07 May 2010

Friday Follies...
...And here in the Heartland of America, we're waking up to some REALLY nice thunderstorms...and that's not bad (for me).
I can already see that our avian friends have congregated on our patio in the rain, asking the age-old question:
"We're HERE...when 'ya gonna FEED us, Bob?"
Hope you guys like your birdseed WET, because about 30 seconds after I toss it out there, that's what you're all going to get.
So let's dive right into some stories and observations made to fire up the old synapses, shall we?
*** This is both a bit shocking AND amusing at the same time, and you'll soon see why.
(( Garrett meth lab explosion burns man
Jeff Wiehe - The Journal Gazette
An explosion inside a Garrett home Thursday was caused by a working methamphetamine lab, police said.
Medics, firefighters and police officers went to 1100 S. Lee St. about 8:15 a.m. after someone there called 911, Garrett police said. Firefighters found a small fire, a haze of smoke throughout the home and items used to make methamphetamine.
While rescue workers were at the home on South Lee, more rescue workers were called to a home in the 900 block of South Randolph Street. A man there had burns to his hands, stomach and legs, police said.
Investigators determined the man was burned by the fire on South Lee, and the blaze was caused by a meth lab explosion. Two school-aged children were also present during the explosion, police said.
The owner of the home on South Lee, Christopher Payton, 32, was arrested on a charge of manufacturing meth and taken to the DeKalb County Jail.
))
Goes to show that if you're OVER 30, and are NOT a chemistry major at a local college, BUT still love watching that show BREAKING BAD, you're probably up to NO damn good.
*** Here's what I believe to be a followup story to one I posted about last week.
(( Student finds gun in woods by school
Holly Abrams - The Journal Gazette
A letter was sent Wednesday to parents of Kekionga Middle School students, telling them that a gun had been found near the school this week. A group of students was on a nature walk Tuesday in a wooded area behind the school, 2929 Engle Road, west of Bluffton Road, when one of the students spotted a gun on the ground, said Krista Stockman, Fort Wayne Community Schools spokeswoman. The student immediately told a teacher, who then called the school to tell administrators, Stockman said.
While waiting for police to arrive, a school administrator came out to where the gun had been found and stood near it to make sure no students approached the area. The students on the nature walk continued on their way, Stockman said.
Fort Wayne police received a call from Principal Gary Schafer about the gun just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to police call records.
According to the call record, the gun appeared to be loaded with the hammer locked back. Officer Raquel Foster, a city police spokeswoman, said the case is under investigation.
"No students ever touched the gun," Stockman said, adding that the letter was sent to inform parents of the finding and that police had removed the weapon.
))
Now, if you recall, a man was killed in the apartment complex NEAR that school and it was in my post of 27 April.
Police at that time did NOT find the gun that was used in the homicide.
Well, now you HAVE found a gun...let's see "IF" this is the piece that committed that crime, shall we?
I think that allowing people with such issues to live near ANY school is a bad idea, but then again, Section 8 housing doesn't discriminate when it comes to which neighborhood they plan to turn into the NEXT blighted area...do they?
*** And lastly, TODAY is the premiere of the SEQUEL to the first IRON MAN movie.
I loved the first flick, since I've been a fan of IRON MAN since...well, let's just say it was back in the 1960s.
I have quite a few of the comics from that era, but I always did like Iron Man.
By late buddy Hank loved The Hulk (he kinda looked like the hulk, too...just not green all over...LOL).
When I was a really young lad, I recall going to the barber shop where my uncle Phil cut my hair, and it was there that I was first introduced to the realm of the SUPERHERO (he had lots of comics to read).
I read about how GREEN LANTERN came to be, how THE FLASH got his super speed, and how BATMAN fought crime in Gotham City.
Didn't have to know about SUPERMAN...they had a TV show on with George Reeves in the title role.
It was when I got to high school, that I came to embrace the culture of super heroism.
CAPTAIN AMERICA fought the Nazis, SPIDERMAN fought crime in NYC, and IRON MAN battled world tyrants, bigger business (than his), and saved the world numerous times.
I liked the (Iron Man) story line of an injured (in Vietnam, per the comic - Afghanistan per the movie...both work well) person overcoming his disability (heart injury from shrapnel) to fashion a flying battle suit with which to fight the evil of the world. Hell, we already had COMMANDO CODY on TV (now THAT was a neat get up he had...a rocket pack, AND a cool helmet...gotta have a helmet).
Now, you've seen kids doing chalk drawings in the street, right? Sometimes they draw out hopscotch boards to play on, or maybe something like flowers or trees. My friends and I drew SUPERHEROES...in the street. Wish Mom or Dad would have taken some pictures of those.
Some friends even asked me to draw them a picture of their favorite hero, which I gladly did...and never asked for any money.
I even showed some work to an REAL artist at a convention, and he thought I should get into comic art...never did THAT, either.
Maybe in the NEXT life?
(note to self - follow up on the art major gig in high school...)
Suffice it to say that I learned much from the "morals of the stories" these comic book heroes provided.
And, as is the case, they pretty much MIRRORED what my parents told me, only they had super powers and cooler "costumes" than either Mom OR Dad...LOL.
And among all these heroes of fiction...there was always Iron Man (for me).
When I heard that Robert Downey Jr. was going to play TONY STARK (the man behind Iron Man), I was really wary, but then I thought that THIS is the PERFECT venue for Downey...the character of Stark and he have SO MUCH in common.
And when I finally saw the movie, I was not disappointed.
Both Downey and the fictional Stark have led a charmed life, but circumstances take much from both. Each of them has to overcome their "demons"; Stark (in the comics) becomes an alcoholic, while Downey had issues with drugs.
Both have come out the better for winning their respective battles, and I not only admire that in an individual, but have come away with a better appreciation of the human condition.
Now, I most likely won't go to the movies to see this picture, as I find the entire movie-going "experience" lacking in civility that was found in times past, but at least I DO know when I CAN expect to see this movie...by CHRISTMAS!
The last movie the missus and I attended was Star Trek: Nemesis (and yes, I did wear my "uniform", in case you were wondering. I'll have to tell you about that sometime...got some very cool tales to tell about those days), and with the ever-increasing price of tickets, concessions and whatever else, the best recourse is to practice PATIENCE and await the movie's release to DVD (on eBay), and get it for cheaper than retail (which I managed to do with the FIRST movie). I purchased a 2-disc special edition for UNDER $14! (Can't beat that with a stick, can you?)
And I have some "action figures" prominently displayed in the living room.
I might be too old to "play" with them, but they stand as a reminder....a link to my past, when comics were an adjunct to what your parents provided to you in the way of wisdom and knowledge.
Those days when the local drug store was there to bring heroes to life on the pages of a (then) 12 cent monthly publication became OUR way of dealing with life's problems, big or small.
Well, it DID provide a much better outlet than bullying...or stealing...or even murder.
(Many of today's kids COULD learn a helluva lot from THAT, couldn't they?)
What I came away with from those (now yellowing) pages, was that we are only human, but we CAN prevail.
We might not initially succeed at whatever it is we attempt, but that's not cause to just give in or give up.
We continue the good fight...we persevere when times get rough, and we DO eventually achieve what we have pursued, no matter how small the victory might seem to others.
And the best thing that came from all of that was...GOOD will triumph over EVIL.
It might not happen today, or all at once, but it WILL, if we believe it.
Now, I think that's as good a reason as any to take on the challenges of today's world, be they at home, or abroad.
And, it DOES make damn good sense, don'cha think?
* * * * *
This Sunday is Mother's Day...let's not forget that.
Moms are the life blood of our families, and as such, have not only a huge responsibility to bear, but are also deserving of our utmost respect for their devotion, their unconditional love, and their seemingly endless compassion.
I still miss my Mom...always will, but I will hold her in remembrance this Sunday, above all other days.
If your mom is still with us, never pass up the chance to say you love her.
Send flowers, take her out to dinner, or just chat her up.
And although my mom is no longer available to talk to, that won't stop me from doing so...because I know she'll hear me.
How do I know that? It's simple.
I look at the garden, and see her in every scent and every bloom we get from every flower...
Sounds corny, but I think you know where I'm coming from...right?
Have yourselves a fantastic weekend, be well, make a difference to someone, and, as always...
Stay safe out there, America.

06 May 2010

Tales From the SOUTH Side...
Alrighty, boys and girls....almost to the weekend...finally.
Don't know about how YOU guys are "making out" (hopefully you've outgrown the "back-seat" gig for that by now...LOL), but we here in the Heartland of America are predicting a more than typical summer ahead.
You can see the idiot quotient rising like flood waters in Johnstown, PA.
Let's just say our "Moron Alert Level" has gone to ORANGE for now...!
Case in point...
Last night, around 2330 hrs, the missus had JUST gone to bed, and I was settling in watching another History channel show about Nostradamus, when I heard some kind of ruckus outside on the street.
A woman's voice was yelling "Dont touch me...leave me alone", and the male's voice said "I love 'ya, baby".
(I knew that man was NOT Barry White, even if he tried to sound like him)
Now, since I live in one of the growing numbers of ghettohoods of Fort Wayne, I immediately knew there was some sort of "domestic" going on. I guess resolving issues INSIDE ONE'S HOUSE isn't the FIRST choice around here.
No one ever said these "locals" are the brightest crayons in the damn box, right? So the missus come downstairs, and I'm looking to see WHERE exactly the "20" is (location), so I can call the FWPD.
The couple had migrated to our intersection, and as they got just beyond it, a FWPD cruiser rolls up and not ONE...but TWO officers get out. My FIRST thought (after I realized someone ELSE might have called the police) was "Wow...someone FINALLY listened to me when I mentioned we need more TWO-OFFICER cars in THIS area".
After my delight over that, I watched the officers separate the two, with the woman (clothes in hand, mind you) going with the officers, but NOT in custody (probably a drive to a safer place to crash for the night), and the male (no shirt on and obviously, part of the "saggy-bottom boys" contingent) walking back up the block to a neighboring street (which explains all those other police calls I've seen for THAT block).
Like I say...never a DULL moment here.
Still, Wifey DOES like to get her sleep...AND be relatively ALERT and AWAKE when she drives to school to teach the future of America, and I can relate to that. But, it's THIS type of behavior that is the norm around here.
A few years back, we had a bunch of "locals" alongside our house, late at night, arguing all over, with one person trying to drive a car over another. I went out with a spotlight in one hand, pistol in the other and "lit 'em all up".
After stating (loudly) that they needed to move the hell on, and that if they didn't, I wasn't going to be particular WHO I sent to the morgue first...they moved on along well enough..and NEVER came back (wonder why?) since.
This is the type of person I really don't WANT to be, but am forced to become, thanks to THEM.
I'd much prefer to be the happy-go-lucky, late 50's guy with two cats, a garden, a wife, and a "vintage" car.
But many times, we can't always get what we want...
(good song, btw)
So, by design, I am urged into a persona that I thought I left behind in another life.
I don't get PAID to police this neighborhood (lucky for the locals), and even if I was...the city couldn't possibly AFFORD me at this point in my life. I also don't get paid to do ANY of the city's jobs, and that includes trash removal, code enforcement, street cleaning...whatever.
Luckily, that's what PHONES and E-MAILS are for...(Bwahahaha)
Yet, aside from all that, I DO manage to swipe a few moments of clarity for things such as these:
























This is our little slice of paradise (rabbit included)...of stability...of grounding...when we can enjoy it, that is.
It's a LOT more than we could have in a row home in Philly, and I've always said it reminds me of my late Nana's house in the Rhawnhurst section of N.E. Philly. We visited her (Mom and I) when I was a child, at least once a month (took THREE buses to get there), but it was worth every cent. And I remember it like it was last week.
Her street was tree-lined, with squirrels and birds...and green...lots of green, as in REAL LAWNS!
It's much like our CURRENT place here in Indiana.
Only the PEOPLE have changed (and not for the better, mind you).
Sadly, reality has a way of dragging you back into it's clutches.
But, all things considered...it COULD be a lot worse.
(just not by much)
As Americans, we have been allowed stewardship of a beautiful land, and for the most part, over the centuries, we've managed to do OK taking care of it, in spite of over-developing, and urban sprawl.
Whatever chunk of this land we find ourselves in possession of, we must always be aware that this is permitted us by our Creator.
We are the caretakers of the parcels we are allotted.
We make the choices that either preserve the land...or allow it to fall into disrepair.
And in the end, we have no one to blame for any mistakes we make...but ourselves.
Our choice then becomes a simple one, right?
This is not some tree-hugging rhetoric, either...it's just good old COMMON SENSE.
THAT is what THIS nation, and it's people should always be about.
Be well, make a difference today, go plant something nice, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

05 May 2010

Humpday Happenings...
And a hearty CINCO DE MAYO to all of you.
Now, I'm not going to go and expound on the significance of today...that's YOUR assignment.
SO here's the WIKI on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
Now for some, it's just another day to get soused and become a fool...to others today DOES mean something.
Then again, in MY neck o' the woods, EVERY day is a day to get soused and act the fool.
(yours truly one of the VERY few exceptions).
And speaking of foolishness...
Let's take a brief (and totally fictitious...yeah, right) tour of my area.
It does make you wonder when you see SO many young men with SCARFACE shirts on. They MUST all be AL PACINO fans.
First off, the shirts don't look like "shirts", but rather dresses...yeah, they're THAT long. Could it be a gender crisis issue?
Aside from me, I'm not seeing too many other males that understand what a SHIRT really is.
It's NOT a dress, that's for sure.
Most times, it's meant to even be tucked the hell in.
And they do have SIZES for a REASON...to FIT people.
If you're 5'8" and weigh around 140, you DON'T go and buy some 3XXXL size, unless you're planning to become a human kite when the wind picks up. "That's a lot of sail you be packing, matey...arrrrggghhh...shiver me timbers"...LOL.
And then there are the pants...
Where to begin...
Well, let's just say that belts ARE making a comeback...AS LONG AS you tighten it ABOUT YOUR THIGHS.
That ensures that your South Poles do not ride "farther south".
Here I thought only BABOONS had their asses on display for the females...silly me.
Another case of "cultural diversity", I suppose.
Actually, in cities that give a damn about the decent (taxpaying) citizens, it's called INDECENT EXPOSURE.
But,no one EVER said these people were "fashion plates", did they?
This goes "ditto" for the "ladies" (and I cringe to use that word).
If it's got glitter...you'll see it down here.
And if the jeans look SPRAYED on, it must be a southside victicrat-in-training.
Trouble is, some of the females should NOT be wearing anything tight, if you get my drift.
(guess all that FREE gub'ment food's to blame)
Well, we cant blame ALL of society's woes on free food...can we?
There are always the "beverages" of choice down here, designed solely to "fortify" the ID in all of us...I mean THEM.
Nothing better in the AM (for breakfast) than a nice, cold 24 ounce can of MAGNUM malt liquor...freshly purchased (probably stolen) from the local grocery or liquor store. Yessir...can't beat THAT with a stick (unlike the baby-mama back home in the crib, who DOES get beat with a stick when fists aren't enough). If you want to feel like a REAL MAN, then bag yourself some of this swill, and wail away.
After all, what you call a life is pretty much shot to sh*t, and you have no self-worth or self-respect, so what better way to prove to everyone else that YOU ARE...SOMEBODY, than by drowning your sorrows in some "liquid courage".
Then you're ready to take on the world (and maybe a few police officers as well).
Just don't bitch a fit when things don't wind up QUITE like you planned.
(bad decision making tends to do that to people)
Still, you COULD always hop in that POS car with some "friends", share some of the drugs they're carrying, and go on a motoring sojourn through the city streets, playing your crap music (?) as loud as possible for all to "enjoy", because your hearing is impaired from years of exposure TO such cacophony. (what?)
That's fine....you're sure to NOT get pulled over, and even if you do, it'll be just a warning (for the 15th time).
You could swing past the local playground (drunk and high as you probably are before 11AM) and vandalize the children's swings and sliding board, before that quick pickup game of two-on-two.
After that, there's always a fast food joint to bop into, and after getting your order, complain to management that there's something you don't like (no, those bugs crawling on the burger are from your drug-induced hallucinatory stupor, asshole), and start a fight inside the place, scaring the bejeezus out of the "normals" there. After a timely (and speedy) exit from that fast food place, you might need to quench that thirst, so it's off again to another liquor store (there are SO many to choose from in the blighted part of town...ever notice that?), and either rob the place or, if you're feeling a bit more "mellow", actually take up a collection between you and your posse and BUY a can of cat piss malt liquor...or even some cheap-ass BRANDY or VODKA.
I know...so much to do...so little time. But there is ALWAYS tomorrow. Remember, YOU don't do a damn thing with your pitiful life, so why worry at all, right? Let the DECENT people, and the taxpayers, and the homeowners in your part of town worry instead.
* * * * * * * *
Now I played out this little (daily) scenario to demonstrate how much so many of you miss by NOT being exposed to such things.
And this is representative of one of the "good" days we have down here. I didn't get into the gunshots, the ambulance calls, or all the other fun stuff you're missing.
To think that as recently as TEN years ago...such things were practically non-existent in this neighborhood.
But I saw it coming...and passed that along to the police.
A few listened...very few.
Yet, nothing was done to allay my fears of this rising tide of abhorrent behavior from so many. And nothing has been done (to date) to either halt this OR reverse this nasty trend.
Some days around here, it's damn hard to feel you're making ANY progress, but you still fight the good fight, because doing nothing accomplishes just that...NOTHING.
And running away from ANY problem, does not make that problem go away.
If anything, it proclaims victory to those most undeserving of it. It provides the impetus to create even more chaos in a neighborhood.
It IS hard to remain focused on days where you read or hear about our NATION teetering on the brink of some really bad "thing".
I have plenty on MY plate right here (in "River City")...on my own block to keep my ass busy every damn day (aside from the in-home "to-do",lists).
And whether it's a city block, a neighborhood, or even a nation...when you allow the bringers of discord to get their foot in the damn door, you find it's pretty damn hard to get that foot out and get that door shut again. Not to mention, you have to watch the windows as well, because it's coming in from all directions these days.
Once it gets established, it's like a virulent disease...it spreads.
What needs to be done is for a cure to be allowed to be employed.
We can't keep on fixing compound fractures (or that disease) with band-aids - that dog just ain't gonna hunt.
We CAN remain vigilant...in whatever watchtower we may find ourselves, lanterns at the ready.
America deserves as much from it's citizens...at least the ones that still care.
America does not owe US a damn thing...rather we OWE this nation more than we can imagine. We don't need to be wearing any uniform to figure that one out.
I think we need to remember that...
If we want to KEEP this nation as the founders intended.
Be well, make a difference today, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

04 May 2010

Good Cop Or Bad Cop...
Since I've reached a form of mental impasse with another topic I've been working on, I decided to pull "Plan B" from my go-bag of tricks.
And this particular topic just doesn't apply to LEOs, but to every single one of us. It's just that we tend to notice whenever it does involve a member of law enforcement.
We've all see portrayed on TV the whole "good cop/bad cop" gig...
One officer is tough as nails, and takes no prisoners, and is ready to beat the snot out of a suspect, while the other one is caring, understanding, and relatively sympathetic to the suspect.
Works well enough in a dramatic presentation created to ENTERTAIN us.
But here, in the REAL world, no officer can be "either/or"...they often have to become BOTH, and sometimes within a few minutes or even seconds.
When an officer pulls someone over, they are respectful, but at the same time wary of what might be inside the vehicle. Now, unless the traffic stop (and I use this as a rudimentary example) was for something other than a broken tail light (like a erratic pattern of driving), the stop will be pretty much non-chalant, UNLESS the officer feels something else might be amiss.
By and large, most stops result in no hurt feelings, unless the driver gets snotty first. Then, as they say, all bets are off.
Police are there to ENFORCE the laws, and like an expensive piece of china in an upscale store..."If you BROKE it...you BOUGHT it".
Get my drift here?
This is not to say that police officers do NOT have what we call "a bad day".
They do, considering the types of citizens they might encounter within an 8 hour shift.
A GOOD day is when they get to go home safe and sound. But they only realize that at end-of-shift. Everything else before that makes up a "typical" day, which can sometimes go TBRF (too bad, real fast).
Most all officers are what I prefer to call the GOOD cop. That's not to say that there ARE bad ones. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. And a few "bad apples" slip through "inspection" and make it to "market".
Hopefully, they will be "pulled from the shelf" soon enough.
The levels of evaluation officer wannabes go through is a lot more comprehensive than in years past, and with good reason.
We live in a "lawsuit-happy mentality" society, and some people will do damn near anything to get something for nothing.
Here in Fort Wayne, one officer (Scott Morales) is on the carpet for 22 allegations in the 20 years he's been in the department for "excessive force".
Here's the link to the story...you decide:
I even had a post about him back on 13 April 2010.
Now, one can take that a few different ways.
If they have ALL been allegations, how MANY of them resulted in criminal proceedings?
How many of those allegations were "unfounded"?
Is there a reason behind THIS officer's behavior, or is that also unfounded?
Is he a GOOD cop...or a BAD cop?
My thoughts on this are many.
Let's say that "if" a person (or persons) wanted this officer off the street, they could contrive a method to do so, simply by continuous allegations and charges brought against the officer.
If a group of people got together and "said" this officer was strong-arming them, what recourse does the department have?
They HAVE to investigate EVERY allegation...that's why departments have what we call "headhunters" (Internal Affairs Division), or I.A.D.
And that costs money..hell, doesn't everything these days?
Another officer (Let's call him "Dave") was also "alleged" (years ago) by a group that he was racially-profiling unjustly.
Now, you have to realize that the area Dave patrolled was about 90% black, which means that the law of averages would emphatically be tipped IN FAVOR of a BLACK person being pulled over for any traffic violation that was warranted.
Well, Dave did his job, and pulled people over for violations that WERE indeed, valid.
But that did NOT stop this group from filing charges against Officer Dave.
It's one way to keep the department "off it's game"...
Keep IAD investigating as many officers as is possible, in order to promote low morale, and create a misdirection by those of dubious repute.
And since the chief has to follow through and issue written "warnings" that go on their record, he's not exactly endearing himself to the men and women under him.
It's been documented that there is rarely a week that goes by, that the FWPD doesn't have SOME frivolous or trumped-up charges levelled against them.
Like I say though, IF the charges are real and the officer is found in the wrong, then by all means, follow through and chastise the officer, and if the charges are severe enough, suspend him/her from duty, or even dismiss him/her from the department. End of subject.
Even LEOs are not "above the law".
But never summarily judge that officer and issue a suspension when none is warranted.
Instead, investigate those who toss those allegations at the officer.
Are they suffering from a case of "cry wolf"?
Because, if they are, that's undermining the effectiveness of the police force in general, and certain officers in particular.
The social dynamics of the streets today is much more complicated than it used to be. That makes enforcing the laws almost as complex.
It's not because the LAWS have changed drastically...they basically haven't.
What HAS changed is SOCIETY ITSELF, as well as how society VIEWS those laws...(mostly with contempt, ignorance, and blatant disregard).
And the ambulance-chasers are eating this up...any excuse to sue the police would seem to be their motto.
SO, the departments are forced to supplant policing with "hand-holding" in many cases...just to avoid lawsuits.
I call it the "Walking on Eggshells Syndrome" - aka Don't rock the diversity/tolerance/multi-cultural boat.
(and if people just followed the damn laws and didn't look upon them as an inconvenience in their all-too-busy lives, we'd ALL make out better on the whole, would we not?)
I get tired of hearing about police officers becoming more of a "social worker" and less of a law-enforcement professional.
That's like having a damn master carpenter doing engine work on your car...it's NOT the job they're hired to do, is it?
I'd much rather have that carpenter design an addition to MY HOUSE...leave the engine work to a master MECHANIC, right?
Same goes for police officers...
Let THEM do what they're trained to do...POLICE WORK.
Leave the "social" work to those trained in that venue.
That would seem to make it possible to have a damn near all GOOD cops on our streets, and hardly ANY bad ones, wouldn't it?
Laws are in place ONLY for the LAW-LESS. I stand by that.
If you're not knowingly breaking any law, there's no need to worry, right?
You don't steal, or rob, or rape, or murder, or sell illegal drugs, or burglarize, or vandalize, or assault, or otherwise do harm to another or yourself...and the police won't bother you one bit (unless they pull you over for that burned out license plate bulb YOU ignored for the past 3 years...or for playing that car stereo louder than an F-16 that's ready for take off)...sound simple enough, right?
Well, until and unless the PUBLIC decides to become knowledgeable (en masse) over such things, we will NEED the LEOs to keep us ALL safe...usually from one another, or ourselves.
It's often a thankless job, thrusting one into the dregs of society on a daily basis, but each and every member of every police department CHOOSES to put themselves on the line...for the rest of us.
In the end, I guess it's not so much about whether we have a GOOD cop or a BAD cop, but whether we have a GOOD citizen...or a BAD citizen. And that choice should be easy enough to make for EVERY citizen.
Be well, make a difference today, go thank a LEO, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

03 May 2010

Monday Musings...
Welcome to a new month AND a new week.
One of the curious things about life is that, as we "mellow with age", or become "more seasoned", we find out stuff we never knew...or readily dismissed, until we had a few of those "personal assessment" moments.
Sooner or later, we turn around, or look in the mirror and we find we truly ARE (for the most part) the sum OF our parents.
For some, that's a good thing, AND one helluva testament or legacy for our parents.
For others, it may become the one thing they've dreaded.
For me personally, I think I got the "good stuff".
By that, I mean the best of what my parents represented to me are still alive and well, residing in yours truly.
And if our parents have any vices...well, we ALL have some somewhere, and that's just because that's the way the model was put together since day one. If we didn't have ANY vices at all, we'd pretty much be as PERFECT as God himself, and we're not even close.
But striving for betterment isn't such a bad thing.
Now, I'm like my Dad in one regard...I like the whole "live and let live" gig.
You don't bother me, and I won't bother you.
It's much like the Golden Rule...I treat you as I would like to be treated, and YOU do to me likewise, and we all get along with as few problems as possible.
Sounds like a plan, right?
Well, you'd THINK as much.
Things don't always go "as planned", though.
(Aye, there's the rub)
While YOU (or I, for that matter) might be perfectly content with this Golden Rule, OTHER PEOPLE have differing beliefs and principles that THEY live by, and you don't figure into "their" equation when it comes to "getting along".
Of course, you've all seen these people so many times before.
They are the ones cutting in lines, or being the most obnoxious person at a gathering, or the sloppiest individual you're even seen, and they could be the LOUDEST one in the bunch.
You all know how I feel about the whole LOUD issue...it doesn't have to exist, at least NOT in it's current form...and certainly NOT in the name of ANY form of "tolerance"...or even "cultural diversity".
We do, however NEED certain noise to get things built, or moved, or repaired, or even to warn us of impending alarm (fire engines, ambulances, and police cars to name a few). It's a necessary evil of our society.
Other noise we simply DO NOT "need"...nor want.
But have it we do, and in ever increasing abundance.
Now, I suppose, in some perverted way, these acoustically-challenged idiots "think" (and does THAT word EVER miss the mark) they have every "right" to SHARE whatever noise they have at their disposal with everyone else, regardless of the exact SAME rights the OTHER people have.
And every month, for the past 4 years, I have been sending along to our FWPD Deputy Chief (and quadrant captain) a "report" that details the specifics that happen in our neighborhood, since we don't actually have a VIABLE Neighborhood Association (in name and officers only).
We have to first have a viable COMMUNITY in order to have a real N/A, and since we only have a conglomeration of transients and other assorted human refuse infesting the area, the voices of the last few remnants of humanity like OURS go relatively unnoticed (or worse...ignored).
Here's another case where I am my father's son...when I'm trying to advise you of something important, don't EVER IGNORE ME...!
Better for anyone to placate me by nodding with false concern (which I will ALSO find out about), than outright ignorance of who I am, and what I am trying to convey.
That will get you on my negative "A" list REAL fast. You don't really WANT to be on THAT list, trust me.
And although I will have compassion and will forgive someone THEIR faults and missteps, I NEVER FORGET.
To me, it's "Forgive...but remember".
When we remember...we learn (to not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of, mostly).
And sometimes, we even have to "refresh" the memory of those who went against us in the first place. They believe because we "forgave" them, they can go back and do the same old crap again....not so.
But, I digress...
I have stated to our D/C for YEARS that what has come to our neighborhood WAS in fact...COMING.
And you would have thought that the police Command Staff, having been privy to this (for years), would have, or should have, or could have done something to, if not halt this growing bane against our part of town, then perhaps slow down the rising tide of criminal intent from those supplanting the once decent people by moving into MY neighborhood.
Nope...sorry, wrong. Bad assumption on MY part.
I suppose it's OK to be wrong once in a while. It helps to offset ALL THE TIMES I happen to be RIGHT.
After all, one must have parity in one's life.
But, parity be damned...in this case.
I've always said that I don't give a rat's ass WHAT these other people do in the confines of their OWN houses, but when whatever they choose to do affects how I am trying to live MY life, and spills out into the community with repetitive nauseum...well, that's where I draw the line.
When they believe that the whole neighborhood is THEIRS (and theirs alone), and that no other person has any right to live a normal life, that's just wrong.
When they think they can be as LOUD as they want, and that everyone is deaf (or should be)...that's wrong.
When they feel that dancing in the damn street with music blaring after midnight is perfectly "normal", that's wrong.
When they force THEIR lifestyles into YOUR life, because you don't matter to THEM...that's too damn wrong.
You want to do drugs...fine, just don't come down to MY place and smoke it...OR sell it.
You want to play your music...got no problem with that, AS LONG AS I don't have to hear it at all. You never hear MINE.
You want to run around intersections like a screaming bunch of primates in heat at the zoo... go ahead, AS LONG AS you're NOT using MY property (or the damn intersection) as part of YOUR frigging"playground", kapeesh?
Now, you'd probably say we all "could" get along, but it's certainly not because I'm NOT doing "my part"...I am.
I leave THEM alone...UNTIL they inflict themselves upon or into MY life.
Then I call the police to shut them up for about the 37th time (this year)...that's a LOT of "second chances" and warnings, don'cha think? I don't go out of my way to "bother" them (as they do with us)...I consider my life is too important for that crap.
Apparently, theirs IS NOT. But since YOU (the taxpayer) are footing their bill, it's fine to them.
The funny thing, is that they might become uppity with the police (God knows they have such little respect or fear of them as it is), like their sh*t doesn't stink or something, when all they have to figure out is that if THEY make an earnest attempt to act in a CIVIL manner...the police will NEVER be called on them...by ANYONE...for ANY reason.
How f$cking simple is THAT to comprehend, hmm?
(you'd be surprised HOW difficult it actually IS...for THEM)
Then again, the police (command) have to give a damn as well, and by that, I mean they have to not issue so many frigging "warnings" or second chances. Everyone is entitled to ONE...after that, you're making fools out of the police, and everyone else that believes in JUSTICE...for EVERYONE.
So yes...I AM my father's and mother's son...and I'm damn proud of that distinction.
I know MY rights, and the rights of others, and I have my parents, teachers, assorted mentors and friends to thank for that.
I know what is FAIR...and what is NOT.
I know my limits, AND my boundaries, unlike so many of those that either live in or pass through my neighborhood...and DO NOT.
And I didn't have any magic formula, or hidden powers, or even a secret handshake to figure that one out.
I had people who gave a damn about ME...and others like me.
Sadly, many today simply do not.
That's a far cry from the manner in which our ancestors grew up.
And that's a far cry from what it means to be citizen of this fine nation.
Time to figure out the best and fastest way to get that train back on the right track, before we destroy one another.
Only then, can we, as a people, dispel the clouds of such ignorance.
Although ignorance might be bliss, we all don't need to be THAT "blissful", do we?
Therein lies the lesson.
Be well, make a difference today, and...
Stay safe out there, America.