You are the dog and the dog is you.

Imagine being locked in your house all day with no way to tell time. You have nothing but a bowl of water and a few knick knacks that are no fun to play with alone.

Then you sense it's time and sure enough that familiar smell begins to seep through the door sweep fibres.

The door opens. You're home! OH, great upright one, how may I serve. I cower in your magnificent shadow, oh hairless one. To touch me but once on the head would bless my unworthy soul for all eternity. Can't you tell how much I love you by how I'm stretching my claws into your thigh? I've been so boooored. You left me here again! I'm sure you just forget. I wanna pee, and I wanna pooh, and I wanna go to the park, and I wanna chase my ball and see my friends . . .

As the strange and smelly creature with godlike abilities does inexplicable things around the house, you grow impatient and begin to express your displeasure in his complete disregard of the fact that you've been cooped up all day with no one to talk to and a full bladder to boot.

For reasons you'll never know, he usually ignores you when you cry unless you have a physical injury. Sometimes he makes a sound, "You have to wait." You cry anyway.

Finally, the time comes. The keys are going back into the pocket as well as the treats. This is a very good sign. Shoes on, leash on, shoes off. Wait! What is he doing? You protest vocally. Finally, we are out the door.

So much to smell, so much to chase, so very little time. Go, go, go! You run around like a crazy animal, grateful for every second outside. You are so excited by a smell that you run off to find the source and when the tall one calls, you hardly notice.

He catches up with you and you know he is angry by the tone of his voice. He snaps the leash on and tugs you along the path back home.

You know he loves you by how he prepares your meal and takes care of you. He cleans your fur and rubs coconut oil on your paws, cracked and raw from the hot pavement. He checks your body, smells your ears, and nuzzles your muzzle. You look into his eyes and he looks back. Then you drift contently into a dream.

A dog is barking out of excitement and the 'owner' admonishes him while holding the snout shut. By controlling their dog, the owner lacks understanding. Wouldn't you want to shout to the world if you were always suppressed and kept inside.

A dog wanders and doesn't come when called so the 'master' keeps him on a leash. The dog is under control, safe, and sad. The next time off leash, the behaviour is worse.

Unless it is raised in anarchy, a dog that is conditioned to be dependant on a ruler could easily die if it was set free.

Imagine you're a human. You sit down with a friend and discuss how rulers have enslaved people. "They are psychopaths who want complete control."

Neither of you notice the irony.

Imagine you're someone with enormous power over a population. Your actions can have vast and unpredictable consequences on millions of lives. People depend on you to lead them.

When your people become aggressive, or begin to dissent, it can be dangerous. Do you tighten the leash or roll up a newspaper? Do you find new ways to control and manage the problems to be less harmful, but harmful still? Or do you have the compassion necessary to understand?

why did you wake me.jpg

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by @skypal