There are few things in life which bring more joy, more worry, more pride, or more sorrow than one's family. As a young parent, I remember thinking that someday my children would be grown and on their own and I could relax and not have to worry about them. Guess again. They grow up, move out, have their own families and then they come back, suffer crisis, share their concerns and, fortunately, remain a part of your life. They are what life is all about. They share their triumphs, their dreams, their experiences and continue to share their lives with you. Family relationships are eternal in nature and endure throughout this life, and I believe into the eternities, and I am glad for that.

As I take inventory of my family, I am grateful for children who are talented, intelligent, and caring people. They are exceptional in their own individual ways. I have children who excel in leadership, who are patient enough to debug a computer program (that patience didn't come from me), who can sing, write, save lives, teach, play musical instruments, and do so many more great things. The are contributing members of society who show compassion for others, who speak their minds yet try to understand others, they contribute. They are examples to the children they love, and work hard to see that their children know they are loved and supported. As I watch them progress through life, I see them working to instill in their children the values which will helped make them successful. As I quietly stand back and observe, I am proud of the men and women they have become.

In the twilight of my life, I sometime allow my mind to wander back to the days when they were young. I see a collection of happy urchins playing in the mud, catching fish at Pine Valley (or some just playing with caught fish), entertaining themselves in front of an old VHS camera with imaginations that could stifle the likes of Spielberg, or Lucas. Those are good memories for me. There are times when I wish I could go back in time even if for just a moment; go back and just stand back and watch the energy of their youth and their love for each another.

As I quietly watch them today, from a distance, I see that youthful love continually expressed as they support each other. I realize with regularity how lucky I am as I see them comfort each other, share their resources when one is in need, and as they laugh and work together. Each one is following their own path, but they are still, unquestionably family. Their in no question about the love they have for each other and for us as their parents. They are exceptional and I love them with all my heart. I hope they never question my love or the special place they hold in my heart. I hope they know just how special they are and how grateful I am that they are my children.

Shadow Riding

In my life some things which used to be easy, have become hard. Things I looked forward to are now sometimes difficult. So it was today when I charged up the battery, rolled out the bike and took my first ride since December 2^nd 2016. Once the thought of a ride on a beautiful, sunny southern Utah day brought a special kind of excitement, but today with Tony's death still fresh in my memory, it brought trepidation spawned by uncertainty. The uncertainty of wondering what emotions I would experience as I rolled the throttle back and headed into the spring wind.

I had a meeting in town, or so I thought. I decided to put my emotions to a test by riding into town to the meeting. When I got to the designated meeting place no one was there, so I guessed it had been canceled and I must have missed the memo. The ride in was difficult; not in a physical or visual way. I donned Tony's helmet, the one I wish he had been wearing on December 2^nd, and headed in. It was a typical southern Utah early spring day, crisp, but not cold, bright with the radiation of the sun through the blue sky enhancing the colorful scenery so typical of this area. Traffic was light, and as the wind hit my face through the open face shield I almost remembered why I loved to ride. I say almost because there was this shadow. One that has followed me around lately and takes a little of the glow off a day like today.

It's hard to read gauges when your eyes are clouded with moisture. The ride in brought back a flood of memories. They weren't of how much I liked to ride or the many trips I had taken. They were of how much he liked to ride. I could see his broad smile and windblown hair. I remembered the many times he shared with me his love of motorcycles and told me of his trips, his bike, and the exhilaration he experienced with each ride. Each story revealed his love of the sport and his love of life. He relished life's experiences and had an enthusiasm for life that I lack. An enthusiasm that radiated from him in everything he did.

When I found the meeting was canceled and headed for home, I couldn't bring myself to end the ride. I headed north, wound back the throttle, and continued my solitary reminiscent journey. I began to remember why I love to ride. Things are bigger, clearer, more colorful, more fragrant and alive from the seat of a motorcycle. The world is a more exciting, relaxing and beautiful place when you are on two wheels and the wind is your ever present companion. After a while, dried by the breeze, the moisture left my eyes and the view of the gauges became a little clearer. As I wound my way along the Twisty Gunlock Road, in my minds eye I could see him ahead of me. His bigger-than-life presence leading me along; leaning into each corner, rolling back the throttle out of each turn, and popping up and accelerating into the straight-a-ways. With his Beemer, he could leave me behind with little effort, but that would not be him. I could envision him ripping out of a turn, beginning to leave me, and then looking over his shoulder and dropping off the throttle so he stayed with me. He never left me in life, even though he could have many times. He was like that. Not only with me, but with others he loved, and those who he didn't know, who needed him.

As I rode along, the gauges came in and out of focus as waves of memories washed over me. I don't know how much I will ride in the future even though I still love it. The prospect of motorcycle riding doesn't scare me. I have come to the conclusion that one can leave this life in many ways, at anytime, and leaving while doing something you love is not necessarily a bad thing. It's just that some of the magic seems gone. Maybe, with time, it will return. Maybe it will become easier and the gauges will stay in focus. Maybe I will find a way to stay connected with him on two wheels. For now, whether or not that happens remains to be seen. I know for now I will miss him whether I am on two wheels, four wheels, or on foot. That shadow still lingers, it continues to follow me, and waives of grief still find a way to wash over me without warning. When they do, I will continue to breath deep and wait them out hoping someday they will leave me alone. Hoping someday that the shadow will be gone.

A TESTAMENT TO THE CHARACTER OF DPD

It is a testament to the stoic nature of the law enforcement officers in Dallas that they, during a memorial service for their brothers, can sit and listen to a president who has personally, and through his administration, done more to demean and undermine their profession and jeopardize their lives, than any administration in my lifetime.

As I listened to him speak in Warsaw, I could see the eventual outcome. When you judge a situation before the facts are known and fail to let the investigative process and justice take place, you foment the type of violence which we saw play out on our television screens in Dallas. We saw it in Ferguson when lies drove the story line and judgments were made before the facts were known. Apparently he did not learn from that experience.

When you seek to hold law enforcement officers accountable before the facts are known, and then you allow those who react with violence to escape consequences, you encourage a continuation of a behavior that seeks to undermine the rule of law. How is it that law enforcement officers should be tried in the court of public opinion, and considered guilty until proven innocent, when violent protester aren't held accountable, even when their acts are recorded on video for all the world to see.

Our country is in a sad state, and if good people don't stand up and support the right and rule of law, the lawless will prevail in the end. Each of us needs to determine the type of society we want to live in, and then act to support that type of society before it is too late.

My heart grieves for Dallas PD and the families of the fallen. May God bless them. I don't think I could have been as accepting of this president, under those circumstances, as they were.

Terrorism in our world?

With recent events occurring in Boston, one has to wonder whether we are seeing a shift in the very nature of our society.  We are shocked to see such things in our neighborhoods, but as we look around us we see that events like the marathon bombing are much more common place in other countries and areas of the world. Even within our own country, there are regions or cities where violence has become a part of daily life.

In 2011 the National Counter terrorism

Center reports that there were over 10,000 terrorist attacks worldwide.  In those attacks 12,500 people died and 45,000 others became victims to varying degrees.  50% of those affected by terrorism were civilians and in 2011 we saw an increase of 40% in the number of attacks occurring in the western hemisphere. 

Though the statistics are telling, they do not reveal the nature of the effects of a terrorist event.  They do not describe the lives changed, the effects on individuals, friends and extended families. These events change lives forever.  Plans made, and futures anticipated are abruptly halted in an instant.  Some become handicapped for the rest of their lives, others become permanent care givers, while still others are faced with burying loved ones and losing the valued association which they anticipated would go on for many years.  What we are shocked by in our country, is an everyday occurrence in other areas of the world. In some countries, citizens live with the sound of explosions, sirens and gunfire every day.  In areas of our own country homicide and violence is a daily way of life,too.

The deadliest and most common tool in the terrorist’s arsenal is the Improvised Explosive Device (IED).  It is generally made of military grade or other explosives and is built to cause the maximum human damage.  As we saw in the Boston attack, IEDs can be made from simple devices found at home and powered by explosives created from common chemicals found in our communities.  Anyone can make one with plans found on the internet, and everyone has access to the necessary supplies.  As the nature of our societal values continue to decline, we can expect to see more events like this in the future. 

As responsible members of our communities we need to be aware that terrorist events will be planned and perpetrated by those who have not learned to value life and who are stupid enough to think that sending a message in this manner will accomplish something worthwhile. Fortunately, we are not totally defenseless against these idiots, but in order for us to make an impact, we must change how we view our surroundings, and we must be prepared to take action. 

Most of us travel through life wearing Pollyanna’s glasses.  Failing to recognize that we live in an increasingly violent world makes us more prone to the violence we would avoid.  So let me suggest the following:

·         Take off the Pollyanna glasses.  Especially if you are visiting a big city or an area seen as a potential terrorist target.  Start looking at your world as potentially violent and be aware of your surroundings.  Evaluate what you see, and use common sense in your evaluations.  It’s not normal for someone to walk into a place, put down a backpack, package or briefcase and then leave.  Packages aren’t usually delivered to a bathroom stall, under a bar stool or in a public area.  It’s not normal for people to be overly nervous in a crowd, especially if they came into the crowd of their own free will.  Winter coats aren’t usually worn in the summer and bulges under someone’s clothing can be seen if you look and some are not the normal consequence of the insanity workout. 

·         Look at people.  Many of us go through life looking down or past people in public places.  Look into their eyes, at their faces, their clothing and evaluate what you see.  Simply looking at a gremlin can make him disappear, or want to.  Knowing he has been seen and that someone paid attention to him may prompt him to delay his planed scheme or maybe even abandon it altogether.

·         Stop being politically correct. If you see something, say something.  We are too, often worried about what others may think if we say something.  We’re afraid of being called a Gladys Kravitz .  Gladys could have been a hero in Boston, if she would have had her nose in the bomber’s business and pointed his actions out to authorities.  Speak up.  Law Enforcement would rather check something out, to find it can be explained away as innocent behavior, than to respond later, after the fact, to an event like a bombing or other terrorist act.  

Life today is not safe.  It will not be safe in the future and if our society continues down its current path it will likely become much more dangerous.  As our societal values diminish and the number of valueless gremlins multiplies, the danger we live in will similarly increase.  We have three choices; adapt and become more aware and more willing to offend someone by reporting their strange behavior, hide and don’t go out in public, or become victims.  Nothing guarantees our safety.  Simple things can definitely give us an edge.

Staying Safe in an Unsafe World

With the tragic events recently occurring in Newtown Connecticut, it becomes prudent for all of us to revisit the importance of planning for the potential of violent incidents occurring in the workplace and in other public areas.  While some believe assault weapons are the problem, I don’t agree.  To quote Jeff Cooper, "The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally it can be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."

In our society today, with the increase in the portrayal of violent acts becoming an hourly occurrence on our television and movie screens, and with even more frequent displays available to us in video games, it is likely that we will continue to see morally deficient members of our society acting out.   Unfortunately, life has always been a dangerous venture, and it is getting even more dangerous with the decline of morals in our society.  So what do we do?

First recognize that we live in a potentially violent environment.  Often the victims of violent events fail to immediately recognize that they are in danger.  Their first thought is, “This can’t be happening” or they ask, “Is this real?”  In a crisis failure to recognize danger and act immediately, can result in you becoming a casualty.  So first we need to understand that violence happens in our society every day.  While we can hope it doesn't happen in southern Utah, over 25 years in law enforcement has taught me that everything that happens elsewhere, eventually happens in southern Utah.
 
Second, Pay attention to your surroundings.  The best way to avoid being a victim is to be gone when the bullets begin to fly.  Violent actors look for easy victims.  They select easy targets and when you fail to recognize a threat in your environment you become an easy target.  Take the time scan your surroundings and look at people, especially their faces and hands.  Look at what they are wearing.  Certain behaviors, types of clothing, and objects are symbolic dangers.  If they look nervous or angry, if their clothing doesn't fit the season, or seems to be concealing something, recognize it, pay attention to what they are doing and take action if necessary before they get too close.  

Last, have a plan.  Ask yourself, “What would I do if I was confronted with violence?”  Think through escape routes, barricades, and the potential defensive tools available to you.  In a crisis, almost anything can become a weapon if you need it bad enough.

Your plan should involve escape and evasion as your first option.  The only two friends you have in a violent attack are time and distance.  Put enough distance between you and the threat and you have additional time to react, escape or be rescued.

If escape is not an option, then hiding is your next best option.  Lock yourself in the most secure room you can find.  Use everything at your disposal to barricade the entrance and keep quiet.  Notify law enforcement and turn down your phone or other devices that might give away your position.  If you are too hard to get at, a criminal may likely look for an easier target.

As a last resort, you may have to fight to survive.  As you think through possibilities, you should resolve that if necessary, if your life is in jeopardy, you will fight.  Your fight might just save you and others.  If you are not carrying a weapon, look for potential weapons, including chairs, tables, shelving components, anything which can be used to deter an attacker.  If you are forced to fight, you must fight with all your strength, using everything available to you.  It is likely that you will surprise the gremlin if you fight back.  Most degenerate personalities don’t expect you to attack them.  Use that surprise to your advantage.  Be quick, determined, ruthless, and don’t give up until the fight is over.

I hope none of us is ever involved in a situation like this in our lives.  In today’s world, there is a real possibility that you will either be a victim of a violent crime or know someone who is a victim.  With a little planning, crisis rehearsal, and awareness, you can potentially limit the damage to yourself and others.  Remember, Preplan now, Escape first, Hide if you can’t escape, and Fight if it becomes necessary.  Be safe.

THOUGHTS ON CONNECTICUT

Here we go again with the gun control debate. With the tragedy that occurred yesterday in Connecticut, we begin again to blame inanimate objects for the behaviors of men. Some in our society seem to forget that a mechanical device can do nothing of itself and requires the hand of man to provide the catalysis for its activity. We can argue the value of gun control, we can implement strict gun control laws, but without addressing the root cause of the problem, our actions will bring about little change. The cause of violence isn't a formed piece of metal, it is the hand that manipulates it. When we address the societal change we have undergone in recent years, we might just find a way to stop or slow the behaviors which spawn such tragic events, and save future families from the grief which now envelopes the lives of the victims of this disaster.

While my heart aches and my thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this event, I can't help but believe that we are pointing the finger at the wrong culprit. In trying to evaluate this and other criminal acts like yesterday's shooting, we must look beyond any device and look at behaviors. It is interesting that the media, politicians, and some of our fellow citizens are quick to accuse Colt, Smith and Wesson, and Ruger, but are slow to look at the role television, movies, other media, and the part our societies changes in values have in bringing about the adverse events which are affecting us with ever increasing frequency. The fact is that over the past several decades, we have placed less and less value on accountability, and values, and have drifted away from the conducts which are necessary for a social societies survival. We are quick to blame objects but in fact we are reaping the results of our social decisions.

When we spend a good portion of our leisure time looking at violence, what do we expect the results to be? We dehumanize our race by creating non-living versions of our neighbors and then spend our time watching them get dispatched into the afterlife in ever increasingly violent ways. How do we expect our fellow citizens to act out? In the past there was an occasional violent portrayal of this type, but in todays world those portrayals are coming at us at an ever increasing rate and in more graphic detail. Do you think our sensitivity to violence might just be lessening? When we and our children spend hours at a time, for days on end shooting, and killing human like or even inhuman game pieces in a virtual world, do we think it will have no long term affect? If we do, we are wrong and our recent history proves that we are wrong.

As we discuss the recent losses in Connecticut, perhaps we should begin to discuss some potential solutions which might have a long term positive affect. Maybe we should reinstate the values which existed before the increased violence began its upswing in our society. Maybe it's time to begin to speak again of God, moral standards and accountability again in our schools and our government. Maybe it's time to talk about the media's role in promoting violence and the impacts that having violent images continuously before us can produce. Perhaps we should look to behaviors and the societal activities that drive them, instead of looking for an easy answer, which will not solve the problem. Unfortunately, I don't think the involved industries will do that, they are too busy blaming an industry which creates inanimate objects.

What we see happening is driven by money, greed and even a more dark motivation designed at changing the values in our country and the world. In order for effective change to occur, we as citizens will have to drive it. The question needs to be asked, What are you prepared to do about it? Are you willing to come out of your shell and lobby for change, are you willing to turn off the television violence, to stop supporting sponsors of violence with your dollars, to stop paying to see violent movies, to purge the violent video games from your home and to begin to reinstate the values that made our society work for two hundred years in your lives and the lives of your children? It is our behaviors which can make the difference. Until we drive what is happening with our wallets, the peddlers of violence in our society will continue to sell their evil to us and our children. Only when they feel it in their bank accounts, can we expect change. The result will be that some in our society and even some of our children will act out and the tragedies of our day will continue. What are you prepared to do about it?

Lest We Forget

I have listened with interest the information being discovered as a result of the Congressional inquiry into tragic the events in Libya.  It seems that each day’s reports raise more and more questions as to what was going on in the State Department and Whitehouse before, during and after the September 11^th attack.  As the father of a son who has served his country during two tours of duty in the Middle East, I am glad that my son returned safely.  I morn with the families who have lost sons and daughters in service to our country, but I feel assured that their sacrifice will bring eternal rewards.  In the words of the Savior “Greater love hath no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” [i]  In my son’s last deployment, I worried as I was forced to question our country’s resolve.  Unreasonable rules of engagement, the need for civil clearance before action could be taken, and other political decisions tended to tie the hands of our fighting men in an environment which was both tenuous and perilous.  I am grateful my son is home safe and I will pray for the safety of all of our nation's sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, as long as they are in harm’s way. 

As I have listen to the news coverage there are two conclusions I have drawn.  The first is that there is no balanced coverage.  There are two presentations regarding the attacks.  The first is the portion of the media who are ignoring the story and failing to report on anything except a few facts that they feel they must report on in order to avoid being viewed as completely incompetent or biased.  The second is the portion of the media who is reporting on everything, whether vetted or not, who seem not to be concerned whether their reporting is biased.  Perhaps most concerning to me is the fact that in almost each of the reports I have seen, the media continually refers to Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans who were killed in the attack.  Are these repeated references to the three Americans an effort to minimize the event by keeping us from putting faces on those who died?  The fact is that in addition to Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, and Glen Doherty were also killed in the attack.  The fact that the other three Americans killed in the attack have names and families seems to have been lost in the controversy.  No matter what contributed to, happened during, or after the attack, we should never allow those who died to become nameless and faceless victims.  They are American Heroes, who died in defense of American soil even though that soil lies within a foreign land. 

As far as I can tell after searching the news reports, Ambassador Chris Stevens is survived by his mother, stepfather, brothers and sisters and other extended family.  Tyrone Woods had parents, a wife and three sons, Glen Doherty is survived by his father, mother and a brother and sister, Sean Smith had parents, a wife and a son and daughter. Woods and Doherty were decorated veterans.  I would like to think that my conclusions about their families are accurate but the reporting on these suffering family members is both vague and limited.  Unfortunately in all the reporting currently going on about this tragedy, the names of these dedicated Americans is too often left out. I hope that our congress continues to examine this incident to determine who knew and did what, who did not do what should have been done, and why our leaders failed to react to this terrorist act in an effort to save the lives of these heroes.  As the story plays out, I hope the media and all of America remembers the names of the three other Americans.  They are Tyrone Woods, Glen Doherty, and Sean Smith.  I hope we remember their families in our prayers, and once the truth is learned, I hope we hold those responsible accountable and remember the lessons learned so that other American heroes and their families don’t have to suffer a similar fate.      

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[i] John 15:13