by Nellie Curtiss …
The New Testament cautions believers against false prophets who dress in sheep’s wool with smooth words, oratory victories, and disingenuous motives. Where this address is most certainly about our inner faith and religious beliefs, the telling also has relevance to our governments, world peace concords and everyday life.
It seems to me that although Russian oligarch Vladimir Putin mouthed that he wasn’t going to invade Ukraine, strategically plopping 200,000 troops around the Ukraine, a recognized government since 1991, contradicts his assurances.
He’s playing chess or roulette with the world. Where we think he is keeping the moves to the game board, he is slipping more armed soldiers in and around Ukraine, a sovereign country. He breached Ukraine’s border with a scam. In fact, he is lying to the world and to his own subjects. While he talks one way, his actions reveal what his intentions are. Thankfully residents of Russia are protesting. One report said a full infantry of Russian soldiers surrendered because they didn’t want to kill, because they thought the action was only a reconnaissance or spying mission.
Ticker tape on Sky News noted that Putin first surrounded then captured Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in Ukraine. Although the US Secretary of Defense said he could not begin to know what Putin meant when he threatened, “Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history.” Some say he could mean nuclear war but are hoping the financial cuts to his regime will stop the invasion. Putin had protestors near Moscow arrested.
A former ambassador to the Ukraine, said that when Putin declared war, he unleashed war wolves, so to speak, and others say that this invasion is the most egregious move since World War II. In a CBS interview with a member of the Ukraine parliament, the official made a plea to the world, to the U.S. to help stop the murder of Ukrainians: https://youtu.be/a9ZQXmRsEWY
Remember the wolf in sheep’s clothing? We can see this metaphor or lesson in many segments of our lives, not just in Putin’s deliberate attack. Consider the opioid pain meds innocently prescribed for broken bones but then wolfly latches onto to the pleasure centers in the brain and demands “more, more, more” long after the broken bone heals. Is that notion an addictive culprit in curative wool?
What about Facebook? Is Facebook likely a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Thursday on Dr. Phil, specialists on social media concepts, one’s self-worth, and body shaming shared research that illustrated how Facebook and use of Photoshop increased cat phishing, and low self-esteem in teens on social media. Zuckerberg often touts that Facebook is about finding friends; but experts revealed that the employed algorithms on the site shove posts into newsfeeds. They work to keep the viewer engaged and clicking on bait. This algorithm spells M-O-N-E-Y. One surgeon shared that a lot of these touchups are not physically possible. He said that the more one hides dark circles, or lengthens legs, or wipes wrinkles, the more one lies to oneself not just to others. So, we have it. A wolf is not a sheep, no matter how many woolen pelts it hides under. Finally, one of the doctors said when on Facebook, share more kindness so it will be repeated in the algorithm, not bullying.
Putin is not a soft-spoken Olympic bear no matter how many times he says he is not invading, not occupying, not raiding. He is a war wolf. Opioids are not clean and friendly pain relievers, no matter how many times the medical field prescribes them, or the dealer packs them into extended palms. Facebook has alternative motives, not always in the member’s best interest. Be kind and beware wolves in sheep’s clothing ahead.
Nelda Curtiss is a retired college educator and long-time local columnist. Reach her at http://www.columnsbynellie.com or email her at columnsbynellie@columnsbynellie
*Photo from https://images.app.goo.gl/kYPdBjkPSH296aq66
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