How embarrassing for America.