Stop! and THANK a COP

While Friday, 02 January 2015 was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, I believe that every day we should thank our protectors, no matter what uniform they wear, EVERYDAY. These brave men and women have stood up, taken an oath and guard our Countries, Cities, States, County’s, Territories, Airport’s and yes folks even our Borders (they are not all “law abiding citizens”) and no matter what you think of them or feel about them, they do their jobs silently and thanklessly every day. As we saw last month in AZ, the injury of a Border Agent was almost taken, but a Protest of a Check point was better, more worthy of news. Our state also saw the death of an officer shot, while responding to a domestic call and no national news. Our protectors lose their lives everyday with no fan fare, because that is not why we do that job. The Nation Stood with New York morning the execution of two of our brothers recently,  Law Enforcement agencies from all over the US paying respect for their sacrifice. I will not honor the cowards that carry out these acts with any other words, other than your actions shall NOT DETER those of us that serve in the shadows of the world.  I do try to refrain from making political statements or push my political thoughts on others, but today in the wake of Paris, Australia, Canada and the backwards, uneducated on “the facts” fight that is going on here at home, I feel it is time to say something.

Today in the Country where Liberty is most celebrated, over a million people came together in Paris, France to stand UNIFIED against Tyranny and Extremism. Together with World Leaders from many other Countries, they show that the World WILL NOT BE SILENCED in any way in the wake of this latest attack. In fact it has galvanized much of the free world to stand up and band together for the unjust execution of ANYONE for saying what they believe. Charlie Hebdo is an artistic publication and the job of artists, especially those who choose that medium (political cartooning), is to provoke thought or emotion and start a dialogue. As an artist, ‘Je Suis Charlie’, or I am Charlie for those who don’t know French.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/11/je-suis-charlie-golden-globes_n_6452826.html  This link is a little American, but it has links to other good stories about the cartoons that cost lives.

We American’s like to think that Freedom of speech is only ours and that we cornered the Market on this right, but the French have shown us what the True cost of that Freedom really is. The ordinary citizen is quick to baited into a frenzy but someone else’s thoughts and views and quick to jump at the easy target, Our police, military and border protection. This week we saw what TRUE HANDS UP really is.

An unarmed officer, with her hands up, executed in cold blood for no other reason, other than individuals who were baited into being weapons of one of the Youngest religions in the World.

You may or may not agree with what you read here, but that is your right and if you have taken the time to step back and see where this country is truly heading in this movement, you might be as frightened as I am. What I am asking you to do today is read the facts about the incidents that are being portrayed in the media (FACTS! Now what is in the Media. FACT means: something that actually exists; reality; truth, like finger prints inside a vehicle and on a gun.) Look at a shoot not in Colors, but what is really going on. Like two years ago a cop shot and unarmed teen in Alabama  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/27/white-teen-gilbert-collar-killed-by-black-cop-trev/?page=all , where was the press?

While I have no doubt that there are long lines of hate in this country and color is the most contentious of them, I say let us not forget we all bleed red in the defense of the country and the rights of its citizens. Rather than spitting hate at these men and women that defend you from things that you know nothing about every day, let us take the first step hand extended in crossing the divide that separates you.

We live blissfully ignorant in this country. We do not hear about the countless criminals that are stopped at the expense of our law enforcement’s lives. We only hear when someone, who has nothing to do with the community decides to yell foul. Today, over a million people cheered as a police convoy passed through the gathering in Paris, but if you look here in the states we are a house divided and we are leaving those who provide our safety open for attack. If you don’t think this violence won’t repeat again, history is yelling at you. Below is an excerpt from something I heard today. I found it a bit inspirational in the face of the precarious days we are in and the incidents that ordinary citizens are ignorant of.

http://www.killology.com/sheep_dog.htm

 

"There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men." - Edmund Burke   Reflections on the Revolution in France

Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn’t have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.
If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior’s path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.

 

Well I hope that I have not offended anyone, but I hope I provoked some thought and Thank You to those who SERVE everyday.