First, some good news. (Yay!) One piece of pro-police legislation I’m focused on has inched closer to materializing. In a few weeks, I’ll be meeting face-to-face with a receptive state senator to discuss the bill. Its passage would create meaningful and lasting impact for police officers and public safety.
I’ll be sharing more about this after our meeting. And if there’s movement on it, I’ll need your support.
You can also lobby your own elected officials. In fact, I encourage it.
To begin, find a legislator open to supporting police officers, then introduce your premise and solution, and be prepared with rebuttals to anticipated questions. If you’re not sure where to start or would like ideas on what to discuss, you can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com. I’m here to help and support you.
I know how easy it is to feel despondent these days. The momentum, however, is on our side. I can just feel it. We have a long, uphill battle for sure and setbacks are inevitable, but the policing landscape is fixable - provided we continue to advocate, stand strong, and stay focused.
Have You Read Any of These Books?
Thanks to my parents instilling a love of books in me at a young age, my Kindle reader (and bookshelves!) are usually overflowing. And I’m always on the lookout for my next great reads.
Here are five books I’m planning to buy that I thought readers of this blog might know about, or at least appreciate. Have you read any of these? Planning to read them? I’ve opened up comments for this post. Let’s discuss.
I’m not including links to any sales pages because I don’t even want to give the slightest impression that I’m profiting from affiliate sales. My Substack is, and will continue to be, revenue-free.
With that all said, let’s go.
Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most | Rafael Mangual
When researching issues related to policing and public safety, Rafa is one of my go-to sources. He’s a fellow at the Manhattan Institute (along with Heather Mac Donald, author of The War on Cops), as well as research head of its Policing and Public Safety Initiative.
Using data, personal experience, and research, his new book rebuts the false narrative that policing is oppressive. He also demonstrates how this narrative tears down public safety, especially in at-risk communities.
The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams | Stacy Schiff
Sam Adams is usually referred to peripherally during discussions of the American Revolution. Maybe it’s because he was perceived as radical, at least by 18th century standards?
Yet he’s credited as being a major contributor to the resistance of British tyranny. He galvanized the colonists to break from England and helped organize the Boston Tea Party.
Given that he risked being charged with treason by British Parliament (which would have most certainly resulted in a slow and painful death if found guilty), he never betrayed the courage of his convictions.
I wonder, would the American Revolution have had a different outcome without Sam Adams playing such a pivotal role?
If You Want Something Done: Leadership Lessons from Bold Women | Nikki Haley
I love reading stories about strong women (and men) who despite their hardships, adopt the attitude of victory instead of victimhood. It’s this attitude that allows us to grow as human beings, and as a nation.
Nikki Haley’s book is a compilation of stories of women throughout history -from Margaret Thatcher to Golda Meir- who embody this ideology. It encourages women in part, to stand for principle, even if it means standing alone. Words to live by.
Fiery (But Mostly Peaceful): The 2020 Riots and the Gaslighting of America | Julio Rosas
Do you remember the riots that occurred during the spring and summer of 2020? Many of us watched in horror as businesses were set on fire, homes and innocent lives destroyed, city centers occupied, police officers ambushed and assaulted. Some of this happened right here in Madison.
To help set the record straight, Julio Rosas, a journalist who was actually on the ground during the demonstrations, offers an inside look into that tragic period in our history.
Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence | Vivek Ramaswamy
A consequence of perceiving one’s self as a victim is that there’s no incentive to change. It’s a mindset that promotes putting the onus for an unfulfilled life on externals instead of taking personal responsibility.
In his new book, Vivek Ramaswamy, a genuine intellect who I had the pleasure of meeting two weeks ago at the Independent Women’s Gala, demonstrates how victimhood culture is counterproductive to the individual and to our nation.
Your Turn
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these books, as well as about any recommendations for other books you think I may be interested in.
I’ve opened up the discussion option for this post.
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.
Thank you for the recommendations. Going to check out Criminal Injustice.
In the last few months I’ve read and enjoyed “12 seconds in the dark”. “Republicans buy sneakers too”, “the new puritans”
and also - to get the other side of these issues “the end of policing”. This is pretty much the counter argument to “the war on cops”. But it’s really dishonest - I just like to see the other argument.