When Is Enough . . . Enough?

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING IF YOU WANT TO OBJECT TO MY POLITICALLY INCORRECT VIEWS AND OPINIONS AND MAKES COMMENTS. I DON'T WANT YOU TO COMMENT EVEN IF YOU AGREE WITH MY VIEWS AND OPINIONS, EITHER. THIS IS MY FORUM. I WILL DELETE ANY AND ALL COMMENTS AT MY DISCRETION. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, POST IT ON YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, BLOG OR SEND IT TO ME IN AN EMAIL. I'LL READ IT THERE. BE SURE TO NOTIFY ME. I AM EXPRESSING MY FEELINGS, VIEWS AND OPINIONS BASED ON MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS – UNTIL I AM TAKEN AWAY IN HANDCUFFS AND LEG IRONS AND THROWN INTO SOME GULAG FOR NOT BOWING TO THE RADICAL EVENTS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY CURRENTLY!!!

I'm sending you a link to a statement presented in (what I believe to be) a rational, articulate, not emotionally charged, thoughtful manner by someone who genuinely sounds concerned about the country he loves and has served on two levels of public service. Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/newsbusters/videos/1191577801203867

I don't usually circulate things of this nature. I sent one to a few people the other day that was emotionally charged because it moved me. I'm sending this one because it not only moved me, but because I've been asking the same questions this man addresses. I tend to identify more as a conservative, but a moderate conservative. I'm far from a radical or extreme conservative.

When is enough... enough? This is no longer a peaceful protest. It has spread to over 650 US cities. Billions of dollars of destruction and looted merchandise, businesses have been lost, personal property destroyed, innocent people seriously injured and already there are deaths of innocent people as well as perpetrators of this “civil war.” Public property and infrastructure owned by ALL the citizens have been destroyed or occupied. Fortresses/strongholds have been created in the city streets of several cities (and if this keeps on, I expect there to be more situations like this across the country). This has been going on for five weeks at the time of this writing. To my knowledge, it's the longest and most widespread, prolonged event of its kind in the history of the United States. This is no longer a peaceful protest to affect change in the justice system. Sadly, I say this has become a civil war backed by people, frankly, who I believe don't give a damn about African-Americans or anyone else other than their own self-serving interests and agendas.

I'm sick of hearing about Black Lives Matter. Yes! Black lives do matter. However, White lives matter, Asian lives matter, Native-American lives matter, Middle Eastern and Muslim lives matter, Hispanic lives matter. ALL LIVES MATTER – PERIOD! There is no legal precedent for public property to be destroyed or disfigured except acts of lawlessness, anarchy and war. We are a nation that supposedly operates under something called the Rule of Law. If you don't like something, take the legal action to have it changed, whether it's the removal of a statue or monument or reform in the law enforcement and first responders' services.

Revising History . . . AGAIN!

What we're seeing is a violent attempt to create MORE revisionist history. Just as in Germany and other countries around the world, when a new regime (or new world order) comes in by force, utilizing mob psychology, one of the first actions is to “burn the books” to get rid of history, reeducate the populace to the new version of history the new regime wants the populace to believe – and discredit or “terminate” the intellectuals. This is the path I see this entire “civil war” heading. We know there are factions in the world, even now, who are trying to rewrite history by eliminating the fact of the Holocaust of WWII.

Yes! There is a very small fraction of the police who are bad guys and thugs. They put on a badge and a gun and think they are THE authority, Storm Troopers if you will. But, most of the police are good men and women. The vast majority of police officers never unholster their weapons nor discharge them during THEIR ENTIRE CAREERS. They are there doing a job they took an oath to do – to serve and protect. But, when they are attacked. They will react as they are trained to do. Are there some injustices? Absolutely! No system is perfect. But, there are ways to effect change. Violence is not the way. Violence is responded to with violence. A lose-lose situation. George Floyd and the others whose faces have become the symbols of this “civil war” are terribly unfortunate cases of injustice. But, there are many examples of the same situation with Whites, Hispanics and other races and ethnicities.

Certainly, if the African-American population seems to be profiled, perhaps, looking at the crime statistics can shed some light on the reasoning. No! Profiling is not always right. The entire race issue is very complex. Yet, I know of many, many African-Americans who live comfortable middle-class, upper-middle-class and even upper-class lives. And, they don't seem to be singled out by the law – if they are not doing something suspicious, involved in questionable activities, are in a place known to be crime-ridden or are users/sellers of illegal drugs, etc. And, of course, there are certainly some who are unfairly treated. The highest percentage of black homicides are committed by black perpetrators, somewhere in the range of 72%. While black homicides committed by white perpetrators are only in the 1% range. These are from national crime statistics.

On this morning's news there was a father grieving over the death of his 19-year old son who was shot and killed in the six blocks of Seattle occupied by the “supposedly” peaceful demonstrators who overran the police precinct and took it over and forced the police to retreat. Is this grieving father blaming the “peaceful” demonstrators? Of course not. He wants to know why the police weren't there to protect his son. And, of course, this raises the question . . . what was his son doing there in the first place?

To Bear Arms or Become an Ex-Pat

My point is this! I have never, in my 75 years of life, considered acquiring and becoming qualified with firearms. I served my country and took the same oath as all other people in the military. I qualified on the M16 automatic rifle. But, I was not combat trained. However, as this “civil war” continues to expand, I'm beginning to change my thinking about arming and being trained to protect myself and those close to me. As someone who, as my current lifestyle, loves traveling across this country and experiencing the beauty, the people and the history – good and not so good, I've become more fearful of being out there by myself. Fortunately (not really), I can't traverse the continent as I have loved doing for the last several years due to recovering from a near-fatal case of cancer and the other national issue of the coronavirus pandemic. Another topic for another time. I have less and less desire to go near any large or medium-sized cities. And, I'm even wary about smaller cities where these violent actions have been taking place.

As an alternative, I've begun researching where in the world I'd consider moving as an ex-patriot. I've never given this idea any thought before. However, this is not the same country I was born into, raised and educated in, served my country in and spent my adult life creating businesses and jobs for other people in. At this time of my life, I want to live peacefully, without fear and seek happiness in each day I have left on this planet. I am not politically correct and don't ever plan to buy into the politically correct “NewSpeak.” I respect all people – who mutually respect me without regard to race, color, religion, etc. 

However, I will flatly admit I DISCRIMINATE!!! I have the right to discriminate and deal with, serve in business and relate to anyone I choose to or not deal with, serve in business or relate to at my discretion based on mutual respect and strength of character. I don't care if it's the man who collects the garbage or cleans the septic tanks or the President of the United States. This, too, may also end up with me in handcuffs and leg irons and sent to some gulag for “reeducation.”

Living Free

For the past 12 years I have been writing in my blog, 2livefreely.com, about living freely (not living for free, there are no free lunches). I totally believe in the concept set forth in the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

It's been my mission to share my ideas, philosophies and methods of achieving the most personal freedom without infringing on the rights of others and obeying the rule of law. And, by so seeking this personal freedom, as each individual defines it for himself or herself, to then attain the ultimate purpose and meaning of this gift of life we are granted for such a short time – Happiness. Regardless of who we are or what choices we make for our lives, ultimately, we are all seeking happiness, which is a state of mind. Nothing else we do, no matter how successful we become, no matter how many people we help, no matter how large a house we have or how expensive a vehicle we drive, etc. matters when we take our last breath. The only thing that matters is how much of the time we were alive can we say we have been purely and truly happy.

I know this has been long and I commend you for your tolerance if you read it all. I've been in a stationary situation for the last 10½ months undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, radiation and major surgery that has changed my internal anatomy and life forever, spent two weeks in a hospital bed, then five weeks in a rehabilitation facility and now nearly 4½ months recovering from the cancer treatments. And, now isolated for those 4½ to avoid exposure to the pandemic virus, I've had lots of time to watch what's been going on in the world, but especially our country and I'm saddened by it and disgusted with it.

Politics Aside - Are We Truly On The Brink of Civil War (Again)

This is not a political statement. I don't give a flying fling who you voted for or are going to vote for or your politics and it's none of your business who I'm going to vote for (other than the fact that I honestly don't really have a horse in this race – AGAIN). I'm not the least bit impressed by the current political process in the U.S.

And, while I'm not a violent person by any definition, I feel I may have to arm myself at some time if this current BS keeps up. And, YES, I will aim and pull the trigger if I feel I'm being threatened or those close to me are being threatened. I am not the man I used to be, physically or morally. But, this is not the country I used to love and enjoy. I have questions about that today. When I'm well enough to hit the road again and when (if) this virus is ever under control and the risk is eliminated, will I feel safe traveling this country again? That's a very big, unknown question.

For now, I'd like to see our elected wimp government representatives at all levels right down to the local level, grow some balls and do the jobs they were entrusted with and took an oath to perform. I'd hate to ever see it happen, but I'd just as soon see the police and national guard overrun these assholes calling themselves peaceful demonstrators. They are destroying our streets, communities and country for an agenda that has nothing to do with social justice or racism, at least that's the way I see it. I say this even if it means using tear gas, mace and, worst-case scenario, live bullets (woe to anyone stupid enough to get in the way).

If you agree with what I've said, or even most of what I've said, then let's get this message to others of like mind. Write your own feelings about this situation. Send them by email. Post them on social media, If you have a blog, post your thoughts, views and opinions there. If you're a podcaster let your listeners know where you stand. But, at the very least, pass on the link to this blog article - When Is Enough . . . Enough?

If you don't agree with my views. I would challenge you to write and publish your views and opinions similarly. You won't change my views or opinions and you certainly won't hurt my feelings. I'm only one person with my own views. However, I'd further suggest you get off your apathy and go join your peeps “peacefully demonstrating” in the streets of our cities, towns and country. Help them destroy personal property and businesses, loot, steal and plunder, injure or murder innocent bystanders as well as your fellow demonstrators. Show your support for their lawless, anarchy and assist in starting the next civil war. Heck, the last civil war cost the country between 500,000 and 600,000 souls. Why not go for a new record and see if we can break 1,000,000 this time.

As for me, I'll either be armed and defending myself and those close to me. I'll give one warning to back off if anyone threatens me before I put a bullet between their eyes. OR, I'll be the King of my own little island somewhere with myself and a few friends and family as my only subjects. If the U.S. government sends ships to attack me, I'll fire one round over their heads. Then I'll duck into a bunker, raise the white flag of surrender and collect foreign aid for the rest of my life.

Am I being facetious? Maybe. Only time will reveal the answer to that question.

Now, like I said, DO NOT RESPOND to this. I will delete it.

Be safe! Live Free and Be Happy! EH