I understand that there is not a single legitimate military person that desires to raise arms against another American. Your oath is to protect them; after all, you are one of them. The armed populace of the United States are the militia. They are the unorganized men and women who history used to help win the American Revolution. They are different from the military raised by Congress. The armed services of the United States are provided for through the government, but are not of the government.
You are, first and foremost, Americans, charged with the security of our country from threats, whether of foreign design or domestic tyranny. The Bill of Rights provides each individual American with a right and an obligation to be at all times armed, in order to maintain a free state (A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed).
The Fourteenth Amendment ensures that no state can curtail their individual rights, especially those ensured by the Constitution. Many leftist politicians attempt to abridge rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, even though the Ninth Amendment protects rights not specified in the Constitution.
It is feared (by some…not me) that there will come a time when soldiers go door knocking for the purpose of gun collecting. Personally, I believe the Liberals have adopted a slow and methodical plan to erode the people’s right to being armed. I am not expecting that door knock for registered weapons. Instead, I am watching as the government regulates the sales and registration of firearms. Both of which are infringing the people’s Second Amendment.
I’ve said, time and again, that hard choices are to be made. Many things are not right in this country, and Thomas Jefferson masterfully stated, “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness] it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.” The government has already grown to the point of being destructive to individual liberty. The Constitution simply does not give the government power to infringe upon sovereign individual liberties! The individual liberty is unique to each and is protected as such. “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”
And so, looking into the mind of Thomas Jefferson, it’s clear where his mind would be if he were alive today. He certainly wouldn’t be aligned with a transitioning form of government. He didn’t help design a government with socialist benchmarks. No, he helped design a republican form of government. One where the power resided with the people and the people were free to abolish government and rebuild it at will. He assisted in the development of a country where the constituents can remain free and never debarred the use of guns: “No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.”
In short, the American people ought not to have the fear of its counterpart, the U.S. military, working in alignment with a tyrannical government to confiscate weapons. The U.S. military operates under the same Constitution that provides us the right to keep and bear arms. It also operates under a very strict set of codes that condones death, in some situations, to military members should they violate certain articles of the UCMJ.
No, sir, I do not fear the military. I am their brother, trained as they are trained, sworn as they are sworn, educated as they are educated, believe as they believe. In fact, I believe it is the government that should fear their own military, for they have sworn to defend against domestic tyranny. In a country where its government has grown too large, the elected should understand full well that its constituents are a people made up of veterans, trained warriors of all classes, military men and women, police officers, correctional guards, tough as nails firefighters, and the world’s largest militia.
Here are two awesome quotes by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the Japanese Imperial Navy, that I want to use out of context, in regards to WWII:
“You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.” And, “I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”
The reason I find these quotes so awesome is there relevance for today. It’s not a world war, or even an invasion, it’s the thought of a high-minded commander in chief having enough wisdom to know what would be a stupid idea and his regret for having taken an alternate action. Not only are patriotic American people aware of the left’s attempt at striking out a bill of individual rights, but they are armed to the teeth and full of terrible resolve. The most foolhardy thing this corrupt government could do is knock on doors for guns. Never underestimate American resolve and never forget we know exactly what you’re trying to do. You’re not pulling the wool over the watchful eyes of gun owners. Try, you may, but fail you will.
Sheriffs and police chiefs should have already considered where their alignment would be, should the winds change. I know the officers that I have spoken with have considered the possibility. I generally ask them the question, “Have you ever considered where your loyalties would be if the federal government asked you to aid them in a state of martial law?” So far, the responses have been unanimous. They are Americans first. With that mind-set, they know their position in law enforcement is not forever. At some point, you return to your life as a civilian, a civilian without a means to protect yourself. Don’t be fooled into thinking the LEOSA bill will save you. There will be no end to gun confiscation, should it start.
The United Nations is constantly trying to disarm Americans and America’s police departments. The recent terrorist attacks in England and France are good reasons to maintain an armed defense force. French and English police officers should be armed so that they can defend themselves. Never should any human be left to the mercies of an evildoer.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON DEMOCRACY
“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions indeed generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions, as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.”
—Thomas Jefferson
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere.”
—Thomas Jefferson
“The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.”
—Thomas Jefferson
I’ve never been a fan of democracy. When a nation’s generation becomes evil, the degradation of the country follows. The desires of the majority wins the day and the rest is a minority report. If a democracy is what you want, move to a country with a constitutional monarchy form of government, like Canada or Great Britain. These are good countries with a government where the majority of the people get to vote to determine the amount of interference they can have over the minorities. If you’re the kind of person who feels a vote is in order to determine the rights of everybody else, you need to live in a democracy. America was not designed that way. Our Constitution is unique in the world. Nowhere else in the world is there a constitution as old or that provides sovereign rights to the individual the way ours does.
Ours is also unique in the right of the people to be armed for the purpose of maintaining a free state. Other countries have lost freedom and security and slipped into destruction through confiscation of guns by its government. America’s uniqueness is hinged upon the patriot having a well-supplied gun cabinet and a family educated in the history of our country and
countries without freedom. The future security of our country is built upon the foundation of gun owners, patriots, veterans, and various individuals sworn to defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
THE COCKROACH THEORY
A few years back, I was having a conversation with one of my friends. That, in itself, was nothing unusual. I rather enjoy having these deep talks with him about leadership, the state of our country and the world. When we get to talking about leadership and discussing the examples of good and bad leaders, people’s names generally come up. What made me laugh was my friend’s notion that the dirtiest of players usually rise to the top. I can’t remember which of us brought it up, but the “cream rises to the top” proverb was mentioned. I do remember that it was I who returned with “so does the fecal matter in a cesspool.” Not to be calling anybody “fecal matter,” but my point was that not necessarily is it a good or true proverb that the best rise to the top. My friend and I laughed about it; then he went on to explain to me the Cockroach Theory.
Cockroaches are filthy insects that are masters of self-preservation. They appear wherever filth can be found and usually where no light touches. Their existence is almost always under cover of darkness and they scatter when the light is put on them. It is said that cockroaches can survive in conditions that would bring certain extinction to all other carbon-based life forms. That being said, cockroaches can survive in the most unexpected of conditions. They thrive in the dark and lurk in places you can’t necessarily see. You can tell where cockroaches might live, but won’t know for sure until you see them. They don’t work, but manage to function and survive in the filth of their environment, usually an environment created by its host. The only way to combat this type of vermin is to avoid it altogether by maintaining a state of vigilance. You keep the environment clean and free of clutter and other things that would lure the vermin. They are especially attracted to messiness and any clutter that can be used to conceal its presence. Where you find one, there will certainly be more. In real-life conditions, a messy state of affairs is especially attractive to individuals looking to get a foothold in any scenario.
In a workplace, a lack of true leadership creates a vacuum where any type of management is acceptable. In politics, a politician that is not held accountable for bad action or inaction creates a monster that thinks he/she can get away with anything. In matters of national security, inaction leads to a lack of fear and emboldens the enemy to act.
The Cockroach Theory teaches us that we must maintain due diligence in every aspect of our lives if we are to be free of the types of people that would take up the opportunity to seize life as we know it. These people live among us and are ever present, waiting for their moment.
Years ago, in a period of my early leadership development, I learned about the ten percent rule. It doesn’t matter how strict the hiring process or how difficult you make the interviews, ten percent will always be the bad apples. They inevitably fall through the cracks. It’s the ten percent that make the company look bad. They’re the ones that tarnish a good and respectable image in an instant, even if that image took years of building and sacrifice to create. They’re the ones that spread pessimism and disgruntlement to all the new employees of your organization. They cannot be silenced or eliminated, because they are pushing an ideal that will continue to thrive in the form of another ten percent.
The Cockroach Theory states that ideals of pessimism will always exist and cannot be destroyed, but can be managed and controlled by vigilance and due diligence. Happy members of your organization will almost always be productive. Good leadership will minimize the effects of the ten percent by maintaining a clean and respectable organization. People will be less likely to heed the complaints of the few when they themselves are happy. The ten percent will not find a foothold in a healthy environment. You’ve heard the phrase “Misery loves company”? Well, the Cockroach Theory teaches that where there’s one, there’s two or more.
ADDENDUMS
Much has changed from the time this book was realized and put in writing. Political figures have resigned, some were replaced in elections, and many unfortunate events have taken place.
In light of all the publicity covering the Ferguson and NYC cases involving the use of lethal force by law enforcement officers, I thought it important to elaborate a bit on the substance and the lack thereof involved in the aforementioned topics.
From the time this book began to take shape in my mind, and through the actual writing process, I have diligently watched the news and wondered at how I should approach the issues. I was going to ignore them altogether and just keep them omitted from this book. But, as I thought on it, I came to understand that righteousness must endure. Righteousness, by nature, is passive. Sometimes, passiveness is very much necessary. Sometimes excessive attention on any given topic only prolongs and exacerbates the problem. This is why I chose not to go over redundant and rhetorical ideologues that are plaguing the news. Instead, I want to address the difficult road ahead. I will briefly touch on the event, but for no other reason than as a foundation.
LEADERSHIP IN DIFFICULT TIMES
I purposefully included an entire chapter on leadership because of the impact it could have on people. Nothing says “leader” stronger or louder than a person saying the right things at the right time. In dark times, a country needs leadership. The people need to know that things are going to be okay and that wounds can heal. It troubled me deeply when I recently heard our President, the NYC mayor, the attorney general, a so-called “Reverend,” and other elected officials instigating, perpetuating, antagonizing, and just plain “stirring the pot” on matters of perceived racism. Instead of bringing divisions together, chasms were wedged open.
When a person runs for an elected office, he runs for a leadership position. Leadership is not built into the office. But it should be instilled in the office holder. If you are incapable of saying the right things in difficult times, you are not a leader. If you choose sides based on who is the most clamorous, you are not brave. If you are blind to truth and you uphold injustice, you are a tyrant.
Regarding the evil known as ISIS, we need a President that will call evil by its name. Calling a leopard by any other name is deception. To defeat an enemy of freedom, you must call it by its name. ISIS is an Islamic terrorist group. It is a cancer that must be eradicated from the face of the earth. Ignoring evil’s intentions only emboldens it and condones its spread.
PROFESSIONALISM IN DIFFICULT TIMES
Law enforcement officers can’t deny the truth that difficult times are ahead. Despite the lack of evidence to prove race was a factor in the Ferguson and NYC cases, political ideologues with faces have pressed the issue, most likely to draw attention from the real issue: failed policies. Virtually all LE understand there are no racial motivators in the events that unfolded in late 2014. They were most likely made into racial anecdotes by racial antagonists. The facts revealed to grand juries did not uncover racial motivators. They revealed crimes that were being committed where the use of lethal force was lawful and necessary. On the night the grand jury revealed its decision, violence on an unprecedented scale ensued. “Peaceful protesters” shouted lines about “dead cops” and police cars were burned. Since then, two NYC police officers were assassinated while in the line of duty for no other reason than being police officers.
I understand what the criminal element is wanting. They want a lawless society where they can do what they want, without the bother of consequence. I say “bother” because I do not think there is “fear” of consequence. The element causing all the mayhem in these locations is not the popular opinion of the masses. They are out-of-town opportunists that are exploiting rifts in society to gain a foothold for selfish gain.
It is of the utmost importance that every sworn office understands that the time ahead will prove most difficult, not because your job is tough, but because you must differentiate and find balance between safety, security, and professi
onalism without losing yourself or your image. You must work more diligently to secure an image of fairness and professionalism because there are forces telling lies about you. You must prove them wrong while maintaining a secure environment. God forbid the day you have to use lethal force to save a life. A jury will deliberate for days on a decision that you had to make in a split second.
MINEFIELDS
My livelihood rests upon dependency upon subordinates and peers to function as a team. I spent some time talking to a co-worker recently about survivability in difficult and dangerous work environments. Sixteen years working directly with the mentally ill in a maximum security environment earns a person the right to be called a survivor. The co-worker, a registered nurse, explained to me his conversation with a relative about our work environment. He said, “It’s kind of like a minefield; you never know when you’re about to step onto something; and if you manage not to step on it, the person next to you may, and it can take you down with him.” I said, “That’s a really good analogy.” In fact, it’s the comment that inspired this subtitle.
Minefields are dangerous environments that sometimes you unwittingly wander into. Other times, you know you’re in a minefield and your task is to dismantle them or avoid them altogether.
One of the environments in which I work absolutely refuses to specify details in policy/procedure. That gives the perception that the workplace has chosen not to specify so that when you are called out on the carpet for a bad decision, you cannot point back to policy.
There have been many instances of disciplinary actions taken against employees no matter which action they take. The cliché “You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t” definitely applies. This type of policy/procedure keeps the employees most miserable and ensures a continued lack of progress. Unfortunately, without a change of administration, all you can do is try to avoid minefields. If you work in this type of environment, the best of luck to you.
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