You Don't Say: Freedom of Speech and Expression

This is an updated and expanded version of a previous blog by me.  I hope you will read and consider the ideas put forth.  It ought to be noted that this was originally written  and published one year ago.

The current topic of controversy that will topple the nation as we know is a small act by a professional football players, that to some is tantamount to the protester in Tianamen Square and to others as an act of treason in time of war.

The taking of a knee, sitting or otherwise not rendering some customary gesture to a symbol of our country is neither of these extremes.

Today, I am going to discuss freedom of speech/expression and also explore some points of civics that seem to be lost.

First, we must remember that freedom of speech or expression isn't for the words, ideas and the like for which we agree with.  Please note that while certain acts are not speech per se, they are a form of speech in that the display of them is used to convey a thought or idea in something other than words; from this point forward unless otherwise noted, when I say speech I am also speaking about these other forms of "speech" as well.  Free speech is for the things that someone else is saying that we find offensive, inappropriate, reprehensible and despicable.  Yes, even then such speech has a limit to which even the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has determined is beyond the pale of being free to express (inciting violence, causing a false panic).   There is however no limit because it makes you mad, upset, are offended by it.  What it is for is so that the people and groups who find themselves to be weak, the powerless, underrepresented can speak freely and openly in the hopes of starting a dialogue, to express their views, give notice of their concerns and to voice their conscience, when all around them are shouting them down and reviling them.

Do I like the way that Colin Kaepernick went about speaking his mind.  Not particularly, as I think he has the resources and the platform to better address his very legitimate and valid concerns about aspects of our society that we would think ought to not exist in modern times.  Sadly, they do exist.  Whether I like the method that he chose, and that many others have started to follow, is inconsequential, however, as this is how he has chosen to bring those disparities and inequalities to light.  I may find that his message is uncomfortable to me, but I totally not only respect his right to say what he wants to say, but would die for his right to say it.

Yes, you read that correctly.  I would die to protect his right to do that.  It is what my oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States required of me when I enlisted in the Army.  To uphold the laws of the US and the laws of my state and community are what I swore an oath to when I pinned on a badge and wore a gun as a police officer.  As a citizen of my nation, it is my civic duty to ensure that the liberties that I enjoy are also enjoyed by her other citizens so long as they are practiced responsibly.

Why do i find it uncomfortable, you ask, if I support the message.  Because it brings to light the fact that after all these centuries of civilization, and this great experiment in governance and the ideal of the American Melting Pot, that the ideal of all being created equally and having equal opportunity, we really don't.  Yes, it is true that for our first 80 some years as a nation, we had slavery, and those that were slaves were only to be considered 3/5ths as equal to the free person, or that women didn't have full and equal access to all benefits of nor duties of being a citizen until the early part of the 20th Century (common era).  The ideal was there, though.  We have edged closer to achieving it, at least in theory.  In practice, maybe not overtly, but still, as a society we do not consider all to be equal to us on the most basic of levels with the rights, privileges and duties as any and all other citizens of the nation and as a human, simply because of (enter your choice of any or all differences that are currently used to separate).

Further, I find it uncomfortable, because a profession I love and hold dear to my heart, is shown such disrespect and contempt because there are members of that profession who egregiously have misused or neglected their duties to hold not only others to these ideals of equality and fairness, but they themselves have displayed such vileness themselves.  And while it is wrong to generalize any group by the actions of some small number of its members, Law Enforcement is indeed viewed and given respect or revilement based in large part by the actions of those who bring about a negative light upon that group.

While I am focused solely upon the freedom of speech that is enumerated in the Constitution through the Bill of Rights, this applies to all of those liberties which are mine and all other citizens.

Thus ends the first part of this discussion.  Unless anyone has a point to make or a bone to contend, that is all I have for now.

On to the civics lesson.  This is brought to you by the extremists of the above "controversy".

Whether you call it hyper-, uber-, or ultra-nationalism, it is NOT patriotism.  At least not patriotism as it ought to be known in this country.  Patriotism is believing that your nation, even though she doesn't always get it right is trying to live up to the ideals for which she stands, and that you attempt to practice those ideals in how you represent yourself to the world at large, be it the neighbors, your local community or to someone from a foreign land here or abroad.  Patriotism IS NOT worshiping symbols that we use to represent the ideals of which are country represents.  It is not acting as a robot and automatically, unthinkingly rendering some customary gesture or face some form of punishment.  That is what is done in some totalitarian regime such as North Korea, where even the mere suggestion of non-compliance with patriotic "duty" can mean imprisonment or death.  These are not ideas, let alone ideals, with which the Founder's had in mind when they formed this nation.  They spoke openly about injustices and grievances about government and faced fines and imprisonment, loss of property and prestige at the whims of that government and her representatives.  They used words, written and in speeches to denounce that government and ultimately declare freedom from her.  Protest of grievance, calling attention to injustice, shedding light upon inequality are hallmarks of our nations, foundation.

It is not denigrating and deriding a person or group of people who are speaking up, and speaking out. Because you are uncomfortable doesn't mean you can shut them down and shut them out.  No, it requires you to fully examine your own thoughts and beliefs and the systems, policies or other causes that brought up their grievance to begin with.  Maybe we do find that their point is frivolous and self serving.  Maybe.  More likely though the reason we are uncomfortable with their claims is because there is truth to them, and we have failed to speak up.  There is truth that the only thing that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good people do nothing.  And we don't like to think that we personally have done nothing as evil, in the guise of injustice, inequality, or imbalance continues to work around us.

A few last comments, which are more opinion than anything, but I believe they are valid.  In a free society there are certain duties that we as citizens must take up to ensure that the freedoms remain.  We don't have too many of those in this modern day and age, but they are still there and must be recognized.  The first one is probably the one most familiar to everyone.  Jury duty.  Because we believe in the ideal that we are a classless society, we are all peers, and therefore we must be willing to sacrifice our time to perform this duty when we are called upon to do so.  The next one is voting.  And it is not just enough to go and make marks upon a ballot and say you have done your job.  No, it requires you to learn about issues and candidates and then vote in the way that you determine to be the most morally responsible not just for you, but for society as a whole and for the future of the nation and her coming generations of citizens.  Third, is acting to ensure the safety and peace of your community.  No, I am not taking about vigilante justice.  I am talking about speaking up and speaking out against those elements be they a single criminal actor or some group that demoralizes and terrorizes for their own benefit while negating the liberties of honest and otherwise law abiding citizens.  We do indeed have police who are trained to investigate, and report and if possible detain those who commit crimes.  But they cannot be effective when the people whom they are sworn to assist and protect will not render their own part of the process.  And finally, which is also most controversially a civic duty...we must be willing to defend those liberties of which we are so proud and would be the most loud should they be denied us.

Thank you for your time.

The Poet in Me

If I am going to call myself a Warrior Poet Philosopher King, then I ought to show that I do have some of that poet actually in me.  So the following is some of my potentially quotable philosophical moments and some of my attempts at poetry.  A few of you have probably seen a couple of these before, in one of their many versions or edits.  Fair warning, a couple are a tad salacious, so avert thine eyes if need be.

If you wish to debate any of the philosophical points, then by all means speak up.  As for my more prose than poetry poems, if it isn't constructive criticism, you can keep the laughter and derision to yourself.

So,...

Fluttering in the Breeze

So many pass, but I am not really seen, ubiquitous to the backdrop; blurred into the landscape of the everyday.  On occasion a few will gaze upon me for but a moment as I flutter in the breeze.  It is when I stir the hearts of a few, who look at me with pride and perhaps, a little sorrow.   A tear wells up in the corner of their eye, but it does not fall, and a salute, not rendered but still the suggestion of it is perceived as I flutter in the breeze.

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·      Life is like a dance. Sometimes it's slow and romantic, sometimes it's fast and sweaty, but so long as the music keeps playing we find a reason to keep going on.

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I Have Seen the Goddess
 
How blest must I be; A mere mortal Man
To have been given a glimpse
Of the most divine form of Creation
For you are not just a Woman, it is most plain to see
Behold, to all I do declare, "I have seen the Goddess!"
Your names are many, your attributes abound
Men's minds are unable to fathom
Such purity, such perfection in one whole sum
Your many personae range far and wide
The beauty you are astounds, amazes, awes
Passions aroused, emotions run rampant
You ARE the wonders of nature, its mysteries
And its secrets; simple yet vast and complex
Patroness of love, erotic dreams, lust and sensuality
Mistress of fertility, of creativity and youthful fervor
A giver of light by night and by day
The arbiter of success in the hunt, the field of fortune and romance
Make and keeper of honey, grain, fruit and flowers
Of the hearth-fire and the home
The ultimate creator through the miracle of birth
The Lover, the Mother, the Virgin, the temptress, the Healer,

Warrior, Sage, Keeper of Lore and Law
Desire for you is the Inspiration of man
It is all that you are that sends us out to create
Create the songs, statues, plays, paintings and poems
That are all to bear witness to your luminous essence
My mind is a-reel, I am lost in a storm
I am unable to conceive of the words i so wish to speak
As words lose their meaning when you are so near
Should I die this moment or an eternity from now
I shall have a smile on my lips and a song in my heart
For I know when I open my eyes on the far side of the veil
It is you whom I shall see upon my first glimpse of Heaven
I have seen the Goddess!

 

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When my mind wanders and my heart wonders, my soul soars. Dreams give us the spark to light up our lives.

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Reflections of a Mid-October Morn

 

Crisp describes the morning

As golden waves of sunshine splash

Through the leaves of the trees

The tall and stoic flora who have become artists

Painting their canvasses of green

With brilliant hues that call to the eye

In colors so warm they evoke images

Of the hearth fires burning brightly

Fires which all too soon must burn

Both through the night and by day

The trees they are a-signaling

The coming of the winter season

By soon discarding those bright warnings signs

To create a blanket for the earth below them

To protect her from the coming winter snows

 

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We are each a fire. We have the potential to be warm and inviting or we can be destructive and hurtful. How do you tend your flames?

 

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Put My Love Away

 

The time has come when I must my love for you away

Because it can be no more

The time has come when I must pick up the pieces and just keep going

Because that’s the way it must be

I have come to realize that what was, was

What is, is

And what could have been, only a dream

Still there are the memories of what we had

Of what we meant to each other at one point in our lives

I hope, that even though the time has come

When I must put my love for you away

That the memories and our friendship never fade.

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·        Your laugh is music, your smile sunshine, your kiss my sustenance, your eyes the drink.

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     A smile crept across my face, my heart picked up a quicker pace as a thought of you thru my mind did race.

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     That I covet thee is undeniable. I will suffer for my transgression, but willingly accept my fate. My heart aches for the moment that I get to have you fill my eyes with your image, my ears filled with your voice, your breath, your heartbeat; my nose with your scent; your skin on my fingertips; and your taste on my tongue.

 

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More than a Kiss

It started with a kiss and a whispered dare

Quickly passions built as skin became bare 

With fingers and lips, I searched, tickled, teased

In the hope that you would certainly be pleased

In you ear I did whisper ever so softly

Of the many ways that you so excite me

I felt you tremble as your neck was kissed

In my attempts to fulfill what you had wished

Lightly my fingers traced along your thigh

Moving them ever more slowly as I heard you sigh

Down your body my lips they did move

Relishing their touch with skin so sweet and smooth

As our desires rose, as if in the heat of the sun

My ecstasy grew in the love I had won 

Now in this moment as I lay next to you

I wonder where our next kiss will lead to

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·        Set your standards high, dream big, give your best...you can adjust down as needed and no one else can fault you. Adjusting up is harder than you think.

     In that same vein do not be too hard on yourself if you don't achieve the heights you seek...you still have done more in life than so many others just by expecting more and working towards it than the majority of your fellow beings.

 

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     The only fame one should truly seek is with those around them…anything else is inconsequential to true fulfillment in life.

 

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Destiny Station

 

On the day that I was conceived

A ticket to Destiny Station I received

My journey began when I was born

To follow a path that is well worn

Along the trail I did grow

But what awaited me, I did not know

These were the beginnings of my life

Filled with joy, happiness, sorrow and strife

As I traveled, I sometimes wondered when I’d arrive

There were even moments of doubt that I would survive

Finally one day I was at my destination

I had arrived as Destiny Station

Still I was unsure as to why I was here

Slowly that uncertainty turned into fear

A fear that I was here all alone

Without some way to find out the unknown

I wandered the halls around and around

Yet they seemed empty, no one to be found

Then out of nowhere you appeared

And all of my apprehensions cleared

For, as we met, and talked and grew together

I realized my fate and felt much better

The purpose of my trip had now become clear

To fall in love and live is why I had to come here

 

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             Live to Learn, Learn to Love, Love to Live.  Life is a circle, Keep it going ‘round.

 

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     So, the “bad” guy in the trailer for the movie “The Adjustment Bureau” says to the protagonist “We tried to reason with you,”  as regards to the woman the protagonist loves.  My question is, when does reason EVER overcome the craziness that is love?

 

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When I hear you say, "I'm not pretty," to yourself, it breaks my heart to hear, because you don't see the beauty in you that I do.  In my eyes the roses are red as they blush at being compared to you; the sun shines so brightly in an attempt to surpass the radiance you exude.  I am filled with joy at the music that is your voice, and with ecstasy when my name is in a verse of your song.

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This ends my contributions so far.  If you wish to add to any of my sayings that may have touched you or sparked an idea in you to my list, please feel free.  If you wish to use any of it, all I ask is that it is attributed to me.

Hope this may have brightened you day.  Or at least gave you a good laugh (I don't want to hear about those).

..

When did the Golden Rule become Hate Your Neighbor?

I truly do not understand why so many people are filled with so much hate.

I am not talking about being disgusted by your least favorite food here, nor am I talking about the extreme dislike of a single person who has done something to you.  No, here I am talking about that visceral abhorrence towards some group of people simply because they have some difference from yourself?  

I grant that base human nature makes us territorial predators.  But we allegedly have evolved beyond our most base nature, and have created what we call civilization, and society, and laws.  These things are supposed to move us beyond the fear sprung from ignorance which drives such ugly emotions as rage and hatred.  But yet, here we are.  

I am still an optimist and therefore, I still also hold to the opinion that much of what we hear/see in the news only seems to make this world appear to be going to hell, because of the instantaneous access to what is happening pretty much anywhere on the globe.  But at the same time I am a realist and in some aspects, at least when it comes to humans interacting with others of their own species, we do indeed seem to be getting worse at this living together.

As most of you are aware, I have pretty much given religion a pass.  I do believe that there is some sort of superior being, but as to how it sees and interacts with us humans...?  That is for each of us to figure out on our own (or to reject altogether - that is what free agency is all about, but that is a topic for another day).  So, back to the point I was attempting to get to, pretty much every religion that is still in practice in this modern era has one thing in common with every other one.  One rule.  And regardless of how it is worded in your particular brand of conscience, it boils down to Love Others as You Would Want to Be Loved.  There are no caveats, no exceptions, no buts.  Love Others!

Now this doesn't mean a familial love, and it especially doesn't mean the love of an intimate relationship.  No, this is that love that is 1960's Summer of Love hippie commune type.  We accept each other for and in spite of our differences.

Does this mean we have to agree with the other?  No.  Does it mean we are comfortable with all that they do or are and/or the choices they make/have made?  Again, no.  It does, however, mean, that so long as those things that another is doing or has done is not affecting your life (the heart beating in your chest type, not the way you choose to live it), your liberty or how you choose to pursue that which makes you happy (and so we are clear, if depriving someone else of life, liberty or their ability to pursue happiness is how you pursue happiness, you need serious help), then they get to do it.  You don't have to like it.  You don't have to want to do it.  You don't even have to do anything to be supportive of it.  What you cannot do, is impose limits or restrictions upon those things, just as they shouldn't attempt to impose them upon you.  And most importantly, just because what they do or their physical characteristics are not reasons to hate a person or group of people.  To be specific, their skin tone, language, religion or lack thereof, god(s) or none, gender, sexual preference or identity (legally consenting adults), age, ability or anything else that makes them different is not in any way shape or form an appropriate reason to hate anyone.  Ever!

There is probably a whole lot more I ought to say here.  I do know there is a lot I want to say, but I believe it will lead to tangents that will detract from the issue I am addressing here.

So, here we are.  Thoughts, comments, criticisms?  And remember, I expect civility.

Shield Bashing: No Longer a Medieval Pastime

As most of y'all are aware, I was once a police officer.  Between military police (where I found my passion for law enforcement), part-time, narcotics and full time patrol, I had 17 years of policing experience, specializing in community policing and domestic violence/sexual assault.  I also have a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration.  So, while I have been out of the policing business for almost 8 years now, I think I still have a tad bit of credibility when speaking on matters of the subject.

What makes me point out all of the above, you ask?  Well, the continual police bashing that has become almost epidemic in proportion to what occurred in Ferguson, Missouri.

I, as a rule generally, do not second guess or armchair quarterback what an officer did in the field.  I wasn't there, I didn't witness what he or she saw, heard, perceived and therefore can't offer why they did what they did.  I would only tell you what I may have most likely done given the facts that have been made known to me (which are almost always only one side of a 20 sided die).

First, let us discuss the initial encounter.  Until such time as the autopsies (yes as in more than one) are completed and analysis made of bullet trajectories, I will use what little FACTS we have.  An officer is on patrol.  He observes a nuisance crime, what would be considered a civil infraction or a very low class misdemeanor depending upon how your state classifies it's laws.  He stops to conduct a field contact with two young males.  There is a racial difference, which is further exacerbated by the fact that the department itself is skewed from the population it serves.  A physical altercation ensues and shots are fired.  One of the youth in the street dies from wounds sustained.

Eye (and ear) witness testimony varies on pretty much everything.  And sadly the department had not yet installed audio and video recording devices in its patrol cars or on its officers.

Due to this tragic encounter, citizens begin protesting.  Local police respond in what has been described by civilians, professional reporters (not sure how many objectively and mostly unbiased journalists exist, if any) and even other police personnel as heavy handed, inciting more chaos which in turn cycles into an even more draconian response from local officials.

So.  As to the initial encounter, we know an officer tried to do his job.  Beyond that, whether he was an ass from the outset which was the match that set off this conflagration or if it was some other cause has yet to be determined.  That something so benign as asking two people to move to the sidewalk from the middle of the road for their safety and to ensure traffic could flow smoothly just boggles my mind.

That what should have been just a police presence to help ensure an orderly and peaceful but rather expected demonstration, became a full-on riot response is also boggling.  Even assuming that there was no permit from city hall for the gathering, it should have been left alone so long as more serious issues were not occurring.   That the chief went "full retard" in his response is indicative of poor training from top to bottom in crowd control and riot response.

Another issue that seems to be popping up in the badge/shield bashing of late is of their acquiring of former military equipment or military style equipment.  First, let me say that a police department IS a paramilitary organization.  This in part devolves from the fact that once upon a time city guards were soldiers.  But times they did change, and Sir Robert Peel with his Metropolitan Police force (aka the London Bobby) brought about a whole new breed of city guard.  And from that beginning modern policing began.  Initially, officers were little more than brutes, Sergeants were brutes who could do a little bit of thinking and had some skill at leading, while brighter individuals became the detectives of their locality.  But, one of the interesting things about that time was that these "brutes" were locals.  They knew the people and places they patrolled pretty well, because they most likely grew up there.  And they interacted with citizens, good and not so good, face to face on a near daily basis.

Well, as we all know, power corrupts.  And cops had a lot of power.  So along came the professionalization movement (which dove-tailed along with the addition of scientific methods for solving crimes), which removed officers from this everyday contact by putting them in cars, giving them radios, and arming them with whatever equipment and technology that came along to counter the misuse and abuse of technology by scofflaws and criminals (i.e. Development of traffic radar <a military technology> to thwart speeding drivers of the increasing number of automobiles, various fire arms to counter the more advanced weaponry that criminals were now carrying).

Today depending upon jurisdiction and mission, as well as the types of crimes that an agency or task force of multiple agencies may encounter, they obtain equipment, much of it surplus military gear which allows them to perform their job as safely and effectively as possible with as little cause injury or death as possible.  Remember, use of force is responsive to the threat of force.  Not always ideal for the police, and dependent upon numerous factors, they may respond above a level necessary due to their perceptions.  Obviously not ideal in many ways.  Not for the officer because they misperceived something that was not threatening as such and now face multiple levels of action against them which could include termination and civil or criminal charges.  And not for the public as they become wary and alienated from those who are really only trying to make te community a safe and enjoyable place to live and work.

As I pointed out to someone earlier.  If your four person police department has an armored vehicle and automatic weapons, be concerned.  But if you have teams and task forces that perform jobs with high risk, some of that equipment might mean the difference between a rather "routine" search/arrest and the next North Hollywood bank robbery shootout.

Now, before I went off tangentially, what I was attempting to point out is, that in the push to professionalize policing (and hopefully reduce corruption) there walls (some figurative some almost literal) were placed between the general public and the police who served them.  This alienated the citizens from those whom they needed to know if they were going to trust their safety and security to them, while creating an us v them mentality all up and down the ranks of police officers.  A divide that is painfully obvious and is entirely detrimental to one of the most fundamental of policing principles...that the police are the public and the public are to an extent, the police.  Without a working partnership between the populace and it's force of peacekeepers, the system will fail to work properly and only as post crime reactive entity, not one that is proactive and vigilant.

And finally, (I know I know, about damn time you rambling fool) as a friend of mine who is not a police officer but is rather pro police, said, "Don't judge what happens in a physical altercation as police brutality without taking in the totality of the circumstances.  (This was prior to Ferguson).  He basically challenged anyone to "affect" an arrest on him, while he resisted.  No punching, no kicking, but actively not allowing himself to be restrained/subdued.  His point was that sometimes certain positions and tactics end up happening and injury may occur.  And even if there is no injury, the current level of a persons health, any medical conditions and or the use of any substances (legal or illegal) may cause emergency medical conditions and or death.  This doesn't automatically absolve the officer(s) of any blame or allow them to escape scrutiny and disciplinary action if warranted, but it also should not lead to immediate cries of brutality and civil rights violations either.

Terrorism or Criminal Act of Violence? Thoughts on Boston Marathon tragedy.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
― Edmund Burke

 

The FBI has this under the heading Definitions for how they define terrorism; "There is no single, universally accepted, definition of terrorism. Terrorism is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85). "

OK, I opened this with a quote from a reknowned orator, statesman and philosopher.  Yes, I understand that this may quote may be misattributed to Mr Burke, but it is who is most readily identified with it.  The reason I put that first, is that I wish to add a caveat to this statement.  While it is important for good men to do something; they should so not alter their lives in fear of evil that they no longer live freely.

So, why do I think it is necessary to add this thought to such a timeless idea?  Today, in my beloved United States, some cowardly person or persons placed and detonated some explosive devices in the city of Boston.  At least three devices were in the area of the finish line of respected and honorable sporting event called the Boston Marathon, and at least one other was found at a library.  As of the time of this writing, three people were murdered and well over 100 have been injured, almost 20 critically. 

While it is probable that this was an act of some terrorist group (or lone terrorist), as far as I know, no person(s) have claimed any responsibility nor made any social/political (and in my own definition related to the one above, I add religion) demands against the government/society.  Since that has not happened, again to my knowledge at the time of this writing, this is not an act of terrorism, but a terror inducing violent crime. 

What follow will be two-pronged.  One prong will address what I believe needs to be a clear cut delineation between the crime of terrorism and other violent criminal acts.  The other will be to address what I feel how good people must act to not let evil ones triumph.

I once upon a time did a lot of research into the realm of crime.  Violent crimes to be exact.  I believe that violent criminal acts, whether they are committed against one lone person, or cover vast scenes and affected many, are all terror inducing crimes.  A crime of violence by its very nature is meant to intimidate and coerce a person(s) to do something or allow something to be done by threat of or causing of actual bodily injury or death.  A person who is raped or mugged, the victims of a home invasion is terrified.  Their friends and family, their acquaintances, and the people who hear the story of and its aftermath of such events all may feel some form of terror.  To just name a few, the shooting rampage in the elementary school in Newtown, CT; the movie theater rampage in Aurora, CO, the knife wielding attacker at Lone Star Community College, the attacker with the bow and arrow at a college who injured several people.  All of these heinous acts of cowardice and carnage instill a sense of terror.  A wonder at the utter depravity and senselessness that this world contains.  And it can, to some, be a debilitating feeling of fear, along with anger, sadness and despair that come up out of all of the things we feel after such things.  Whether it effects us directly being a survivor, a loving supporter of a survivor or victim, or we are just part of the social grieving of these, it can be a terror inducing event.

So, what makes these other crimes, NOT acts of terrorism, even though they can induce terror in us?  I refer you back to the definition in Federal code that the FBI uses to make a determination if something is an act of terror or not.  The perpetrator(s) of the act, use violence or the threat of violence in an attempt to influence government policy or society as a whole to change in a political, social, or as I personally add, a religious way. 

As of yet, no claims of responsibility have been made nor any demands of social/political/religious change have been made.  Thus, the bombings in Boston, no matter how much terror they have instilled ARE NOT YET acts of terrorism by definition.  They are ugly, horrific crimes of unimaginable evil.  Yes, EVIL.  Even if you have no belief in the metaphysical spirit, evil should still be a concept which you fully accept as existing in this world.  Evil, and this is my own personal definition, is any intentional act which is done to willfully inflict a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial or some other harm upon any other person for your own gain, pleasure, entertainment or other selfish goal. 

Why am do I so fervently feel the need to stress upon you the difference between calling this a crime, and calling this a criminal act of terror?  Because when we label this an act of terror, certain safeguards to liberty and due process, which we have forsaken, rightly or wrongly, in the hopes of gaining some sense of safety and security, disappear.  And while, in the heat of the moment, some may say, "So What?"  so long as we get the bastards responsible for this hideous thing, there is a reason to answer that So What with a Because....  Do not get me wrong, every reasonable effort of professional criminalistics and forensics needs to be brought to bear.  From the collection, security, inventory, processing and storage of evidence to maintain a secure chain of custody, to the interviews, to the arrests, prosecution, and sentencing should be with all of the resources we have available.  But not at the expense of any due process of law.  Expedient justice is rarely ever just.  And as I noted, the forsaking of liberty for some semblance of safety and security in one instance sets a precedent for doing so again in the future.  Possibly for something that is still shocking to the conscience, but not as heinous as this event.  Then less so for the next, then less for the next.  Does this mean we are on a slippery slope?  Probably not.  Do those slopes always come to reality, just because we voice a concern that it appears as if they are?  No.  But, not voicing the concern is tantamount to the doing nothing that Mr Burke warned us about.

And I will use that as my segue into the second part of my long winded little adventure in wordsmithing.  Regardless of whether we are speaking of the BIG acts of terror, or the everyday acts that induce terror in us, we must not succumb to paralysis, fear and such severe alterations of our daily lives that we lose our own freedoms, not to a tyranical government, or even an overbearing nanny state government, but to our own inner limitations imposed by seeking absolute safety.

When things, large or small, such as these happen, we must, of course, process them in whatever way is healthy for us to do so.  Which means that for some of us, this will go quickly, and for some it may take a period of time that seems far longer to some than it ought.  Either way, unless it is to the point where it has frozen us into place, no one should be telling you that you havent waited long enough or are taking too long to process through the terror you have felt.  However once that process is complete, the changes that we make in our lives should not be so radically drastic that we have completely altered whom we are (unless you believe that who you are was directly linked to the violence you experienced - then maybe you are correct in making vastly more changes than I am going to speak of here).  You learn to become more vigilant of your surroundings.  Not to the point of paranoia, but also that you do not forget the time and place in which you are at and who is around you.  You learn to defend yourself.  While I am a proponent of individual firearms ownership, I do not mean you must get a gun.  If you don't like them, don't purchase or possess one.  But there are many other ways to learn how to protect yourself.  From just basic confidence building to empty hand martial combat techniques.  Learn how to render aid to yourself and to others who may be injured.  Just as law enforcement may not be able to arrive for some period of time (and when you want them, even two or three minutes can seem like hours, but also when they are overwhelmed, i.e. a bombing), the same can be said for emergency medical services.  They can be several minutes away.  They could be feet away, but are treating a critically injured person and unable to render aid to you or another.  Not because they won't, but they can't.  When they have more casualties than they have resources, you get categorized.  And if it isn't immediately life threatening, (and the dirty little secret, or is immediately life threatening, but more likely to be a futile effort to save you) you get to be second or third in line for care.  So, knowing how to help yourself or someone else helps Emergency Service Providers (Police, Fire, EMS, your ER staff).

Okay.  I've have probably either pissed you off, or bored you to tears.

Good thoughts, blessings and prayers for those effected by the tragedy in Boston today, be they the victims, the survivors, the witnesses to the horrors, the rescue personnel, the investigators, the families and friends, or our nation as a whole.

 

Curbing Gun Violence v Gun Control

Semantics  plural of se·man·tics (Noun)

Noun The branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning. The meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text: "such quibbling over semantics may seem petty stuff" Ok the reason I opened with the above definition is because I know I shall be accused of playing the semantics game by what follows.  If you still think so, then I have no hope of putting forth an idea and having debate or civil discussion nor will we either be able to share facts or opinions in an effort of expanding knowledge and honing critical thinking skills. Obviously the title will most likely have caused you to immediately jump to one side or the other as middle ground appears to be more of a de-militarized zone than a space of potential commonality.  And I find sadness in that.  But before I digress into the lament of polar extremism, I shall endeavor to put forth my thoughts here. While to some the idea of cutting, curbing, (the false dream of) ending gun violence and the term gun control being synonymous is a "nice" thought, it is actually naive.  Gun control does not do much to curb, control, deter or (wishfully thinking here) end violence let alone violence with guns.  Violent acts stem from a lack of control of ones emotions and instead allows us to act in a very base sense.  A gun is a tool.  A very specifically designed tool.  And while it was designed to be used to commit violent acts: those actions are to be done by people who are in as much control of their emotions as is possible (think police, soldiers, etc).  This applies similarly to those who will use guns for defense of self, of loved ones and other innocents, and if necessary in defense of home, community, and a way of life (the purpose behind the militia - which only is under any government control when mustered; and therefore is not the National Guard, tho they are related).  So thus this means that any person deemed a citizen who has not been stripped of their rights under due process of law has the right to own arms for all lawful purposes (defense, hunting, sport shooting), if they so choose to exercise that right.   But alas, gun control is not about keeping guns out of the hands of persons with known violent tendencies, nor those who are dangerous to anyone including themselves because the reality they experience is not in congruence with actual reality.  Gun control is about those who have power and wealth using those to only allow themselves and those whom they pay to have weapons.  Ladies and gentleman, intimidation is a form of violence.  Let me repeat that:  intimidation is a form of violence.  And when you centralize who has control of all "legal" firearms, the only groups with guns are the criminals who have already shown a propensity to flaunt the laws and will not change just because their victims are less capable of protecting themselves, AND the politically powerful & the wealthy whose armed agents will be unrestrained from using their "legal" arms to intimidate te unarmed to do as they want.  If your home stands in the way of what they desire, and they can't "buy" you out at much less than what they are willing to pay, then the guns come out.  Don't think this will happen?  Ask your local Native American.  Need modern examples?  Ask the residents of the slums of Rio de Janerio.  Ask the Massai if they think giving up arms is in their best interest, when their own government is at least tacitly allowing developers to shove them off of ther lands.   Do not get me wrong, I am not one who screams that any and all laws that regard firearms are violations of the 2nd Amendment; but neither am I so childish wishful as to believe that when violent people see that others have put down their guns they will follow suit (hoping this recalls a certain US Senator from California to mind). If we want to curb gun violence, if we want to curb violence overall, let us find out what makes some people have so little or no empathy for their fellow man that they believe violence is the best method to resolve problems and get what they desire (not need just want).  Let us bring mental health onto an equal par with physical health.  Let us begin to destigmatize having mental health issues so that people don't feel like third or fourth class citizens because they seek help.  Let us quit glorifying violence in our entertainment.  Let us punish violent acts equally, regardless of how famous, rich or powerful the person who commits violence is.  Let us help and encourage victims of violence to not remain in the dark and feel intimidated and in danger so that they will come forward and say NO MORE!   4/14 Yep, I knew I'd have more! One of the arguments I keep seeing by those who wish to restrict what guns may or may not be available to those of us who still prefer to be able to defend ourselves.  That argument is "Why do you NEED..." Sounds like a legit question, right?  So here is my question to you in response?  Why do you need a car that goes 90+mph?  Why do you need an 8mpg 4x4 when you live in the burbs and your most difficult terrain is the mall parking lot?  Why do you need a house with 5000 sq ft for two people?  Why do you need to send your kids to a $50k a year private school when there is a public school just down the street?  Why do you need to retain money managers, tax attorneys and the like when besides a little savings you could put all that extra money towards, oh I don't know, providing some extra money to fund POLICE, Security in those public schools, mental health resources for the crazy nut jobs who shouldn't have guns.   Go ahead, ask me why again?

Do You Suffer or Do You Cope?

I will beg your forgiveness now, as I haven't had a lot of sleep and there are some personal issues that may affect my abilities to compose in complete coherence (well my norm of coherence) and proper spelling, grammar and the like. The title of this particular thought exercise comes about from two personal things that have happened to me, one that has been a part of my make up for some time now and one in which I am on the outside looking in upon someone whom I love deeply and dearly. I dedicate these thoughts to her. If I recall correctly at some point or another I have kinda sorta told my story and probably either said "I suffer from..." or "I used to suffer from, but now cope with...". It is not uncommon for any person to have some condition, be it physical, mental, emotional, financial, spiritual or what have you that effects their life in some manner, and not always to the betterment of their life. We have a tendency to say about ourselves or someone else whom we know has such a condition as "suffering from...". For me, that condition is PTSD. It presented itself with clinical depression, and some pretty reckless behavior. And before I really even knew I had this stress disorder, I can look back now and say I suffered. Tho, in actuality, the suffering was by those who put up with me when I was insufferable; those who tried to tell me that I had changed and I thought they were the ones were just slightly off. But eventually I came to realize I needed help. I got that help. That help gave me mental tools that helped me to move from suffering, with all of the negative connotations and the oh woe is me self-victimization that attaches to it, to coping with that very same condition. The condition still exists within me. It will most likely be a part of my life until the day I die. But instead of allowing that condition to limit me in what I can and will do, by realizing that coping with this condition, the only limits I must abide by are the ones that I set for myself. Granted, with PTSD, I have to know (or at least learn to recognize when I come up against) what my trigger(s) is to sending me on a "wonderful" no expense not thought of to charge me with trip back to some dark and ugly event(s) that put me in Freeze, Fight or Flight. Oh what joys come from over reacting (or under reacting, no reaction at all) due to being in a different place altogether even tho physically I never left the spot I was in. Flashbacks are fun! NOT! Especially not when you are bouncing your own vehicle off of the side of a semi trailer at 70 mph to avoid the piece of tire scrap that you thought was something else entirely. So, knowing what my triggers are and not allowing myself to let my condition and those triggers limit me, but for me to set my own limits (goals, dreams, these are limits - the limits to which you would strive to find the life and live it as you most desire) I don't allow myself to suffer (ok ok, yes I have "bad" days and still suffer from my condition), but instead have harnessed it, and make it work for me, I now COPE with my condition and live life as fully as I am capable of doing. So, after all of that above, to my daughter, and also to my friends and family who have some injury, illness or other condition that makes your life harder than it should be. It is my fervent wish and desire that you will look past the negatives of whatever you "suffer" from, decide that you are not going to allow that condition to be your master and control you any longer. That instead you will find some slight glimmer of inspiration in my story, and find your way to cope with whatever it may be. Learn to cope so that the limits you face as to what you want to accomplish are not set by anyone or anything but your own conscious, rational, thinking mind. That you will find your way to strive to make the best of what all you have, in spite of something that says you can't do that. My hope is that you cope!