Immigration

[LA_MERC_Andyconda]

A good quote from Theodore Roosevelt in 1907. We should study our past. George W is making a bad descision on mwxican immigration.

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Go Teddy R.

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

well....I kind of agree with that. I would have an issue with the 'one language' thing, and 'one flag' thing.

First, you can't say 'don't discriminate because of creed, birthplace or origin' and 'room for only one language' in the same paragraph...hmm...double standard? Officially, yes.....English should be the language used for all business...but you can't tell my neighbor not to speak Spanish in his home or to his friends while in the mall. I don't like hearing different languages because I don't know if they are talking about me :) but who am I to tell someone to speak English only?

And about 'one flag'...doesn't each state also have a flag?...I guess they should get rid of those eh?

[LA_MERC_goose]

I agree with Sabre on the language part - English for day to day business but in the personal realm, have at it. Flags - come on, you're stretching the flag deal when you bring the state in. We have room for but one flag, the American flag - a country flag. The states are all apart of the big picture, the American picture. There is a reason the American flag sits higher on the flag pole than the state flags.

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

We have room for but one flag, the American flag - a country flag. The states are all apart of the big picture, the American picture. There is a reason the American flag sits higher on the flag pole than the state flags.


I guess my sarcasm didn't come through in my post...lol

[LA_MERC_goose]

I guess my sarcasm didn't come through in my post...lol

Ya think?

[LA_MERC_Dirge]

Are we talking about stopping illegal geese from coming down from Canada?

[LA_MERC_BS]

I personally think if we have that much damn room in our work force to allow Mexicans work passes, then the first thing we should do is cut out those unemployment checks that people are getting. I'm not going to throw stones at the mexican who has to jump the fence to come over here and work to feed his family. But I do have a problem with the millions of mexicans that are already here gobbling up all the work and sending the money back to mexico. If the money was put back in circulation in the U.S, it helps the economy. When the money is made here and spent somewhere else, then it hurts. Whats even worse is that Mexicans will work for half of what Americans will. They spend just enough to survive while they are working here and then they are gone with the money. Why would an employeer hire a guy that lives here for $15.00 an hour when he can hire a mexican to do tha same job for $7.00 an hour. That shoots the unemployment rate through the roof. And since our tax dollars pay for someone that won't work, that means over time your tax dollars will increase. I commend the man for trying to help the mexican folk out, but I think it throws fuel on our economy fire.

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

I agree BS....I have no problems with people wanting a better life....but do it the right way. It took me thousands of dollars to come here and get my proper documentation...it pisses me off that some of these bastages are getting a free ride. It will cost me a couple more thousand to get my wife's status too. SOB's are making all immigrants look bad.

[Biggs]

my great grandfarter came over from Sicily on a boat packed with itialians. he came to New Orleans with out a dollar to his name and couldnt speak English.

He learned english
started a seafood company
opened stores
had 12 sons (which my grandfather paul and his brothers actually made up an entire baseball team)


and did all this legally with no help from the government.



now he would probably just whack the dang mexicans

[LA_MERC_Shadow]

I agree with the one language statement. When I read it I saw it as...we're not going to have signs and documentation on everything for multiple languages. You live here you need to learn the English language. I'm sorry I deal with this on a daily basis now because of the people we have rebuilding our city (and I do appreciate them). BUT there are many people who immigrate here and refuse to participate in our culture, they want to be separate and retain only the culture they came from like most of the cubans in Maimi and that area. Speak whatever you want at home but you have to lean our language for your own good.
I can't tell you how many people I have to interview before surgery (emergency surgery most of the time) and they don't speak a lick of english. Now what the hell kind of history am I going to get from them? And it can make a difference in whether they live or die. I have numerous friends who are bilingual b/c there families moved here and they retained that portion of their culture and many times it allowed them to get better jobs because of it.
Another drain on our economy these people often provide is that we give them free healthcare. If they're illegal or can't give an address b/c they don't speak english we can't bill them for anything. And it happens a lot more than you might think.

One last thing, I'm from Louisiana where a number of years back they would not allow you to speak French in the classroom so that everyone would speak English, so I don't have any sympathy for these people when it comes to that. Heck, my grandparents had to learn English...they can too.

[LA_MERC_Andyconda]

I think what Teddy was saying there guys is like DJ mentioned. You can speak any language you want here as long as you know and can use English. We need one language to communicate with each other but you can't expect to live in a place where you can't speak the native language. And it isn't choctaw its the kings english damn it. I don't get mad at Al when he yells at me in Canadianish. When I visit mexico. I try to speak spanish. If I go to Italy I will try to speak Italian. If I go to germany i will try to speak German, etc etc. If you come to America I will speak to you in English. A lot of good points here and the whole purpose of America (The melting Pot) is to be a conglomerate of many cultures but to be govrened and run by one) How else we gonna get along if we can't communicate. Obla English Mother ****er. No you say, GET THE **** OUT!

[HENK]

i agree with Sabre on the language/flag thing.everybody should be able to use theire native language ,but don't expect others to speak it as well and don't expect that it is recordnized in any way .having street signs and so on in spanish in some neibhorhoods is just Bull****.
we should also stop blaming the Mexicans for everything including the illegal immigration,illegal immigration is mainly an american made problem. we should start punishing employers who employ illegals ,that would take care of a lot of the problems .then MAKE people who live of the government take those jobs "nobody" (no american) wants to do or cancel theire checks .
Welfare and immigration problem solved:D,or at least a step in the right direction.

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

yup...you guys all make good points. but the bottom line is exactly what Henk said....in that the major problem is that we have alot of enablers in this great country that are only looking out for themselves...ie...cheap labor. The government can ***** and whine about the borders all they want...it won't do any good. The problem is already in the country...and the problem is the 'blind eye'.

People like us who work and pay taxes (legal immigrants, citizens alike) really don't have a say in what is going on. we see it, we live it....but it would cause too much controversy and balls to change it. (hence rioting we see now)

DJ, my wife was also in the medical field. While working in a Toronto hospital....talk about melting pot! Non-english speaking people getting irate because needles are against their religion, but could never communicate that....because they don't speak english. dumb-arses

I believe that everyone should learn English and communicate in the business world with it....but to say that they shouldn't speak their native language at all is just silly.

[LA_MERC_Andyconda]

True Dat Al. I mean I speak Bellbonics all the time. My own language I refined myself. Everyone can speak their own language but we need one common one to relate with. Like Henk said. Signs in other languages is crap. The blind eye is the problem and if the government doesn't get a hold of this isse the eye will open and then all hell will break loose.

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

Anyone ever travel into canada lately??? All the traffic signs are English/French.....very annoying.

Of course, it's a little different in Canada because they have three official languages:

English, French, and Hockey

[-=C.O.P.S=-KOrruptED]

The immigration issue stems from the fact that Americans just don't want to do the work that the Mexicans are doing. So what is the problem if the U.S. allows them to cross the border to do work nobody else wants to do?

[LA_MERC_Dirge]

The immigration issue stems from the fact that Americans just don't want to do the work that the Mexicans are doing. So what is the problem if the U.S. allows them to cross the border to do work nobody else wants to do?


Not so my friend. The issue comes from them not being immigrants at all. Immigrants come to America, learn the language, often do crap work for low pay, but they do so to give their families great hope for the future and embrace the Amercian dream. The anger present today towards the illegal immigrants is that the illegals often have none or zero desire to assimilate with America.

For an excellent analysis of the current immigrant situation go here:
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5383

[-=C.O.P.S=-KOrruptED]

I don't think it's a lack of desire to assimilate, I believe it's more the difficulty in assimilating.

[Biggs]

i am all for immigration....it is the future of this country,,,we all immigrated to the US in some fashion, but

DO IT LEAGALLY AND FRIGGIN SEND ILLEGALS BACK,

wait in line, pay the price, learn egnlish, and pay f'n taxes, and quit gettin free heatlhcare.........

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

i am all for immigration....it is the future of this country,,,we all immigrated to the US in some fashion, but

DO IT LEAGALLY AND FRIGGIN SEND ILLEGALS BACK,

wait in line, pay the price, learn egnlish, and pay f'n taxes, and quit gettin free heatlhcare.........


I couldn't have said it better...except I might have better spelling :) :stick

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Okay my turn:

First off.......F**K Illegals.
You drivin down the street...accidentally hit one...no prob......his fault for being sneaky.
Container full gets to hot.........dump the crane hard to the left......let the fish feed.
In no way shape or form is this Most stupid way of thinking worth it. If they sneak over here, break the law, get shot, hurt themselves working laying my sod..........who cares? They should be treated as you treat stray cats, dogs, buffalo, whatever. They are the illegals, we are hard working americans (Sabre included). It insults me we are even discussing this. One language to conduct day to day life.....HELL YES. You can't read "Coffee is Hot" in english........it is going to hurt and who cares. You cannot read drunk driving is a crime even if blaring salsa music and singing loudly to entertain bystanders.........get the hell beat out of ya like Rodney. Henk you know German....I assume you are from there? Welcome to America, thank you for being upstanding and CONTRIBUTING to society. Sabre - you too. (see previuos statement about HENK.)

Do not get me wrong. I am not evil. I am not a racist. I am not a biggot. We have definite problems in this country. Lets weed our garden, before we plant theirs. I genuinley like like most people. I was once "jumped" by 13 migrant workers while in college. Guess the nationality. It hurt very badly.....I got beat pretty well until friends walked out of the bar. Illegals CONTRIBUTE s**t to our society. They cannot pay taxes. They cannot tell the truth. They cannot stay at the scene of an accident. They will not stop if they witness something bad happen. They will not help out the police. They will hit and run. They break the law everyday. They are a scurge. Gov't sees money. Through taxes instantly added to our budget. Remember more money = more spending. Illegals are not stupid either. Do you honestly think that they will get in line and sign up tomorrow. I call BULLS**T! It looks great on paper. It will not work because: More than one language.
Not smart enough to do it right the first time.
Ship them back and let them build FORD Rangers.
Give em all a raise I don't care.
Quit being enablers period.

Enabling got our planes hijacked and ran into things. We are the stupid ones.......not the illegals.

SORRY FOR THE RANT.

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

Just watch what you say about Buffalo!...heheheh I think we all feel that way Rook.

[LA_MERC_Andyconda]

Amen

[Wyrm_f00d]

Ok..a country is defined in 3 distinct way.

1. Borders
2. Language
3. Culture

To remain a soverign country we must protect the 3 basics. If we cannot defend or protect our borders we are in trouble. Language... c'mon... it is English damnit.... I would not move to germany and expect everyone to pander to my lazyness and request they speak to me in english... that is just wrong and we should NOT pander to the Latin Immagrants.

Culture... that is pretty self evident...The Latin illegals express no intentions on assimilating or becoming a part of the USA culture... True.. that the culture of the US is a melting pot of many cultures and idiology, but the immagrants from south of the border are quite happy to live in a spannish speaking, mexican culture sects within the US... The US governent has only allowed this type of behavior to 1 major group in its history... that is the Native Americans from which "aquired" the lands of the US...

sorry for the spelling and terrible grammer... but i am at work after all....

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

Maybe the solution to the immigration thing is simple, but not conceivable:

If you migrate to the US, legally, then you must show undeniable evidence that you have made every effort to learn and adopt the English language as your main communication tool outside of the home. If after x number of years you cannot prove such....then you are sent home.

I don't have a problem with maintaining culture (little china or whatever)....but I do have a problem with people coming here and "expecting" and demanding respect from everyone. I for one don't give respect until it is earned....and that is not the way to earn it...lol

The difference between many foreigners and home grown Americans/Canadians...is that we actually respect the rights of other people and countries...almost too much.
Which is why our 'nice guy' attitude has gotten us in the immigration problems we see today.

[Biggs]

Maybe the solution to the immigration thing is simple, but not conceivable:

If you migrate to the US, legally, then you must show undeniable evidence that you have made every effort to learn and adopt the English language as your main communication tool outside of the home. If after x number of years you cannot prove such....then you are sent home.

I don't have a problem with maintaining culture (little china or whatever)....but I do have a problem with people coming here and "expecting" and demanding respect from everyone. I for one don't give respect until it is earned....and that is not the way to earn it...lol

The difference between many foreigners and home grown Americans/Canadians...is that we actually respect the rights of other people and countries...almost too much.
Which is why our 'nice guy' attitude has gotten us in the immigration problems we see today.



i agree....thats also why i make sure i put those mexys in there place...

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Lets address ILLEGALS in general. Yes the majority are Mexicanish in nature, but there are others. Yes the language thing is mainly Spanish in nature but there are an occassional deutch or someone. The simple act is that most warm blooded "American" businesses would rape thier sisters to make a few extra dollars. I think Donald Trump summed it up for all of us other Americans when he said Character is overrated and a waste of time......You are Fired! All of us know that most people would walk across the street to buy something for a few bucks cheaper from a guy you wouldn't invite to dinner at your house. This type of thinking is driving our economy we work in. How many times have you been complimented for getting the same task done less expensively? Do you worry why or even wonder why it was cheaper? It is a hard decision to make. One of us has a great signature line. Something about hyphenated Americanism. This is true about every aspect. If being american means screw thy neighbor than okay. If being American means holding up the Ideals our country was built on, than do it. If someone you do business with, spend day to day with, or befriend is not a "good" person, than you in some way SUPPORT their ideas and philosophies. Ignorance is NO EXCUSE. Turning the "blind eye" will get your other one poked out. Yes we are all employees, so if our bosses hire someone that is not good than they are condoning their actions and feelings. To say that ones personal life should not matter is our way of turning that blind eye. America is good at putting in "cover your ass" steps into everything. I didn't know buying my son a semi-automatic assault rifle and loading it for him would get another child killed. Lets quit making excuses and start living how we need to. If I don't agree with my company, than I will quit and find another. Let us all give praise to those Americans that uphold the values of our country and its people.

I am proud to be American. I am proud to say there are bad people. I have an excerpt to read:
This should be required reading for the present generation, especially those in student status and others in academia.

Jill Edwards, a junior math major at the University of Washington, and a member of the UW student senate, opposed a memorial to UW graduate "Pappy" Boyington. Boyington was a U.S. Marine aviator who earned the Medal of Honor in World War II. Edwards said that she didn't think it was appropriate to honor a person who killed other people. She also said that a member of the Marine Corps was NOT an example of the sort of person the University of Washington wanted to produce.

What follows is Gen. Dula's letter to the University of Washington student senate leader. Read and comprehend what is being said, and decide if you want to be a "sheep".

To: Edwards, Jill (student, UW)
Subject: SHEEP, WOLVES, AND SHEEPDOGS

Miss Edwards, I read of your 'student activity' regarding the proposed memorial to Col Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor winner. I suspect you will receive a bellyful of angry e-mails from conservative folks like me. You may be too young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of generations of servicemen and servicewomen on whose shoulders you and your fellow students stand. I forgive you for the untutored ways of youth and your naiveté.

It may be that you are, simply, a sheep. There's no dishonor in being a sheep - - as long as you know and accept what you are. Please take a couple of minutes to read the following. And be grateful for the millions of American sheepdogs who permit you the freedom to express even bad ideas.

Brett Dula
Sheepdog, retired

----------------------------------------------------------

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

ON SHEEP, WOLVES, AND SHEEPDOGS

By LTC(RET) Dave Grossman, RANGER,
Ph.D., author of "On Killing."

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always, even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997
>
> One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me: "Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another.
>
> Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.
>
> Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.
>
> I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me, it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell.
>
> Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful. For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.
>
> "Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You had better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.
>
> "Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."
>
> If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf.
>
> But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed
>
> Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.
>
> But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.
>
> The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
>
> Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa." Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.
>
> The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.
>
> Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?
>
> Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones.
>
> Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.
>
> There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population.
>
> There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: Slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims the same way big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.
>
> Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
>
> Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents. From sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.
>
> There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke
>
> Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.
>
> If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.
>
> For example, many officers carry their weapons in church. They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs. Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.
>
> I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, "I will never be caught without my gun in church." I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy's body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?"
>
> Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.
>
> Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones were attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?"
>
> It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.
>
> Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear, helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.
>
> Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: "...denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling."
>
> Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level. And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes.
>
> If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath and say this to yourself..."Baa."
>
> This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other.
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> Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.

My personal Signature:
"If It Weren't For The United States Military There Would Be NO United States of America"