Which Wolf Will You Feed?

[Why Syzygy]

16. Does it matter?

First I want to say that I've heard this story many times. I wasn't in possession of the explanation I posted until I felt an uncomfortable nudge about seeing it again. It didn't sit. Only then did I search the story; and the link/explanation I posted above is what I found. It reveals a reason for the discomfort I felt.

ME asks:
Does it matter if the story is truly of native origin?

It does to me. I try to be supportive of indigenous populations. Whoever made the transition from a Bible story(** below) to a Native story had a motive. I believe it may have been in order to give it more an air of authenticity, to piggyback on the honest reputation of civilizations who are and have faced genocide, and to slip Biblical culture past the gate. It is fundamentally dishonest.

ME asks:
Aren't we really talking about explaining the reason for cruelty in the world?

This will be answered in the background posted below. As far as I'm concerned, it is cruel to misrepresent an indigenous culture, especially in order to push one's own agenda.

ME asks:
Who says forgiveness has to be a prerequisite?

I was responding to a sub-thread about "forgiveness". But the original huffpost article IS pushing "forgiveness" as the preferred response to someone who is murdering innocent people (911). So I guess Tara Brach is saying that.

ME asks:
I see this story as being a simple message, anger and fear breeds hatred and violence, and isn't that where cruelty begins?

I don't think so. Anger and fear are perfectly valid emotions. They serve good purposes. It doesn't logically follow that those emotions will cause someone to be cruel. Cruel is an action. We don't have control of our emotions. We do control our actions.

ME asks:
Fear is spoon fed to us on a daily basis & NOTHING good ever comes from it.

Frankly, I think any indigenous culture would applaud the story, regardless of its origin, and I just don't see the "Jesus myth". Wouldn't that be a turn-the other cheek type of thing?

Just because something is on the spoon it doesn't mean we have to swallow it. I definitely do not believe any indigenous culture would applaud the story. Here is a link from a real indigenous culture describing how best we can be an ally. It isn't about 'us'; and it certainly isn't about dishonestly representing them.

http://www.lynngehl.com/my-ally-bill-of-responsibilities.html

"Turn the other cheek"? This is the link and a snip from the original Bible story**.

http://tithenai.tumblr.com/post/17655980732/the-history-of-the-two-wolves-two-dogs-story

I have been receiving many messages questioning my statement that the “Two Wolves” story is not Cherokee, nor is it Native American/First Nations in origin. In response to my credibility being questioned, I have done some fairly extensive research that will conclusively prove that this story does not originate from any Native American legend.

This story seems to have begun in 1978 when a early form of it was written by the Evangelical Christian Minister Billy Graham in his book, “The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your Life.” This version of the story can be found in Chapter 7: The Christian’s Inner Struggle on Page 92 and it is as follows:

“AN ESKIMO FISHERMAN came to town every Saturday afternoon. He always brought his two dogs with him. One was white and the other was black. He had taught them to fight on command. Every Saturday afternoon in the town square the people would gather and these two dogs would fight and the fisherman would take bets. On one Saturday the black dog would win; another Saturday, the white dog would win - but the fisherman always won! His friends began to ask him how he did it. He said, “I starve one and feed the other. The one I feed always wins because he is stronger.”

Billy Graham continues by explaining the story. I will now provide a few excerpts to show the connection between this story and the later versions as well of how it’s grounded in Christianity. “This story about the two dogs is apt because it tells us something about the inner warfare that comes into the life of a person who is born again. We have two natures within us, both struggling for mastery. Which one will dominate us? It depends on which one we feed.” (Page 92)
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For those of you who are indigenous people, I would especially like to ask that you help me to touch on the concept of race, whether or not this story is an example of Cultural Appropriation.
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