Why The Messenger Always Gets Shot!
The statement ‘Don’t shoot the messenger!’ is an ironic statement because it appeals to a receiver’s sense of reason even though the messenger him or herself did not exercise any sense of reason when publicizing a second-hand message. In fact, anyone who publicizes a message they neither initiated nor fully understands, is equally as culpable as the originator for any damage caused by releasing the message. And on some level, the messenger is even more at fault than the originator since the messenger is responsible for allowing the message to take flight. And what the messenger fails to understand is that by circulating the message into the universe, he has physically placed himself in the line of fire, alone, without the originator to protect him from such harm. So, my question to the messenger is: why would you expect the receiver to shot anyone else besides the person in front of him relaying the message?
While both the originator of the message and the messenger are intrinsically locked in a sea of culpable conduct, the differences in their tactics and behaviors will dictate the outcome of who gets shot and why. Here is why the messenger will always be the one who gets shot.
The Originator:
When the originator of a message chooses a messenger to get his message across, he is a manipulator, a mastermind of deception; but ultimately, he is a coward, if you will. The originator is someone who always gets a messenger to do his dirty work and then subsequently hides behind the messenger for cover; the originator could care less if the messenger is killed in the process. In all honesty, the originator doesn’t really care for the messenger anyway; he only cares about himself. It is unfortunate that the messenger doesn’t realize this fact until it’s too late. It would behoove the messenger to understand that the originator views him as someone who is ‘beneath him’, this underscores why he uses him for personal gain at the messenger’s expense. How sad that the messenger does not know this.
The originator also uses his message at the expense of the receivers of the message. The originator is selfish in many ways and has no interest in the veracity of his message. He thrives on having the message released and is not concerned with who is hurt by the message. He also leaves the messenger in a position where he must defend his position as messenger while the receiver draws his gun. Hence, why the messenger must proclaim ‘Don’t shoot the messenger!’ However, from the originator’s perspective, it doesn’t matter if the messenger is shot or not because the originator will always have other messengers waiting in the wings. Unfortunately, the messenger idolizes the originator. And the originator’s strength lies in his ability to brainwash messengers into disseminating his messages in order to fulfil his purpose of divide and conquer. Cowardice is a key characteristic of the originator because he hides behind the messengers and never takes responsibility as the originator of the message.
The Messenger:
On the other hand, the messenger simultaneously attempts to assert himself by issuing the message and then immediately attempts to absolve himself of liability for its actions by proclaiming his status as the ‘messenger’. This is a passive-aggressive tactic on the messenger’s part, even if he doesn’t know it. The messenger would be highly disappointed to find out that he is nothing more than a scapegoat, a pawn, an excuse, an afterthought to the originator who is being used to execute the originator’s act of cowardice at great cost.
Both the originator and the messenger create chaos for others and then attempt to turn their backs on the problems they created. The only difference is that one pays the bulk of the price for the damage caused. That is the true problem here. The originator will flip the narrative to make it appear as if the messenger is the one who is primarily responsible for the damage caused by a message he never created. There are more messengers who get shot for simply allowing themselves to be used, abused, taken advantage of, and having their insecurities exploited than originators who are held accountable for the consequences of their messages. Yes, I’m sorry to say that, often-times, the messenger exhibits blaring insecurities that the originator is able to pinpoint and exploit easily. This is how a messenger assumes this title…. through being exploited. The relationship between the originator and the messenger (if you want to call it a relationship), is one of master and servant or oppressor and oppressed. In other words, in the end, only the master/oppressor benefits. And what is even worse is that the messenger and receiver of the message end up in conflict while the originator stays above the fray. Ironic, isn’t it?
So, the next time you decide to release a message to another, ask yourself whether you are the originator of that message or are you the messenger? Using your ability to Discern in this situation is paramount. If you are the originator of the message and you take responsibility for disseminating the message, I applaud you. But if you determine that you are the messenger, you must understand that, on a very dangerous level, you bare fault in releasing that message, and it is quite possible that you will be the one who gets shot……and possibly killed in that process. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the messenger, despite his desperate pleads to the contrary, will always be the one who gets shot.