Sons of Liberty...Do we have any today?

So I have to say, I just finished watching the History Channel mini-series, Sons of Liberty...and I thought it was very well done. What I got from the film was the fact that someone, whether it was truly Samuel Adams, or someone else - but someone had to be pretty darn convincing to get the other colonies to go to war with the most powerful military of that age. I mean the show hammered it home with the performance of whichever actor played Samuel Adams. When his monologue at the Second Continental Congress was finished, I wished I could have been alive back then to scoop up my musket and join his cause! Heck, when George Washington speaks at all in the film, the actor really made you feel like there was a passionate, extremely strong charismatic man.

So here's my problem. Where are they now? To me it is blatantly obvious that our current leaders (let's just call them brain washers) are constantly adding more and more levels of control - namely to social classes. Of course the masses are oblivious, because the lower class get so much handed to them, they are blindly dependent on the providers of Obama phones and free health care, and they definitely want to keep the free stuff coming. But the masses are too ignorant to realize that all that free stuff will eventually lead to slavery...not slavery like the old days in America, but slavery to a system. Meanwhile, the rich will keep paying for the poor to receive their freebies until the slavery days come, and they won't really suffer that much from it other than it is such an inconvenience to them to shell out an extra few million out of their already existent millions. And the middle class just keeps on trudging along, getting closer and closer to lower class, but not quite getting there because they have too much dignity and still believe in hard work to make a living!

So where are the vocal leaders? Where are the truly passionate men, or women, who can actually see this same thing that I see? The current system is so divided, and conspiracy theorist or not - I don't trust either side very much...the Right wing WAY more than the Left, but I still think every politician today has their own selfish agenda. I need to believe in someone like the characters of this series made me want to believe. After watching Sons of Liberty, I felt like I did when I was a little kid. I felt like I had just re-discovered true heroes. I felt like I could be proud to be an American. I long to see someone rise up and be that charismatic leader, who stands for what is right again, instead of what we all need to SUBMIT to, or instead of someone who wants to tell us what's best for us, instead of letting us ALL work hard for a living, and learn to think and discover what is best for us ALL, INDIVIDUALLY!

I don't feel like I can be this leader; I am too black and white for most people, and I really don't compromise well. I think a true leader has to be able to make SOME compromise, and I am not that guy. However, I feel that there are enough other people out there who share this sentiment. I feel like maybe, if enough people read blog posts like this, and post their own material of similar content...then maybe, just maybe the RIGHT person will see this yearning for a rebirth of the country we once knew. The Declaration of Independence said that we all have the right for the "pursuit of happiness". It did not say that the big government will provide your happiness, or find some other suckers to pay to buy you happiness. It also did not say that we would make people be supposed leaders of our country, only to turn the capital city into a country club, and to turn the highest position in the land into a job chuck-full of vacations!

So if you read this, and you agree...pass it on. We need some modern day Sons of Liberty. I challenge someone out there to be just that. If you read this, and you feel like you have that strong overwhelming powerful personality that is just contagious enough to spread what you stand for like Wildfire, then by all means, DO IT! Because frankly, it's been a long time since I felt like I lived in the America I once knew.

Teaching - it's like Corn Flakes...

So there I was, laughing, discussing, demonstrating, repeating, guiding, training...teaching.

     Have you ever realized that although you may have left a career, certain aspects or duties that you had in a past career follow you wherever you go? There was a time when I absolutely loved teaching. I used to laugh with young children, teach them different exercises and rules to various games, different physical skills, and build their self esteem. I used very similar skills when I coached middle school and high school athletes, whether that be in the weight room, on the basketball court, or on a football field.

     Now I am a training officer...a police officer, but I train 'civilians' and security officers. In several training classes today, I got to enjoy that old passion once again. I had people participate and make the class fun. I had some people who wanted to know more. I had people tell me things or bring things to my attention that I wasn't even aware had gone on recently. It was like a pleasant flashback...back to the days when I was good old 'Mr. Coach Fort.' Although this seemed to be a longer week than usual at work, I ended it on a great note. I think the Good Lord opened my eyes today to show that once again, I have gone down various paths for a reason. My grandmother on my mom's side was a school teacher. My mother was a teacher. I was a school teacher...and I still get to teach - just a different type of student.

     But after all the classes today, and earlier this week, I thought about that great feeling of satisfaction when I felt like I really communicated to students, or in this case, peers - exactly what I wanted to get across. And even though it was a familiar feeling, I thought about the old TV commercial for that good old fashion breakfast cereal - Corn Flakes. Remember...'taste them again for the first time'...remember that? So anyway, I want to ask anyone out there. Can you think of past careers, and certain skills or activities pertaining to a specific job? Have any of those things stuck with you, even though you have moved on to other things? Just felt like sharing. What are some of your thoughts? (THAT MEANS LEAVE A COMMENT   :)   ).

Who's for Freedom? I, for one, refuse to give up mine...

     The dictionary defines Freedom as the power to determine action without restraint. It also defines it as personal liberty; the opposite of bondage or slavery. Yet we are seeing more and more examples each and every single day (especially under our current Muslim president's RULE) of Christians losing their freedom. Air Force cadets and Army men have been told they can't talk about their faith, and they can't leave bible verses written on marker boards outside of rooms. Prayer isn't allowed in schools (yet we will consider the idea of broadcasting Muslim prayer over a college campus - hmmm). Chaplains can assist soldiers and law enforcement families as long as they don't offend other religions by praying out loud. Nativity scenes have been taken down in some townships because it offends the Muslims. A Christian prayer is no longer accepted as proper before sporting events, so we now have to have Moments of Silence to respect other religions. However - there is a double standard.
     
     Our children are taught about Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and other -isms in History classes, but the character of Jesus Christ, and 'mere Christianity' are hardly mentioned, in case it offends someone. We are taught by society that Islam is a 'peaceful religion', and Christians are too judgmental and too conservative. We have to consider Muslim wishes of absolutely NO pictorial representations of their great prophet, yet people can poke fun of and trash Christianity all they want. We can condemn a man for stating his beliefs in Jesus, but put sexy celebrities on a pedestal and celebrate their promotion of promiscuity. We are forced to pay into a healthcare system that promotes the killing of unborn babies by the thousands - something against the very fabric of Christian teaching, just so the big government can bring in more dependents into this society for US to take care of. We are limited to where Bibles can be allowed, yet people can freely give away copies of the Quran on college campuses.

     Anybody seeing the double standard yet? Seems to me everyone that gets all weird feeling (maybe that's conviction trying to tell you something) about Christianity gets to determine their own actions, while the Christians are the only ones being restrained. All the people who think they are bigger than God, and don't have enough gumption to admit that they are flawed individuals like EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US are the ones who are getting personal liberties, while we Christians are being told to hold back some of the liberties we USED TO have! I'm going to let people in on a little secret - if something offends you, DON'T READ IT. DON'T WATCH IT. MOVE ON. But just like you don't want Christians telling you how to live your lives, don't force your beliefs on us, either. Frankly, I am tired of it. I grew up in what once was a great nation. God willing, it will be again, but if we as Christians don't start speaking out more, before you know it, there will be CHRISTIAN Concentration camps! It's happened in history before, people. Get your heads on - Christians helped build this great country, so stop hating on us. You don't have to believe what we believe, but don't tell us we CAN'T believe what we believe. Here's the kicker...your guilty conscience can't change my mind. It can't change my heart. It can't change Franklin Graham's heart. It can't change the heart of the Christian who dies execution style kneeling before some thug in a head rag over his face because he's too much of a coward to let the world see who he truly is! So why try. Just let us be, and we will let you be. There's a difference in a Christian telling you that you might not get to heaven if you don't change your belief system, and a non-Christian telling us we aren't allowed to do anything to exhibit our faith. A HUGE difference. I will grant you this - the Crusaders in the middle ages went about things the wrong way. But that was hundreds of years ago. The bulk of Christians for the past several hundred years have spread the word of Christ by sharing His good news...certainly not by offing people's heads because of a picture they drew. 

     Seriously, if you want separation of Church and State - Fine. But it needs to put all religions on an equal playing field. It does not need to allow one form of religion to become dominant, or rather - domineering, and single out another just because it doesn't make you feel good about yourself. I am just telling you right now - I am for freedom. Let someone try to force me to denounce God or Christ - it won't happen. There is nothing anyone can do. And I am glad to say I feel the same about everyone else - I want you to believe what you believe. But don't tell me I can't. If you're feeling froggy and feel the same way, spread the word. Christians have just as much right to freedom as anyone else.

That Thin Blue Line

     I was lacing up my tennis shoes after changing out of my uniform and into my work-out clothes. This very nice older gentleman walks up to me in the locker room and taps me on the shoulder. He points to my shirt draped over the locker door, and says, "I noticed that shiny badge there, sir - and I just want to say thank you for what you do." I was taken aback. I have received a lot more of these random comments of appreciation ever since these awful occurrences in Ferguson and New York have happened, but this hit closer to home because it was outside of my work setting, and said with the sincerest of voices. It made me appreciate the field of work I am in, but more importantly, it made me appreciate all those 'in blue' who have way more risky jobs than mine. I am a training officer, and a good percentage of my work takes me out of 'the line of fire' so to speak. So although I still get to respond to calls every now and then (Maybe even arrest someone once in a blue moon), I am not in the thick of things.

     I am not out there on the road, wondering - what car am I going to have to pull over next? Who is sitting behind the wheel? What is waiting for me when I walk up to the driver's side or passenger side window? What is waiting inside that house that we just got a call about, and all our dispatchers could get out of the caller was that somebody had a gun? What is that psychiatric patient who we know is a combat veteran thinking about doing? How many people in this crowd of rowdy individuals is armed? What if one of them pulls a gun on me? What if I see a guy with a gun, and he holds it out but doesn't point it at anyone? What if I have to fight someone who tries to take my gun? How long can I last? What if that person I just took to jail decides to file a false complaint? How can I prove I did nothing wrong? Were there any cameras involved? Did I need to strike that guy who pulled a knife on me before I ended up arresting him? What do I do if some guy with an open chest knife wound wants to fight me? Do I tase him?
    
     Or how about some of the lesser decisions they have to make? Do I stay up all night, because my shift is about to swing back to night shift, or do I go ahead and sleep, and hope I can stay awake all through the next night after being up most of the day before? Do I try to get in some extra practice at the shooting range this weekend to keep myself sharp...or do I spend the weekend with my kid? Do I call in sick to work because I feel like crap, or do I help my platoon out because we've been stretched a little thin this week with other people having to miss work? Do I accept the half-off, or better yet free price the restaurant owner just offered for lunch on my way out the door, or do I go ahead and pay full price like everyone else? Do I pull that car over because I saw that 'California roll' at the stop sign, or do I let them drive for another day? Do I spend time following up on that case that I know will go nowhere because of lack of evidence, or do I just focus on patrolling my beat today? Do I rest these next couple of days off, or go train at the gym and maybe learn a thing or two about defending myself?

     These are just a small fraction of the things cops wrestle with every single day. These are things that, although I have had experience with, I don't have to do every single day. The police officers I have worked with, and the ones I still do....have to make decisions and answer these questions all the time. But here's the crazy part - they VOLUNTEER to do this - for YOU! If you are not in law enforcement, they do this for YOU. If you are in law enforcement but off duty, they do it for YOU. They live to protect and serve. There is something in their very nature that makes them have an innate urge to protect those around them and make them feel safe. Not only do they protect and serve, but they try to uphold the standard for what is right, and what is wrong. They do this because they want to. They do this because someone HAS TO. They face Monday Morning quarterbacks, cowardice politicians, killers, violent criminals, thieves, druggies, wife beaters, child molesters, drunks, drug dealers, child abusers, animal abusers, speeders, car accidents, fires, rabid dogs, snakes, and even terrorists. And they do it for YOU and ME.

     Matthew 5:9 in the Holy Bible states "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." In all of the things I mentioned above, those men and women of blue try to keep the peace through it all. If the peace is broken, they try to make peace out of the situation. If you have never served in law enforcement, please read these words with understanding. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you do their job? Is there maybe a reason you don't do their job? Again, somebody has to. A lot of times, there is a thin blue line between right and wrong. I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about the people that walk that line. I just wanted to take a moment to thank those people - who protect that thin blue line. Thank you, brothers and sisters in Blue!

Jason E. Fort