Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

One of my past employers offered a variety of services. When my boss found out how quickly I learned, he turned me in to a float, working in the varied sections of our group depending upon the day and need.

We were an ideal sized company - big enough to provide for our client's needs, but small enough to remain close, like a little family. We grew to know each other and each other's clients, and thus the temptation to take up another professionals' responsibility could be strong at times.

As a float, I had to be particularly mindful of this, for even though I knew how to perform in all the sectors, my legal capabilities were defined by my location. I had a saying to help me remember my boundaries: "Not my circus, not my monkeys."

I think this saying can be applied no matter who you are or where you are working. As human beings we all have our limits; there are some battles we can take up and some we can't. Some circuses are ours, and some monkeys aren't, and I can think of no better phrase with which to warn these Palestinian protestors.

Last I checked, the vast majority of these people protesting on behalf of Palestine are Americans. They are not Palestinians, Israelis, or from any country in the Middle East. They are Americans and as such should be concerned with American things.

The cause of Palestine, sad though it may be, is not theirs. It is a complicated centuries old mess dating back to the time of Abraham, when Hagar and her son Ishmael were cast out and away from the promised son Isaac. The Islamists have never forgotten this rejection, the Jews continue to believe they are the Chosen People.... and so here we are.

Throw in the mix Bethlehem's Christians who are barely hanging on, and we have a tragedy that the average gender theory major is ill equipped to dissect or deal with. Heck, I have a hard time, and I 've been to the Middle East!

This sad and ancient fight is between the Israelis and the Palestinians; it began long before I was born, and short of Christ's return, it will rage on long after my death. Thus, this war is THEIR specialty. THEIR circus. THEIR monkeys. And NO one else's!


I know this seems a cold way to characterize such a brutal conflict, and I certainly don't mean to cheapen it. I only wish to frame it in a way that might somehow knock some sense into my countrymen. Before they find themselves drafted, labeled domestic enemies, locked up like the J6th prisoners, or worse....

Over something that is NOT their fight, NOT within their understanding, NOT their circus, and definitely NOT their monkeys!