Harper

SHEEP, WOLVES, and SHEEPDOGS February 8, 2008 By CJ Posted in Why We Serve By Lt. Col Dave Grossman Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident.” This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. 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 and I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. Or, as a sign in one California law enforcement agency put it, “We intimidate those who intimidate others.” 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? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s 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, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot 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? Remember how many times you heard the word hero? 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.” When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. 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 he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, “Let’s roll,” which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront 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 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 okay to be a sheep, but do not kick the sheepdog. 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”. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth. 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.

I was going to suggest that very thing. I don't have the light on mine. I have a gauge instead. But I don't think the light comes on until around 230 or so, maybe a little higher. So you might be running a bit too hot all the time. Sounds like you have a partially blocked radiator that barely does the job while you're moving, and can't handle the heat while standing.

My 2 cents..this is one old fart that thinks you come across like an uneducated 8 year old ignoramus. The points made are that if you don't feel like acting like an adult, you shouldn't expect to be treated like one. Your post would indicate that you don't have enough education to even understand an answer, were it given. One would think you would write better, if for no other reason, than to show some self respect, and not appear to be such an idiot. FYI, "old f***ers" like us can keep up, but why the hell would we want to, and why should we have to? For the likes of some young know-nothing? I think not.

Sure they do..... :shake:

I agree with 64 Cheyenne about the flare nut wrench.....flare nuts are notoriously difficult to properly tighten with a regular open-end wrench, and impossible with an adjustable. It takes a lot of torque to tighten a flare to withstand the pressure of hydraulic systems. Whatever you end up deciding has caused your leak, when you finally put it all together again, use an appropriately sized flare nut wrench. Anything else will round the nut before you can get it tight enough.

Sorry to hear the trip didn't go well, Mike. I was lookin' forward to hearin' that you made it to Sacramento okay, and seein' all the pictures ya took along the way. Good luck in school.

Now what I'd really really like to have is a handheld ray gun that I could point at the boomer that just pulled up beside me at the stop light, and melt his 12" sub voice coils!! :eek: :chillin: :shake: :banana:

Thanks, I thought they looked like Uniques.....been thinking about getting a set of 17x8s from Discount. They've got the correct back spacing..... I checked out the Unique website. Lot more choice of tires in 16 or 17 inch if you're just running on the street. I assume you're happy with them so far. Your project is looking real nice, by the way.

Man, how come I can't see what y'all are lookin' at? When I go to that link, all I get is a blank page with this at the top left........"This is the new mobile home page! " :hmm: :???:

Also make sure your pressure bottle will actually hold pressure. If you're showing any leakage anywhere on the bottle, like around the cap, then you have small fissures that leak off pressure. If you can't hold pressure (16-18 psi), the coolant will boil, and she'll overheat.

What brand/size of wheels did you end up buying?

Stick with the electronics cleaner.....some brake cleaners can eat up the plastic.

Not that I'm aware of........but here's the hookup scheme http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20578&p=244714&hilit=trailer+wiring#p244714

Don't disagree with anything you plan to do on the engine, except the ring job and honing the cylinders. Still more likely to be valve seals fouling #2 plug. At least a compression check first and compare all the cylinders. If #2 is low, then squirt some oil in the cylinder and recheck. If that brings the compression up, only then would I consider spending time and money on rings.

Ditto, in front of the radiator, (actually in front of the A/C condenser) on the belt-driven fan side. Been there since the truck was new, never overheated, and tranny usually runs about 170 with trailer, as much as 220 in stop & go. Temp gauge sensor at the hottest point, the tranny output line. Never seen it over 220. It's plumbed in series with the radiator cooler, so as not to overcool in the winter (flows to aux cooler first, then into radiator, and back to tranny). Been coast to coast several times, all kinds of traffic and terrain.

I'm just wondering...if, according to your original post, you were good at 210 ft/lbs, and the specs called for 200-220, why not just keep the same shims and torque it again to 210?

You right! I said speed nuts, but that be somethin' else similar.....You right!

Those speed nuts can be found in any auto parts store or even most large hardware or building centers like Lowe's or Home Depot

Then my Jeep Comanche FSM is wrong. The crush sleeve (which they call a collapsible spacer) is discussed on page H-46 in how to replace the pinion seal, it is shown in the exploded diagram on page H-50 (part # 15), it is mentioned on page H-52 under removing the pinion, it is stated on page H-60 that "The collapsible spacer controls the pinion bearing preload. Do not reuse the old spacer, Use a replacement spacer only." and installation and torquing of the collapsible spacer to set preload is discussed on page H-60. I think if I had a nickel for every mislabeled illustration in my '90 FSM, I could retire. Wait a minute, I am retired... :doh: My FSM has the D35 and the D44 in different sections, and the D35 narrative describes the crush sleeve, but the illustrations are exactly the same in both sections :hmm: Shows 'em both with spacers and preload shims.... FWIW, a lot of the wiring diagrams are screwed up, too.

:agree: I know one thing for sure, my '90 model D44 has NO crush sleeve. Only shims....

Been using synthetic in everything since forever, in the engine, AW4, diffs.....and am partial to the brand that whowey likes. Change the engine oil once/year, and don't use a drop in between changes. I've had the engine open twice in its lifetime, both within the last couple years. Clean as a whistle.....same with the tranny and differentials. Of course, I don't off-road, and that might make me change some things.......

:agree: In fact most cars have the tail lights and dash lights on the same fuse. That way you know beforehand why the cop behind you just turned on his light bar ;)

Looks real good!! Out of curiosity......are your front tires/wheels larger than the rears? Or does it just look that way...

Monroe has a good specs sheet that shows the compressed/extended shock length and the type of mounts for each shock they sell. I used that to buy front shocks that are much heavier than those listed for our trucks, and also to find rear air shocks to help level the truck with heavy loads. For instance, Monroe doesn't show an air shock for our trucks, but the MA820 air shock has the same dimensions and fittings, so it fit perfectly. I put these air shocks on the rear of my MJ and when inflated to 75 psi, they make pulling my 4000# boat much more comfortable. For the front, the 55016 Gas-matic severe service shock has spec close enough to the prescribed shock to fit perfectly also. You can fine the shocks that are listed for your truck here (they only show 2x4 MJ, but shocks are the same for 4x4) http://www.monroe.com/catalog/ecatalog.asp Then find the specs for the listed shocks and find shocks with the same specs here http://www.monroe.com/catalog/documents/08_MountingLengthSheet.pdf My MJ isn't lifted, so shock lengths are for standard height, but you could probably use the spec sheet to find longer shocks for some not-too-radical lift applications.

SubSonic, I meant to check the CPS itself, not the connector. With older wiring, particularly where the CPS wiring is routed, with it's exposure to heat, and all the elements, etc. just movement of old wires can break or weaken them. Insulation gets frayed, cracks, hardens, etc. Maybe while it's idling, get underneath or reach down from above and wiggle the wire near the sensor itself, and see if that gets any results, keeping in mind that if nothing happens, that's not proof positive that the sensor itself isn't bad. These are the kind of analyses I generally do before throwing money at it. Do it carefully, bud.