Another Wakeup Call
And keeping the faith
There’s absolutely no context in which the savagery being perpetrated on Israel can be justified. As many of us watch in horror at the barbarism and weep for the innocents, the truth is that there’s little that you and I can do to change what’s happening in the Middle East.
Strengthening law enforcement and supporting police officers in our own country is, however, something that is in our hands. The events of the past few days should serve as a reminder of just how vulnerable we are and how critical it is to have a solid blue line.
Our Own Reality
At the precise time that crime has increased and offenders strengthened by misguided policies, our primary lines of defense (police & military) have been seriously weakened. This is not a good place to be in, and I’m not certain a lot of people quite grasp the severity of our situation.
Adding to this is an intensifying global dynamic and a chaotic border situation that has made us that much more vulnerable. Last year at this time I had written that Border Patrol agents were on pace to arrest two million migrants.
The situation has since intensified.
Criminal cartels continue to fuel human and narcotics trafficking & smuggling operations. Drugs like fentanyl (via China, Mexico, and increasingly India) that have been trafficked in have helped create an ongoing opioid epidemic. Equally disquieting is that border agents are arresting known terror suspects, with some managing to escape.
Without an adequate number of men and women who serve with honor, how will we confront these challenges?
You’re Already Making a Difference!
I’ll be presenting a deep-dive on pro-police legislation in the next issue. For now (and I’m aware that I sound like a broken record by now), please consider urging your congressperson to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Protect & Serve Act (H.R. 743). The FOP has an automated form letter that takes but a few moments to sign.
If you’ve already lobbied your congressperson, thank you. Your efforts are really making a difference!!! H.R. 743 is gaining momentum and in just the past month has gained four new sponsors in the House.
If you have more time, please consider writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. You can use my syndicated op-ed as an example of talking points or contact me for ideas.
We can do this!
Don’t Forget That There’s Goodness in the World
Keeping informed allows us to make better decisions and craft meaningful solutions. Getting so entwined in the negativity that we become distraught, however, is not good for our own state of mind or those we love. And it does absolutely nothing to solve problems. I’m not judging. We’ve all been there, including me.
One of the best remedies I’ve found is to be proactive and focus on things that I can control. The Serenity Prayer is useful here.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
I also try to spend time cultivating joy (some of which I outlined in a previous article) and surrounding myself with the best people.
If you’re looking for a quick dose of positivity, check out this short video from Chief Jim Gilbert of the Franklin County Sheriff. It’s pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face. And it’s a reminder of all the goodness police officers bring into our lives.
Keep the faith. Yes, there’s evil and chaos in the world, but as long as we have hope and stick together, we’ll be ok. : )
Best as always.
For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.