Sheep, Wolves, Sheepdogs: Initial Comment on AMERICAN SNIPER (30 Jan. 2015)

There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs.

Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn't exist in the world,

and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn't know how to protect themselves.

Those are the sheep.

Then you've got predators, who use violence to prey on the weak.

They're the wolves.

And then there are those blessed with the gift of aggression,

an overpowering need to protect the flock.

These men are the rare breed who live to confront the wolf.

They are the sheepdogs.

— Wayne Kyle in American Sniper (2014)

Two quick observations here.
            (1) There are three kinds of people in the world: those who think there are three kinds of people, those who don't, and those who tweak and re-cycle one old joke about "two kinds of people in the world."

            (2) Somewhat more seriously, in judging a quotation such as this — and judging its philosophy and politics and the complex movie American Sniper — keep in mind that sheepdogs indeed guard the sheep from the wolves and other dangers but ultimately work for shepherds. And shepherds keep the sheep to fleece them regularly and eventually slaughter them for mutton — if they haven't slaughtered them earlier for cuts of lamb. Someone tells you he's a sheepdog, check out the dog tags and employment record.