For the sake of humanity, pardon Derek Chauvin!

 

When I grew up during the late fifties and early sixties, there were lots of the usual news stories about politics, war, crime, even an occasional article about a new dance craze.  Juvenile delinquency was in its embryonic stage, with crime stories about teenagers with switchblade knives and membership in small neighborhood groups who wore apparel signifying what gangs they belonged to. During my youth on the lower east side of Manhattan, I, and some of my buddies wore pink and black jackets (with collars up, of course) as part of our “gang” affiliation. I use gang loosely because we weren’t into criminal activity, we just knew that it was smart to not be a “loner’ in an area where wolf packs were on the prowl.

There weren't any semi-automatic weapons available, so the thugs of that generation might construct homemade pistols, known as “zip guns,” which were made with rubber bands wrapped around a wooden frame, with a coat hanger or a car aerial attached. The thick rubber provided the tensile strength to push the improvised hammer against a single pellet, sending it, very inaccurately, toward an intended target. Possession of one of those primitive devices could get the youthful offender a year in a detention facility.

However, now that we live in the enlightened age of liberal policies toward criminals, and contempt for their victims, modern-day teens are equipped with high-velocity guns containing twelve or more cartridges in a magazine. Cops aren't allowed to use stop-and-frisk techniques to disarm them because it might injure the sensibility of the little hoodlums. Illegal guns are used thousands of times in cities across the country, and those arrested for using, or carrying, are often released before the weapon stops emitting smoke.

When there were more reasonable people in charge, there was something called a “three-time loser.” That meant that if you were found guilty of felonies for a third time, you would be imprisoned for enough years to make a point about recidivism. Not anymore! Reading about felons walking the streets after being convicted 10, 20, even 30 times has become commonplace. How many times should someone be convicted of serious crimes before he's labeled a menace to society? Moreover, when one of those recidivist monsters gets killed during a police incident, it's more than an even bet that the cop will be the one going to prison. Derek Chauvin is one example of a cop who took a brute off the street, only to be victimized by a politicized justice system that was weaponized against him.

Residents of that Minnesota neighborhood had been victimized by George Floyd for several years before the incident that finally stopped him from terrorizing the area. Before he moved to Minneapolis, he was a criminal in Houston, Texas, serving 5 years in Harris County prison for a brutal home invasion in which he put a gun to the stomach of a pregnant woman. If the system had done its job in the first place, that violent recidivist predator would have never met Chauvin. Floyd had a criminal record that included 8 convictions for aggravated robbery, felonious assault and drug-related offenses.  

Contrast that with Derek Chauvin, who was a decent family man doing the job he was trained for, had never been arrested, and was a decorated police officer. The fact that he’s in prison, his wife has divorced him and changed her name and is living in another state because she fears reprisals, while Floyd’s family has become millionaires through GoFundMe contributions, is a shocking example of how a nation loses its soul. If you were to ask anyone with a pulse if they’d rather live next door to Derek Chauvin or George Floyd; the answer would be obvious enough to snap us out of this aberrant spell we find ourselves under.

That’s because the general public is vulnerable to the cretins that roam the streets, while those at the top of the food chain have no fear of the real world. That’s because they are the privileged few who have private security, home alarm systems, and/or bodyguards, hence they feel cavalier enough to suggest that defunding the police might be a good idea. Contrarily, average, decent, law-abiding folks know how vital law-enforcement is to maintain order in a civilized society. If you’re the average guy or gal who works a regular job, obeys the law, and pays your taxes, you expect to live without constant fear of attacks from savage thugs who spend their worthless lives seeking unwary victims to prey upon.

When you leave your home to shop, dine, or perform other regular activities, you should feel safe. We’ve all heard about people getting assaulted or murdered in the street by animals that don’t belong in the same orbit with humans. In many areas across the country, you might be viciously cut up or shot for simply going about your normal routine. However, unless it’s happened to you, or someone you know, you probably feel your odds of being hurt are minimal.

Yet, how many of us want to throw the dice every day to determine what their chances are? It’s a sad commentary on what our society has become when we’re inundated with video clips of roaming gangs of hooligans, robbing and trashing supermarkets, jewelry stores and fast-food outlets, while personnel stand by, unwilling to interfere with the mob rule taking place before their eyes. Who can blame them? They’re not trained to take on violent hoodlums. That’s the job of the police! When I worked in some of the highest crime areas of NYC, the overwhelming majority of the residents were good people who supported cops but were afraid to say so publicly. It was understandable since they were residents of the area and would be quickly targeted after the police left. Privately, they’d give us a thumbs up when we took the human effluvium out of their environment and gave them the freedom to live without fear. That’s precisely what Officer Chauvin did for 19 years. What’s been done to him during this bizarre dystopian era is cruel and unusual punishment! For the sake of humanity, he should be pardoned!

 

The price of freedom - by Annette Weir

 

This week the world witnessed a stunning display of military might and ceremonial pageantry as the Chinese government welcomed President Trump for a Summit Meeting. The Sino-American gathering was an excellent example of the respect President Xi Jinping has for our President and the country he represents. I don’t remember another US President being showed as much respect. Perhaps, that’s because Donald Trump has shown more courage and daring than his predecessors when dealing with world leaders. In addition, this past January, Trump exhibited US power on the world stage when Venezuelan dictator and international drug-trafficker, Nicolas Maduro was captured in a flawless predawn military raid in Caracas and transported to a prison in NYC.   

Such a magnificent display of military might was the backdrop for the meeting in Beijing, where Trump and XI discussed the serious issue of dealing with Iran and forcing that Middle East regime to open the Strait of Hormuz, the vast waterway that handles 20% of global oil exports and liquefied natural gas. Although the well-publicized trip gave our country a glimpse of the Trump Administration’s capacity to plan, organize, and demonstrate diplomacy on a grand scale, there was much more than merely flag-waving to see during the trip to the communist nation. 

Many observers on social media, me included, couldn’t get over how pristine and clean everything in the streets and subways were.  No graffiti, no homeless, and no drug addicts lying around in the streets.  Of course, it’s important to note that such revolting activities are not allowed in authoritarian governments. The Chinese simply don’t tolerate such forms of degeneracy. Their methods of eliminating it may not be viewed by Americans as the proper way to treat the “unfortunate.” Nevertheless, many Americans are equally outraged by what liberal policies have forced them to deal with for decades. We can all remember when President Xi visited California in 2023, after Governor Newsom quickly cleaned up the streets to make a good impression on the Asian dictator. Of course, once the charade was over, the usual suspects returned to their toxic nesting spots.

Another thing that stood out to me was the manner in which every citizen seemed to be dressed. No pants hanging around the behind, and no signs of the subculture fashion, known as Goth, that has altered the looks and behavior of some nonconformists, as they roam about the streets, mainly in our urban areas. Why do I bring this up? Well, when you see what China is able to do, then look at the stark differences here in the USA, it makes you wonder if some of their policies might be better than ours. I’m not saying that communism is a better system because many of their actions are inconsistent with a free republic. However, when you see the discipline of the Chinese children, for example, who are far advanced academically from the children educated in the United States, it speaks volumes about how much ground we’ve lost in the culture war. This brings to mind something I watched on a television program about the black market of selling babies to couples that are incapable of giving birth to their own. The show pointed out that Chinese babies were often preferred, even by non-Asian couples, because they were considered to be smarter than US children. That gives one pause to wonder what’s happened to our education system.

Recently, the Secretary of Education brought up stats that showed the American children were further behind in education this year, than last. She went on to say that almost 30% of them don’t even show up for school! And to think that our government is paying something like $40,000 for each student is outrageous. Plus, these young people will be voting – how’s that for a scare?

Our country has always enjoyed the comforts of living free, where we could say or do what we wanted, as long as we didn’t break the law. Yet, we have experienced all too often the opposite. Violent street protests, which are anything but law-abiding, including assaults on police, have become all too common examples of the dangers of freedom without limitations. I can only conclude that while there were some things that I saw about how the Chinese people live, it made me think about how twisted things have become in our country because of our “freedoms.”  With the moral decay, homeless people plopping themselves wherever there’s an open spot, addicts shooting up and defecating in the streets, etc., it makes a person wonder how we got into this mess, and why we can’t seem to get out of it!  

 

 

 

 

When a burglary goes wrong

When a burglary goes wrong:

For the burglar. And I, the cop, didn’t even have to do very much!

Unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne

Unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne:

There are too many euphemisms in politics. And ‘euphemism’ can often be considered a euphemism for ‘lie.’

 Why 1970s America Wasn't FAT - Big Geek Daddy

Musings on the teachings of God - by Annette Weir

As I was sitting in the beauty salon waiting for my turn, I started thinking about a few things that might make you roll your eyes, but to me they are kind of curious. With everything that is going on in our world today, especially another war, most of which is really nothing new, since there have been wars and conflicts since the beginning, I began to ponder some things. I started thinking about the Garden of Eden. God set it up perfectly so that Adam and Eve would be in the chips with no worries.  

Now, here is where it gets interesting, at least to me. God knows everything before we even think or say it. Therefore, since he created those two as humans, he had to know that they had shortcomings because they were not perfect, like he is.  So, when he left a temptation, a specific fruit, and declared it off limits, he was testing their belief and faith. Then, when he returned to the Garden (remember they never saw him, they only heard him, yet, they did see and hear the slippery snake devil who convinced them to go ahead and fall into the trap), he had to know that they had disobeyed what he had asked them not to do.  

He could have destroyed them at that point, but instead he chose to show them that there are consequences to our actions, which leads us to the way our human race is today. And as humanity went on and still did not get the message, he decided enough was enough and gathered a few people to build an ark because he was about to flood the earth and destroy everything. This introduced the second stage of our existence. Once the floods receded, a new set of humans were going to start.

Stage 2: This time, however, God sent his son in human form so that everyone could see and hear directly from the savior, rather than depend on the earthly dreams of others, or on the prophets forecasting about and describing who God is. (although there were some that were good at interpreting dreams) – all the things that HE was all about. 

You could touch, hear, and watch all the wonderful things Jesus did. He healed many, fed the masses on a hillside with just a basket of bread and fish. (I wonder if that fish was cooked. Could be the beginning of sushi I suppose). But I digress. In addition, he raised some from the dead. He spoke to that crowd without any audio system, yet all heard him clearly. So, he continued telling and showing everything there was to know about his father, God.  Many got the message, but some did not.  We can only imagine that those who didn’t, simply weren’t convinced He was a savior, or were merely scared of what would happen to them if they spoke out in agreement with his teachings.  So, as the story goes, he was crucified for being a good guy, never doing anything wrong, and just doing what his father asked of him for our benefit. Again, God was testing everyone.

Stage 3, as I would like to refer to it, is where we are today.  We have been given everything from the beginning to this point in time.  Granted, we cannot hear or see God, or his son, but we were left with two things; first, a holy spirit that kind of gives us a shove when we need it, if we take the hint, and a manual that covers everything we need to know about how things were, how to correct things, and what will be – the Bible.

And, may I add, having a free will is wonderful, but it can be tested repeatedly, every day. The key to surviving the hazards of falling into a sinful pit is to check our attitudes of gratitude and keep in mind how much our savior suffered to forgive those sins. Although it’s often difficult to follow all the teachings of God, when we remember the sacrifices He made for us, we should realize it was a lot more difficult for Him.

 

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A Sense of Faith

 

Suppose you were born blind. You had the other 4 senses but have never been able to grasp the concept of sight. You’ve reached the age of adulthood and throughout your young life, those around you have tried to explain what it’s like to be able to “see” the world. Yet the idea of sight is just not something you can imagine because your world has been limited to sound, touch, taste and smell. The question arises; if you’ve never experienced something, can you ever believe it exists? That’s the question asked by those people who don’t believe in the existence of a divine being, or a “God.” Many people who are blessed with all 5 senses have difficulty with another type of sense. Let’s call it the sense of faith.

 

We often hear about people who have a sixth sense, often referred to as extra sensory perception, or ESP. Generally called “psychic ability,” ESP supposedly gives the possessor the ability to foretell the future and/or “see” past occurrences. Well, in a sense (no pun intended), those who have faith in a hereafter may be using a form of ESP to predict the future of mortal life when it ends. Maybe true believers have reached a level of mental competence that allows them to clearly envision that which their counterparts have not yet reached. Is it possible that faith is a higher level of cerebral acuity?

 

If you speak to a non-believer, he might tell you he doesn’t believe in things he cannot see. When I hear that argument, I’ll ask if he’s ever seen gravity. When he answers in the negative, I’ll ask if he wants to test its existence by stepping off a cliff. If he says he doesn’t believe that there’s power in something invisible, I’ll counter with; can you see the wind? I’ll ask if he’s ever seen the awesome power of gusts traveling at 60 or 70 MPH. Although the doubter will often claim the science behind those invisible forces, he simply cannot dispute that science doesn’t have all the answers to the universe. We don’t even have the answers to ESP, and we certainly have no answers for what happens to us after we shed this mortal coil.

 

Therefore, using the premise that a sightless person finds it difficult to believe there are forces around him that he can’t fathom; a faithless person may be grappling with the same quandary. The blind man listens to the words of the sighted and has serious doubts about whether there are emanations outside the darkness of his limited existence. The faithless man may be undergoing a similar inability to dig his way out of the darkness of spiritual skepticism. Personally, I’ve always questioned the authenticity of an omnipotent and omniscient entity that has created what we call the “universe.” My question has always been “If God created the universe, who created God?” In philosophy that’s what’s known as a “first cause” question. If a chicken is hatched out of an egg; who laid the egg that gave birth to the chicken?

 

In my opinion, that’s a serious question if we are to use our innate intelligence. It’s undeniable that life is complex and fraught with mystery. If you believe in evolution, it’s likely that our brains are still evolving, adding more understanding of the world we were born into. According to evolutionary theory we didn’t have 5 senses in the beginning but accumulated them over the course of tens of thousands of years as organisms changed and acquired the necessary components to sustain life. How long has the concept of faith been around?

 

Let’s say it began a few thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ. I use Jesus because Christians, with 2.3 billion adherents, form the largest religious group in the world. Next come Muslims with 1.8 billion; Hindus with 1.1 billion and Buddhists with .5 billion.

 

Religious faith, being a spiritual, rather than a physical entity, isn’t thought of as part of evolutionary theory. Nevertheless, since it didn’t always exist, isn’t it possible that it became part of our cumulative and necessary components needed to continue the species? Where would we be in the hierarchy of human history if we didn’t have the structured discipline of religion? Wasn’t the faith in a higher power the result of the perils that existed in a barbaric society?

 

The Bible is filled with references to infidels who paid the price for their faithlessness. In the Old Testament, God demanded allegiance to his word and those who denied him suffered grievously. Although replete with parables, the Scriptures appear to be a roadmap to carve a civilization out of a savage wilderness. It’s easy to say that we’re not a perfect world today, but, when you realize the way life used to be, you should be extremely grateful that religion was born, giving us a set of values that kept us from devouring each other.

Moreover, in case you think religion belongs in the past because we live in a new age of “reason,” the fact is that 84% of the planet’s population identifies with a religious group. Furthermore, members of that demographic are generally younger and produce more children than those who have no religious affiliation. Hence, the world is getting more religious, not less. Accordingly, that “sense of faith” may become the ESP of the future.

 

 

Family disputes can be very dangerous for cops

 

There's something unique about the relationship between cops and their partners because of the need they have to rely on each other for their safety. Having a partner who can handle himself in a crisis situation is vital, since our imminent demise could depend on it. During 20 years as a cop in New York City, I was often in situations that required a skilled partner to back me up. Just as often, I was the guy doing the backup. Before being assigned to plainclothes undercover work, I spent a few years in uniform. One of my partners was a guy named Ronnie. Ronnie was handsome, well-built and meticulously neat in his tailored blue uniform and hat, which he wore slightly cocked to one side, like a beret. His muscular, athletic good looks and perpetual tan drew women to him like bees to a patch of honeysuckle. We couldn't have a cup of coffee in a diner without being surrounded by the female wait staff, repudiating his obvious wedding ring as they shoved phone numbers in his direction.

Yes, Ronnie was what women would call a “hunk.” In addition to his looks, he had a sparkling personality and an infectious sense of humor.  He was also a good guy to have around when violence erupted. We fought our way out of more than a few circumstances that could have ended badly for us.
Yet, with all of his good points, he had a serious flaw in his judgment when it came to his gun, or, more specifically his holster. We used to have a department issued holster with a prominent ridge inside that kept the gun locked tightly so it couldn't be easily taken away during a struggle. In order to release the weapon, you would have to grab the stock and twist it sharply before lifting it from its casing. After a couple of years of use, especially in high crime areas where the gun would often be drawn, if seldom fired, the ridge would begin to get worn down.

 

On several occasions, I mentioned to Ronnie that he needed to spring for a new holster, but he always maintained that it wasn't necessary. “Ronnie, with that ragged leather sheath on your hip, you may as well just shove the gun in your waistband,” I'd say, trying to shame him into a new purchase. “C'mon Bob, do you really think anyone is going to be able to take my gun from me,” he'd laugh confidently. It always amazed me that a guy who was so careful about his looks, could be so careless about his life.

Well, as sure as God makes little green apples, Ronnie's carelessness was about to be challenged. One night we were called to a small apartment to handle a tumultuous family dispute. Although such an assignment seems a lot less dangerous than a robbery in progress, or a report of shots fired at a location, experienced cops realize that family disputes are among the most violent jobs to deal with because of the hostile passions involved. When we arrived on the scene, the raucous commotion was our guide to the apartment in question. As was customary, we would separate the parties and try to get to the root of the problem. The man was yelling bitterly about something the woman had done and she was vociferously denying it, while dabbing at a cut on her lip. 

 

Every few seconds, the emotionally distraught man would lunge at the frightened woman, only to be restrained by my partner, as I kept her at a safe distance. Suddenly, as Ronnie was holding the man back and turning toward the woman to say something, I noticed the batterer reach for Ronnie's gun. He wrenched it from the worn-out leather casing, bringing the muzzle to just about Ronnie's chest level, before I dived across the room and crashed into the wild-eyed lunatic.

I was probably no more than 10 feet away, but it seemed like I had traversed a football field to reach him. The impact sent both of us over a couch and onto a linoleum floor as I grasped his wrist with one hand and punched at his face with the other. My partner leapt over the furniture and stomped on the gunman’s hand, crushing his grip to force the release of the weapon.

 

I'd like to tell you that we simply cuffed the guy and arrested him, but I'd be lying. The fear of death is always present in the mind of a cop; it's just the nature of the job. However, to think that you were almost killed with your own gun, is, strangely, even scarier. Hence, our fear turned to anger and retribution toward someone who almost made widows of our wives, and orphans of our kids. Besides, after seeing what he did to the bloodied woman, we felt little regret when he tripped and fell a few times on his way to the station house. Incidentally, without any further urging from me, Ronnie purchased a new holster the next day.

 

What would you sacrifice for love?

 

Every day should be a day to celebrate romance. If you wait until February 14th each year to show affection to your soulmate, you're probably going to spend a lot of time alone. But that shouldn't take anything away from special occasions that have become reminders for those who take love for granted.

Many years ago, way before Al Gore invented the Internet, relationships were not so easy to come by. During the third century there was a priest named Valentine who lived in Rome while it was being ruled by an emperor named Claudius. Known as 'Claudius the Cruel,' he did all he could to live up to his name.

Rome was in the early stages of its decline and the emperor wanted to keep it from eroding any further. Hence, he began a quest to rebuild his army. He sounded the clarion call for volunteers, only to discover that most men were tired of war and didn't want to leave their wives and families. Enrollment numbers were very minimal, making Claudius furious. The cruel one came up with an idea; if men were not married, there would be no wives or families to abandon, so they wouldn't mind joining the army. (Of course, this was during a time in history when people couldn't even imagine having children out of wedlock.)

Therefore, the emperor decreed that marriages would no longer be allowed. With untold numbers of broken hearts stumbling dizzily through a sea of unrequited love, a hero was desperately needed. Reverend Valentine, coming to the rescue, defied the heartless edict and performed the nuptials in secret.

Evidently, some cynical loveless squealer dropped a dime (or a denarius, as it were) on the priest. As a reward for his noble deed, Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off.

While awaiting his execution, many young people, their hearts filled with admiration for the courage and chivalry displayed by the priest, threw flowers and notes toward his cell window. They wanted him to know that they also believed in love and that they respected him for his sacrifice. In addition, they had his name sewn on the sleeves of their garments and paraded around the city to demonstrate their affection.

This practice became known as wearing one's heart on one's sleeve. Meanwhile, the captive priest struck up a friendship with the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to talk with Valentine and help him through the difficult days before facing the torture and ultimate death. On the day of his execution, he left the young woman a note thanking her for the friendship and loyalty. He signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

According to legend, that note began the tradition of exchanging messages of love. Valentine died for his convictions on February 14, 269 A.D.

Of course, all of the foregoing could be riddled with inaccuracies, but in every legend there is some factual foundation.

Some historians have said that Valentine was executed and became a martyr because he refused to give up Christianity. In any event, he was granted sainthood by the pope and the story has lasted for about 1800 years.

Like many great events in history, Valentine's Day has become a retailer's dream.

Flowers, heart—shaped boxes of chocolates, greeting cards and intimate apparel are high on the list of gifts that help all those Romeos and Juliets to keep the flame of passion alive. And, like most great events, people celebrate because they are pulled along in the magnetic wake of tradition.

They either forget, or they never knew about all those courageous souls throughout history who sacrificed everything for their beliefs and helped to pave the way for the civilization we enjoy today. Even in the hustle—bustle world of traffic jams, stress—filled meetings and the ubiquitous cacophony of cell phone symphonies, we must never forget that without love and romance, life would be, as the philosopher, Thomas Hobbes said, "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short."

If you don't remember to make your special someone, feel extra special today, your life may well become solitary, and if recent studies are to be believed, short, too.

 

Cop Derangement Syndrome (CDS)

 

One of life’s enigmas is trying to figure out why people, who are generally reasonable, get enraged when a cop shoots a criminal, yet, they don’t have a lot of sympathy when a cop gets shot. Similarly, we see the same lack of objectivity when people wring their hands remorsefully when they hear a death sentence for a savage killer but have no sympathy for a fetus whose life is terminated by a mother who treats it like bodily waste. What is it in the human condition that causes such mental aberration? How many times have we heard about women who write love letters to men on Death Row and visit them in prison? Hollywood celebrities have taken to the streets to protest against the execution of cop killers.   How many have tried to discourage pregnant women from aborting the innocent life growing inside of them?

What we’ve been witnessing on the streets of Minneapolis is another example of this aberration. Here we have the Trump Administration keeping a campaign promise of rounding up the millions of illegal aliens who were foisted upon our country during the disastrous Biden regime. Instead of welcoming the obvious law-enforcement benefits of that righteous action, hordes of protesters have been reacting violently against those who seek to rid their streets of potentially dangerous neighbors. I don’t doubt that many of those carrying signs and obnoxiously screeching at ICE are being paid to do so by forces on the left. Yet, the size of the mobs leads me to believe that many are simply Trump-haters who are always willing to join a mob that tends to validate their derangement.

Cops are well-acquainted with such madness. I’ve written many times about my experiences as a cop in NYC, and the hostility from those who exhibited antipathy toward authority. During arrest situations, especially in high-crime areas, a crowd would suddenly gather and begin attacking us with verbal and physical assaults. When they were arrested on various charges connected to their interference, we’d often discover that they had no connection to the arrestee but simply hated cops. I suppose we could have called in Cop Derangement Syndrome (CDS). After struggling to do our job in that environment, it soon became clear that we’d better have each other’s backs because the neighborhood residents weren’t going to be there for us.

Moreover, when a cop shot someone during an arrest situation, violent demonstrations were likely to occur. Contrarily, when a cop was shot, we’d have to tolerate loud jeers and obscene gestures from a callous group of bystanders. Hence, I can only imagine what ICE agents have been putting up with as they face huge packs of ferocious thugs assailing them with a variety of substances. Enforcement personnel are only human. They’re susceptible to physical exhaustion and morbid fear of what may suddenly occur. They’re doing a job, and they expect to go home to their families at the end of the day. No cop should be expected to take a bullet because fear of political retribution outweighed his survival instinct.       

It’s almost impossible to explain the stress cops deal with in life-threatening circumstances. They may have a few seconds to make a decision involving deadly force, but often have their actions scrutinized by politicians and lawyers for weeks, or months, as they await their fate. We’ve all seen verdicts from politically-influenced juries that sentence cops to prison for doing what they were trained to do (Derek Chauvin is one example Derek Chauvin’s imprisonment is a gross miscarriage of justice - American Thinker ).

Our country is at a pivotal moment in western civilization. If we are to remain civilized, we must choose to either obey the law or give in to the nihilistic hedonism growing in our orbit. Cops go through several months of academic and physical training before being dispatched to the streets to enforce laws. Once the cop starts an action against someone, the die is cast. He cannot just walk away because the person is defiant. Such defiance can be addressed after police action has been taken, not on the street during the action. There are numerous ways for the citizen to address grievances against what he/she sees as improper conduct. Complaints can be filed, lawsuits can be filed, and defense attorneys can deal with allegations of improper police action during trials. However, there is nothing in the law that says the citizen has a right to resist lawful authority! If everyone did that, no one would be safe on the streets because those with evil intent would take full advantage of the obvious weakness in the police and in the laws, they are sworn to enforce.

For example, no one enjoys being given a traffic ticket, yet, if traffic laws were not enforced, no one would be safe on the roadway because speeders, drunk drivers, etc. would have no reason to moderate their driving or parking habits. Would you want to go for a drive if there were no rules of the road? Before there were laws and cops to enforce them, we lived in a savage wilderness. It became so perilous that people were not safe on the streets, or in their homes. What we're experiencing in our country today is a very vocal and violent segment of society that wants to return to those primitive times. Therefore, it's up to civilized folks to have enough courage to stop the madness before it reaches everyone's doorstep.

 

Athens, Istanbul, Crete

What is religion all about? by Annette Weir

 

For several months I have been scrolling through TV programs because most of them are boring.  The themes are always the same, thereby making you feel like you’ve seen this show before.  If people aren’t killing each other, then they are engaging in sexual exploits all over the place, not to mention the constant profanity that seems to be part of every script.  So as a change of pace I decided to check out some of the ministry channels.  Many of them, in my opinion, are just fronts to make money for the person standing up doing the talking (preaching) on stage. 

For example, Joel Olsteen seems to have gained quite a bit of popularity among the wealthy with his fanciful sermons about how we will all gain wealth beyond our wildest dreams because that’s what’s been promised to us.  Then there is Joyce Meyer, who is okay, but her style is kind of bland to me.  I could go on and on about the many so-called preachers that are out there that are very obviously in it for the money.  Copeland, for example, makes no apologies for having a couple of Gulfstream jets, fancy cars and homes while he accepts donations from poor people. He claims to have worked for it.  Interesting. I don’t recall hearing about anything in the bible that said this was okay. Haggerty is another preacher that has an angry face that makes you feel like running away when he speaks.  His speeches are all Bible-based, accompanied by fire and brimstone.

Recently I came across a minister named Allen Jackson.  An unassuming type of guy that has a very kind face; the kind you look at and feel at ease. But that’s not what attracted me to listening to him.  He does what I call plain speak and talks about things going on in our country, either in politics, or other religions.  He has a quality that I like, to wit, he sits and listens to a person he may be interviewing on his podcast without interrupting. When he does speak it is usually to add to the conversation or bring up another topic to discuss. He dresses modestly and although I’ve seen him in suits, there is no flash about how he is put together. And the church that he is head of in Tennessee is not a palace but large enough to hold the large congregation that he ministers to. 

My gripe about the hundreds of churches that sprout up each year is that there are so many that believe in larger, over the top design buildings to serve their congregations. We don’t need people in fancy outfits with chants to get the message out. However, I can understand why some of them do things this way. And to have churches that have what I call rock bands starting off the service is a bit off putting. I don’t mean we have to act like the Presbyterians that sit quietly, sing a few hymns, then listen to a minister go on and on about theology.  But I believe that in the interest of getting more of the youth into churches we have gone way too far to please one segment of the population and have totally forgotten about the rest. 

I recall visiting several churches when I was in Texas to see how each one worshiped.  It was very interesting to see how some churches were so active with music, even when the minister was speaking to make a point, and people were dancing in the aisles, while others were solemn. I couldn’t help thinking that there had to be a better way to get everyone interested without all this added stuff.  For example, I have no problem with music, however, it’s gone way beyond what should be used to start the services because it’s turned into rock music. And the person speaking should direct their sermons to things that are relevant to the present day without getting into the weeds of theology that can be confusing.    

During this holiday season the way we worshiped and spoke about Jesus Christ seems to have changed.  We had the LBTQ community that decided they would put up a manger scene that was totally inappropriate. Although, to them, it was acceptable.  Most of their display was a political position on what is going on with the ICE patrols in their cities. Our culture seems to be looking for ways to cut out the church and what it stands for, in order to allow some folks to inject nihilism into society.

I admit that my quest for comfort in a higher place is still in the embryonic stages.  I may not read the Bible every day, as many others do. And I may not visit churches every Sunday like others do. But it’s my feeling that God and his presence can be felt, even by a few people seated around a kitchen table, discussing the scriptures. A huge church, with hundreds in attendance, can make one feel lost. I’ve been to services and noticed people with worn Bibles, stacks of paper inserted throughout, in which passages were highlighted, indicating that they read their Bible often. Those are the people I admire because they don’t think going to church once a week is all that’s required to be a Christian.

In my opinion, reading the Bible regularly is only part of one’s commitment to God. Saying Grace before dinner, silent prayers for those in need, and being honorable in our interaction with others, are all essential traits to complete the image of one’s devotion to Christ. Sadly, many of today’s religious practices have been taken over by those with different versions of what religion represents, often causing it to be vague in its messages. Until we all sit down quietly without our phones, TVs, computers, the news and other distractions, and take a moment to consider what we really need, and where we’re going, I’m afraid this will only get worse.

 

 

What are you prepared to do to save our country?

I think we Americans are a very tolerant lot. We do our best to uphold the freedoms written in the Constitution, even though it often makes us bite into our knuckles to do so. When we see our flag being stomped on or burned by degenerate thugs, we grin and bear it because of the First Amendment. When we see riots on our streets, posing as legal protests, we clench our fists and hope the hoodlums end up in prison. Yet, we have that sinking feeling that there’s little, if anything, that will be done about it. If we were raised properly, we will always try diplomacy before hostility. Nonetheless, at what point does tolerance become surrender?

I’m reminded of a scene from the 1987 fact-based film, “The Untouchables.” When Chicago cop, Jim Malone, played by Sean Connery, is lying on the floor of his apartment, riddled with bullets from one of Al Capone’s gang, he looks up at Elliott Ness, played by Kevin Costner, and says some dying words, through bloody lips, “what are you prepared to do?” What are you prepared to do  He was reminding Ness that he needed unorthodox methods to fight the Capone gang because the rules weren’t working. In addition, since Capone had most of the judges and cops on the payroll, Ness needed to replace them.

What organized criminals did to Chicago, New York, and a few other large cities a hundred years ago seems to have metastasized into a much larger crime syndicate with a notorious network that includes some of the highest levels of our government. It appears obvious that our country is on the verge of being taken over by violent leftists who, when their venal schemes are exposed, are prepared to take down the entire country rather than moderate their policies. When radical left governors like Tim Walz refer to federal agents as thugs and Gestapo agents, they are recklessly playing with a fire that could pit states against the federal government, resulting in civil war.

Moreover, when massive corruption is discovered in Minesota’s Somali diaspora, Walz and his cohorts in the Somali community, including the hate-filled leftist Congresswoman, Ilhan Oman, use the tired old “racism” canard to defend their indefensible fraud. What we’re witnessing is a cabal of organized crooks embedded so deeply into the fabric of our system that we’ve become accustomed to seeing it exposed on national television. Still, we almost never see any of them go to jail. For many folks it’s viewed as standard operating procedure. We, the law-abiding people of this great nation, want to know if we’re making a mistake by observing basic rules of decency and civility. 

If the refrain “no one is above the law” is to mean anything we should have seen some high-ranking politicians being perp-walked from their government offices and placed in police cars. It seems they are much too important to submit to such an ignominious process. That treatment can only be used when the little guy gets caught breaking the social contract. Are you as tired as I am of hearing the voices of outraged elected officials, as they point out the crimes committed by their colleagues on the other side of the aisle, even though you know none of them will be arrested? How can we believe in justice when we’ve been frustrated so often by the political chicanery that reigns supreme in those, once considered, hallowed halls?

All sensible people recognize that government is necessary to maintain order and provide security for those who reside within a given territory. Most of the governed also know that there will undoubtedly be some who use their power to enrich themselves. But what can we do when they get caught cheating on a massive scale, only to arrogantly claim, ad nauseum, to be the poor unfortunate victims of a racist/misogynist/xenophobic, culture? You know their claims are absurd when lifelong liberals take aim at their duplicity. Bill Maher EXPOSES the dangers of mass immigration!

When President Trump ordered the raid on Venezuela’s narco-terrorist President, he did so without informing the Senate or the House because “Congress has the tendency to leak.” Trump Asked Point Blank: 'Did You Notify Any Members Of Congress In Advance' Of Maduro Capture? In other words, our country has enemies within who are not to be trusted when the security of our nation is at stake. What it also means is that we have a president who takes action to save American lives, and he’s not afraid to tell us the truth about the traitors in high places who are either hellbent on destroying the US, on the take from drug cartels, or both. Our President has already taken the slings and arrows to save this great nation. What are you prepared to do?

 

 

Can we just agree to disagree - by Annette Weir

 

What do you do when you’re at a social engagement and someone begins a conversation regarding a subject you feel passionate about? How far are you willing to go to get your points across? Are you aggressive enough to contradict the prevailing voices during the discussion, or are you the reserved type, who would rather back off when you feel the heat? Most people don’t expect to get embroiled in a war of words at a friendly social event. However, we live in an era in which one’s opinion can make the difference between making friends and losing them. That’s why it’s important to choose your words carefully and utter them with a casual measure of persuasion.   

Nevertheless, it’s easy to conclude that no matter what you say, or believe, there will always be someone that vehemently disagrees with you. It’s as if there are people out there that either want to be considered relevant (think late night supposed comedians, or some cable station commentators) and will always take the opposing side without considering a simple discussion. With all the Charlie Kirk and Trump haters, it’s a wonder that our country can work at all. I have respect for any of these talk and podcast folks when they just agree to disagree without it turning into a contest of who is right and who is wrong. Yet, given the need of some egotists to always take charge, casual convo can morph into conflict.

Recently I read that “Joyless” Reid was slamming Erika Kirk, when Ms. Kirk just said she would be happy to meet with her and hug her. Reid in turn said she would never let her get near enough to hug her or let her touch her hair (wigs) like she did with JD Vance. Was this necessary? To me it only showed that Reid has problems with, unfortunately, white women, and those that are younger and good looking. I would have had much more respect for her if she just thanked Ms. Kirk and moved on, but she couldn’t resist the temptation to strike out. 

Like the old adage about misery loving company, there will always be people who bask in negative vibes and eagerly enjoy sharing their gloomy existence. Sadly, there are those who will twist the most innocuous statement into a contentious dispute. You might open a discussion with, “Bob and I tried a new restaurant last night and they served the best veal chop we’ve ever tasted.” Suppose someone in the huddle responds with, “Oh, I heard about that place. A neighbor of mine ate there recently and said the service stinks and the food wasn’t worth the prices they charge.” How would you deal with such a disputatious remark?

Did that person make you feel as though you were being attacked? Should you come back with a hostile retort, or should you merely swallow hard and change the subject? As for me, once I learn that an acquaintance is prone to such hostile repartee, regarding harmless conversation, it’s unlikely that I will be inhabiting the same orbit with that person anytime soon. I’m not seeking acceptance of my opinions; I just would rather not deal with the stress of having to defend that which is merely a polite exchange of small talk at a social gathering. I can only hope that there are enough people who reject such a depressing way of life, and vigorously start a new chapter in our society, one in which merely chatting with each other respectfully is the rule, rather than the exception.

 

Our country, if we can keep it - by Bob Weir

 

Yes, it’s a paraphrase of what the great Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, said after the Constitutional Convention in 1787. When Elizabeth Willing Powel, an American socialite and a prominent member of the Philadelphia upper class, asked Franklin, “What have we got, a republic or a monarchy,” he replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” What the great inventor, author and signer of the Declaration of Independence was saying is that the Constitution they developed created a system that requires vigilance and attention to self-governance. That means citizens are required to be informed and active in preventing the government from becoming tyrannical. As former subjects of King George 111 of England, the colonists, fed up with being taxed while not having any representation in Parliament, among other abuses of power, had emigrated to the new world in search of personal and religious freedom.

To obtain that freedom they had to go up against the foremost global and imperial power at that time. One can only imagine the courage it took to declare independence from the British Empire. When the founders made their intentions clear, they were deemed “traitors” and they knew they’d be executed if they lost their quest for freedom. The rest, as they say, is history. We, the descendants of those brave pioneers, are the fortunate recipients of the magnificent country they risked their lives for. And, for the past 250 years, most Americans continued to be grateful and to enjoy the bountiful rewards of being citizens of this republic. Millions of military men and women have fought and died on battlefields in foreign lands when the homeland was threatened by authoritarian governments.

After establishing our military dominance, it became evident to the enemies of freedom that the US could not be toppled from the outside. Hence, we could only be vulnerable from within. But what could our enemies offer hundreds of millions of people who regularly enjoy more food, clothing and shelter than the rest of the planet? Well, how about using mind-controlling propaganda to convince them that they’re the progeny of malevolent slaveholders and greedy capitalists with no redeeming value? How about planting the seeds of racial conflict by referring to whites as “supremacists,” while refusing to acknowledge that blacks are among the most successful and prosperous people on the planet. Anyone who thinks blacks are being held back because of their skin pigmentation is living in a 1950s-time warp. Or, given the hypocrisy they so often reveal, it might be a sweet memory for them.

Another way to destroy us is by opening our borders to millions of unvetted aliens from every crime ridden, uncivilized territory on the map. With a devious plot to defeat our socio-economic system, they’d freely accept hordes of savage criminals, released from prisons in corrupt nations, then furtively transported to every state while feeding, clothing and housing them with taxpayer money. Moreover, when a president is elected on a pledge to end the corruption and reverse the tidal wave of primitive humanity that has been foisted on us, they’d employ every evil tactic in their malicious repertoire to crush him. President Trump has been through a lot to save this republic. He has many traits of the founding fathers, not the least of which is his love of country and the courage to fight for it. How sad that so many others refuse to see their liberty and birthright being stolen by the venal philosophy of leftwing orthodoxy.  

All of the foregoing is to remind Americans that they have a better lifestyle, by far, than people in any other country on earth. If you’re lucky enough to be a citizen of the US, you have won life’s lottery. Yet, as I look at the current political/social landscape, I see a large number of ingrates, exhibiting contempt and hatred for the wealth of freedom and opportunity handed to them by their forebears. I believe that’s because it was handed to them. They didn’t risk their lives for it; they didn’t bleed for it; they didn’t sacrifice limbs for it; they just sat back and enjoyed it. That enjoyment has been twisted to suggest that we should feel guilty about our standard of living, as if being well fed means we’re starving others. Au contraire, accomplishment isn’t a zero-sum game, any more than character is. Ultimately, if we are to keep our country, we must grasp the fact that the prerequisite for our good fortune is the freedom that was paid for by patriots, fighting valiantly for it. Accordingly, if we expect to keep it, we must have the courage to continue fighting for it. 

 

Can we laugh again? by Annette Weir

 

The holiday season is always a time of year when loved ones and friends gather to enjoy each other’s company, put aside their differences, and just feel happy. We overeat, overdrink, and just put aside any wild ideas of dieting to the side because it’s a special time to just forget those pesky little things.  We bring gifts and snuggle by the fireplace to watch the joy on the faces of the little ones as they eagerly tear apart the packages that were brought for them.  We celebrate the time of the year by attending our churches or synagogues to top off the day. Where did all that go?  Certainly, we’re not a Norman Rockwell family painting, but so much has changed in the last 10 years that it’s hard to find our way back.

There used to be a time when you could come home from a hectic day at the office, gather with your family, kick off your shoes, and plop yourself in your recliner to work out the kinks of the day.  After a comfortable dinner with your loved ones, you could always turn on the TV to watch something funny together to add to the air of security in your home.  That seems to be a thing of the past these days. 

Recently for the fun of it I checked out some of the late-night comedians – who were really comedians – to see how they differed from today.  For the most part they would deal with some political stuff, but only for a brief one liner, and then move on to other things to get a laugh.  There was no profanity, although there may have been some suggestive one liners.  Then of course, they would go into sketches that kind of made you laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of it all.  Their guests were always there to either plug a picture they were staring in or tell some of their own funny stories.  It was all comfortable viewing.  Today, however, the late-night so-called comedians, are now political hacks that bash anything they aren’t in favor of and always have guests on that do the same.  There’s nothing to laugh about. It's sad that our society has become so negative – thanks to social media and the cable stations – that we have no sense of humor anymore. 

Nowadays if you turn on the tube for news, even if you only want the highlights of the day, you get one tragedy after another making you feel like screaming.  If it isn’t people killing the Jews here in the United States and other countries, then its drug induced people killing others at random because they’re allowed to roam the streets. I’m looking forward to a time when we can feel comfortable laughing and not have to look over our shoulders to see if there is anyone ready to attack us for our sense of humor.

How do you feel about getting a traffic ticket?

How do you feel about getting a traffic ticket?: The job of law enforcement has gotten a lot more difficult since left-wing politicians began criticizing every move made by the boys in blue.  People who once understood that laws are necessary for a civilized society have become cynical ab...

Have you lost friends because of politics?

 

Recently, during a social gathering, someone who reads my column regularly asked me if I had lost any friends because of my politically conservative leanings. Rather than respond with the usual sanitized comment about the unlikely chance of losing “true” friends simply because of my opinions, I told him that my friends and I never talk politics or religion. In fact, my friends and I have an understanding about controversial subjects. If we’re at a dinner or other social function and someone expresses a political opinion that one of us disagreed with, we might briefly attempt to refute what was said. However, if the conversation went beyond a few opposing responses, one of us would simply raise a glass of wine and say, “here’s to good friends.” That was the watchword that meant we should move on.

Not surprisingly, I try to surround myself with the type of people who are not of radical persuasion. That doesn’t mean I only hang with people who agree with me. On the contrary, I welcome different opinions, as long as they’re not so extreme as to challenge common sense. For example, if someone were to insist that males and females are physically equal, therefore men have a right to compete in female sports contests, or that a man can give birth to a child, I’d start looking for an exit. Trying to reason with that person would be like trying to convince a member of the Flat Earth Society that the world is round. I enjoy friendly debates as well as the next guy, but who wants to hang out with people who have become convinced by their own ignorance?

Social circles have always been part of the human experience. Family, friends and neighbors often gather together to provide a sense of support and belonging by sharing common interests as they enjoy a sense of camaraderie. Typically, people will feel more comfortable spending time with like-minded individuals. For example, if I walked over to a small group at a cocktail party and decided to mingle, how long would I remain if I began to hear conservatives being called Nazis? I suppose, people, like water, seek their own level, meaning we tend to gravitate toward those with similar interests and values. Consequently, I feel most comfortable when I feel I won’t be attacked because of my opinions.

Sadly, with all the violent rhetoric and graphic videos on news programs, it’s difficult to stay informed, and not become stressed by the battle royale that dances wildly across our 70-inch TV screens. Then, we get behind our computer screens and see numerous popup videos of inner-city crime and hate-filled anger fulminating from the lips of handcuffed thugs being forced into police cars. I think it does serious harm to the psyche of a nation when they’re constantly exposed to the degeneracy that has become a part of our culture. During my 20 years with NYPD, I saw many cops fold under the stress from dealing daily with the dregs of society. I believe there were 2 reasons why I was able to handle it better than most. For one thing, unlike the majority of cops I knew, most of whom were born into a middle-class world in Queens or Long Island, I was raised in a tenement on the lower east side of Manhattan where I endured a good share of what life is like on the streets of the city. Undoubtedly, that stiffened my spine enough to keep me from being easily shocked by the violence and degradation that is an everyday occurrence in many urban areas. 

But the second and most important reason I was able to stay sane was that I had a stable marriage in a lovely colonial home in Smithtown, Long Island. When I finished a tour of duty, which included the gloom, doom, and hopelessness of inner-city destitution, my family was a refuge from the madness. I never brought the job home. When I sat down for dinner with my wife, son and daughter, all I wanted to hear about was how their day went. There were no war stories, angry emotions, or pessimism. For me it was a coping mechanism, like psychotherapy. On my way back to work the following day, I was able to flip the switch from a mild-mannered Clark Kent to his alter ego, the caped crusader.  

These days I don’t need that switch because writing about crime is a lot easier and safer than fighting it. It’s also safer to stay away from bitter political exchanges with others in my orbit. I have no desire to dominate the dialogue, or muzzle other opinions. I prefer reasonable folks who recognize that friendship is a bond of respect and affection, not a contest to determine who’s smarter and more discerning in their system of beliefs. Besides, I’ve had my fill of conflicts, and I put my cape in mothballs a long time ago.