Be Over This Pig Flu Scare
I’m fixing to be over this pig flu scare.
The media coverage of pig flu reminds me of the story of The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf. Remember that one? Well in case you don’t, it’s about a boy who’s in charge of the sheep herd outside of the village, who has been instructed to cry “Wolf!” if need be and the citizens would come running to the defense of the sheep.
The boy became bored, which I can understand, just being out there all day guarding a bunch of sheep sounds pretty boring. Day after day he would look down from the side of the lonely and grassy mountain with envy at the people in the village socializing, having lunch, laughing and dancing.
One day he couldn’t stand it any longer, and from the mountain side, he gathered his breath and yelled “Wolf!” as loud as he could.
The people in the village dropped their gardening tools and their tea cups, stared up toward the mountain in horror for a moment before they all grabbed their weapons and dashed up the side of the mountain to slay the wolf and save the sheep.
But when they got there, there was no wolf, just the sheep grazing lazily and the boy leaning on his staff and grinning.
The elders chastised him for his false alarm and returned to the safety of the village, the solitude of their gardens, and the comfort of their tea. But before they could get comfortable they once more heard the cry of “Wolf!” from the mountainside above.
Once again they all grabbed their weapons and rushed off up the mountain side to slay the wolf. To their chagrin they found the situation the same as before, no wolf and no danger. The boy was severely chastised before they once again returned to the comfort of the village.
Later that day, a real wolf did appear, and the boy yelled and yelled, but no one came to the aid of the sheep because they didn’t believe the boy. As a result the sheep were eaten and swept away by the wolf and his gang.
The media, representing the boy herding the sheep, has cried “Wolf!’ but we can’t seem to find the wolf.
What’s going to happen when the wolf decides he’s really fixing to show up?