It's Starting to Feel Like 2020 All Over Again

Plus two books you might like

This is not the post I had originally intended to publish this evening. That post -an action alert as part of a pro-police lobbying project I’m working on- is up next.

Something else is intruding on my thoughts.

Do you remember the summer of 2020? As police officers were being ambushed, city centers destroyed, and government buildings torched, police leadership gave orders for rank-and-file officers to stand down.

Officers in my own city confided in me about what they witnessed during the riots. Here’s an excerpt from Empower Wisconsin (which no longer appears to be live.)

“Police officers who spoke to Fitzsimmons said commanders ordered them to not intervene, even though the crime was happening right before their eyes. The officers pursued the suspects after they left the area. They asked again for permission from command staff to make arrests.”

This included a suspect from a robbery / sexual assault case!

“This request was denied, and we were ordered to release the criminals,” one officer told Fitzsimmons. . .“Even after units followed him out of the area, the command post denied our requests to take him into custody because they didn’t want the news to get back to (a known area police critic). . .”

Similar scenarios played out in cities across the country, with demonstrators given carte blanche to act in ways (like blocking streets and highways) that would result in most of us rightfully being arrested.

Then command staff groveled and knelt, seemingly in attempts to curry favor with the loudest voices in the room.

It felt like a betrayal. It was a betrayal.

Are We Repeating 2020?

With tensions again rising over issues like immigration and the Middle East, it’s starting to feel like 2020 again.

One example:

In Durham, North Carolina, a poster called Durham Downtown reported the following:

Protesters with pro-Palestinian group "Jewish Voice for Peace" still blocking traffic on Durham Freeway.

Jackets with “CEASE FIRE NOW" call for an end to the Israel Hamas war.

Police have restrained from making arrests.”

At the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C. A must-see the next time you visit.

Police officers are obliged to protect all speech, even if they vehemently disagree with it. Without this guarantee, our nation can’t help but fail.

When demonstrators break the law and police refuse to act, however, they’re essentially betraying their sacred oath. It’s even more egregious when they arrest members of one group while letting others slide for the same acts. Unequal treatment (even if perceived) will break us as a nation.

Incidents of unequal treatment also make it that much more difficult for people like me to advocate for police officers. While I’m a staunch police advocate and firmly believe that most of the men and women who serve do so with honor and integrity, I also refuse to trip over myself to defend stuff like this.

Police officers also risk losing the support and faith from the public. Placing the U.S. Constitution first and always doing what’s right (instead of what’s popular or political) should always be the goal. Playing politics with the badge will ensure that law enforcement earns a place on the wrong side of history.

Rank-and-file officers are most certainly in a tough predicament. Most want to do the right thing, but they also have families to feed and pensions that hang in the balance - so they’re obligated to follow the orders of their command staff. I empathize. On the other side of the equation is that they’re representatives of our Constitution, and if we can’t count on them to do the right thing, we’re lost as a nation.

Given what’s at stake, I urge police officers to confront their unions with these concerns. If your union isn’t up to the challenge, find a new one. Police chiefs also need to clarify any wrongly-perceived acts and explain to the public that they’re acting in good faith. Reasonable people will understand.

Two Recommended Books

Like most of you, my schedule is hectic. I make it a point, however, to read every day. There is so much information out there that we’re unaware of and that can’t adequately be disseminated via social media or even articles.

With that in mind, here are two books you might want to consider picking up this weekend. They’re also available on Kindle for a fraction of the cost (I love my Kindle reader!).

What’s Killing America | Jason Rantz

Based on his own research and on-the-ground reporting in Seattle (he’s even infiltrated anarchist marches), Jason Rantz is in a prime position to offer insights into what’s destroying our nation’s greatest cities. He also offers solutions for how to stop the chaos.

Here’s an excerpt:

“You’ll never be able to convince a radical that they’re wrong or dangerous because they’re blinded by their own ideology. They are unmovable and, frankly, not worth our time. You want to win over the moderate Democrats, the independents, the unmotivated Republicans, or the I-Don’t-Know-What-the-Heck-I-Am family member, neighbor, friend, and coworker (the one who won’t report you to Human Resources for talking politics, at least). The best way to convince people something isn’t working is to specifically explain why and how. The only way to inspire people to push for positive change is to argue from a place of facts with examples of failures and reasons why a different approach will work.”

Jason says (and I agree) that we’ve been complacent for too long. Continued denial and complacency will cause the insanity to spread. None of us, regardless of where we live, are immune.

Is God Real? | Lee Strobel

Sorry to bring faith into the mix, but with the nation and world the way it is, I sense a lot of us have been turning to God. For some of us, faith in a Higher Power is easier than it is for others.

Having been raised Roman Catholic (and a product of parochial schools), I was raised to be a believer. My faith, like that of many people, however, has been challenged on occasion.

If you’re struggling with your own faith or even if you’re not, I recommend picking up a copy of Is God Real? It’s written by a journalist and former atheist who provides evidence for the presence of God via interviews with renowned scientists. It’s a thorough book that addresses counterarguments and points we may not have even thought of.

Here’s an excerpt:

“In fact, “fine-tuning” is one of the most compelling arguments for God’s existence. The numbers that govern the operation of our universe are calibrated with mind-boggling precision that life can exist. In other words, the very physics of the universe are so precisely tuned that they defy the explanation that the universe is merely the result of chance . . .

“When asked which arguments for God’s existence he and other skeptics consider the strongest, the late atheist Christopher Hitchens relied. “I think every one of us picks the fine-tuning one as the most intriguing.””

As both a Christian and someone who loves science (college biology major here), I found the book affirming.

That’s it for this edition. As mentioned, an action alert is up next. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a magnificent weekend. : )

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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.