Duty and Oath

I just finished reading "Why terrorism works" by Alan Dershowitz. In the book he says it's the duty of the military to follow their leaders and the President without question, ever. Dershowitz is a law professor and, I imagine, teaches his law students this. Law students become politicians and want to command the military and law enforcement officers. I'm starting to see this attitude from our President, Congress, and Senate more and more.

I was in the United States Marine Corps for 10 years and my duty was to defend the Constitution against all enemies.

I would like our military, police, and civil servants to remember that your duty is to the Constitution of the United States, not a person, leader, or government official.

Check out this website oathkeepers.org and sign up to reaffirm your duty to the Constitution. Check out the video on the home page. It's a little long, but is worth the 10 minutes, and it will remind you of what our government may do under extreme circumstances.

Ben

Thank God It’s Monday

Ever said that before? I was saying it yesterday. I had a long week last week, and this week will be better. Last week everything seemed to need attention now, and nothing seemed to get done. It was overwhelming. This week is already going better. Saturday and Sunday I took an instructor class with great people, yesterday I actually got things checked off my list, and today I’m going to a seminar on business with two great friends.

This week will be better! I’m setting that goal for at least the rest of the year. I’m going to make every week better then the last!

Have a good week, and make next week better.

Ben

Media at Ft. Hood Shooting?

I listened to reports last night and spent the morning reading the major news media's pieces on the shooting. I was appalled by the tragic attack and was almost as sick with the media coverage. What is known at the point I write this could be summed up in less then a paragraph, yet the mainstream media goes on for hours. They make up things like ABC local guy saying, "Sniper M16 rifle was used." I couldn't figure out where this stuff was coming from.

Reading the reports this morning I see that a lot of the background noise is coming from Twitter and Face Book. Major news media sources are literally doing a search on network media sites to have something to report. They just use things like “sources say...” That source was someone's tweet that they don’t even bother to verify.

Other things are just made up on the spot. When reports came out about the shooter using 2 handguns the talking heads said "Two presumably 9mm handguns where used in the attack." The have no evidence or indication that it was two 9mm’s. They just said it without any background on why.

How does any of this qualify as news? I have to admit, because of personal experience in Iraq and first hand accounts from fellow service members, I have a bias towards the media. As time goes on, I'm not sure which is worst, Politicians or the General Media.

Any one in the News Media, I challenge you not to except this crap and stand up for what's right and the truth. That’s news I’d watch. Everyone else, I challenge you to confirm what the people are saying by listening for the source to be given. Unfortunately you cannot accept everything the media says as true because sometimes they make up the news as they go along.

Prey for those involved in this tragedy.

Ben

Be Over Prepared

The Boy Scout Motto is “Be Prepared.” I think a better idea is to be over prepared.

In Marine Boot Camp we studied for the final written exam so much that I had the book memorized (yes there is a written exam to graduate boot camp). When the exam came, it was easy and most of us scored 100%. Not because it was easy, but because we were so prepared that you could have asked us anything out of the basic book and we new it.

A simple example is that when you get a flat tire, if you have the know how, parts, equipment, and AAA, it becomes just an inconvenience. If you don’t have the knowledge, parts, or AAA (or AAA won’t come), then you are in big trouble.

If you make yourself prepared for the worst that could happen, then little things become an inconvenience.

Work to be over prepared for life and things that derail other people will become and inconvenience to you.

Stay Safe,

Ben