Las Vegas: Day One/Half

My lovely bride (a registered nurse), is attending a nurse convention in Las Vegas this week, and I went along for the ride.  That's right, we drove, leaving Midland early Monday morning.  Not only do I love driving and seeing different places and things along the way, I also seem to do better when all the wheels of the vehicle I am in remain in close contact with the ground.  Granted, flying from Midland to Las Vegas takes roughly negative one hour (due to time zone changes), but why fly only negative one hour when a person can drive sixteen hours and get there the same day?  Plus, there are all the attractions and distractions along the way.

We made great time through New Mexico, although I was very disappointed because we did not see a single flying saucer while we were in the Roswell area or any other area for that matter.  There were not even any aliens walking the streets of downtown Roswell.  But all of that was forgotten because of all the hawks (one of my favorite birds) spread throughout the state all the way up to Cline's Corner.  Of course once we were on Interstate 40, there was very few birds of prey.  But I was watching other things.  I must have been because my lovely bride kept telling me to watch the road!  But I say why watch the road when there are so many things to watch OFF the road.  Don't worry, though, because my lovely bride almost ran us off the road several times in retribution for my less than professional driving.

Then we entered Arizona.  That's when the drive went a little more sour.  It seems like there was a construction zone every four or five miles, and the zones stretched five or ten miles in length.  The speeds were reduced in these zones from seventy-five miles per hour all the way down to fifty-five.  Then we hit the "reduced speeds" signs, in which zones we could only travel forty-five miles per hour.  I confess at one point that Southwest was looking good to me.  But I got over that pretty fast when we stopped at Winslow at the Flying J.  I must confess here that due to the increased travel time because of road construction, I did not stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona but instead RAN to the men's room at the Flying J.  Probably it was while I was in the men's room there that I missed the "girl, my lord, in a flat bed Ford slowin' down to take a look at me."  By the time I got out the flatbed Ford was long gone.  And we were back on Interstate 40 once again.

Just outside of Flagstaff we relived the accident we witnessed this time last year, when a Tahoe went airborne right beside us and flew out into the median, rolled end over end, and came to rest upside down with the nose buried in the mud.  This time, though, it was not raining and there was no accident.  We just went on through to Kingman and made the turn toward Las Vegas.  Seventy miles later we were at our hotel.  I was so happy to be here even though it was a rather uneventful drive, as far as MY drives go. Then...we went out to eat, as it was well past seven o'clock by now.

I had waited until I was really starving before mentioning that supper would be nice.  My lovely bride sensing that I was somewhat "cranky" also suggested that we go eat, too, and quickly.  So we left our room, took the elevator to the Lobby, and went to get dinner.  Except that instead of leaving to get dinner we found ourselves lost in an endless circle of card tables, slot machines, convention rooms, and bars.  And there were some restaurants in the hotel, too.  I know there were because we passed the Japonais FOURTEEN TIMES!  I was hearing a familiar music theme in my head by now, you know the one...do do do do...do do do do...do do do do....then that voice....

"Picture, if you will, a man and woman, both starving, and trying to find their way OUT of a casino.  And picture as well, a hotel lobby/casino purposely designed so that once inside, no mortal could ever find his or her way out of...the Twilight Zone."

I turned off the music and the Rod Serling and then approached two men in suits, pistols clearly outlined in their coats, and asked them..."Please, how do we get out of here?!"  They both laughed, and one of them said, "You obviously do not understand the design of casinos.  They DO NOT WANT you to get out.  That's beauty of this casino!"

The other armed guy said, "That's right.  You can check out any time you Like, but you can NEVER leave!"

(do do do do...do do do do...do do do do)

Then he said, "Just kidding.  All you have to do is walk straight through the slot machines and out THAT door."

I looked, and sure enough there was sunlight coming through what appeared to be a doorway only about two miles across the casino floor.  "Ha ha ha ha ha..." was all we heard as we fled across the floor and out the doorway.  And then I saw it...the Outback Restaurant. 

My lovely bride said, "Are you sure THAT'S where you want to eat?"

I said, "Yes."  There was not much else to say, especially since I was salivating and growing faint.

But once inside the Outback, even though the line was long, we were seated in just a few minutes.  My grilled porch chops arrived in a timely manner.  My bride was not hungry, but did imbibe in a drink called "Iwallabydanged."  I myself opted for a margarita.  Keep in mind I had not eaten in several hours.  Perhaps that is why the margarita seemed a little more powerful than those I usually drink at our hangout in Midland.  And perhaps that is why I felt it necessary to intervene in a situation going on at our neighboring dining table.

Across the aisle from us a large group of tourists were seated at a table for six.  Okay, so I guess there were six of them since each of them had a chair.  But, the reason I felt it necessary to involve myself with them even though I was perhaps not totally in control of all of my mental facilities was because four of the six people at the table had ordered hamburgers.  The other two had entrees.  Here I would like to point out, by way of further information for my reader(s) that this group of people were speaking what appeared to be (to a somewhat toasted Texan) French.  So I pegged them for tourists and persons not familiar with American customs.  That is why I felt my assistance was needed.

You see, the four of these tourists who were eating hamburgers were using their KNIVES AND FORKS to do so.  I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP (and I know my readers KNOW I would never make something up just to enliven my blog post)!!  So I did what ANY self-respecting Texan would do (even in Las Vegas).  I turned to these French tourists and said "No, no!"  They all quickly looked at me.  Once I had their undivided attention, I made the motion of holding the burger in both hands and taking a hearty bite out of the burger.  They just looked at me.  So I smiled then made the same signs again.  "Like that," I said.  They were all just looking at me strangely, and it was here that I noticed that my lovely bride had left our table and appeared to be headed for the door.  It was also here that I noticed that two of the French MEN did not appear to approve of what they must have perceived as my chastising of themselves and their women.  It was also about this time that the waitress returned from having ran my debit card.  So...I got up and faced the two French guys.

I took both of them on...no, not really.  What I really did was say "excuse me," point to the margarita glass, then make the crazy sign with my finger pointed at the side of my head.  "Too much tequila," I said.  The guys looked at my glass, looked at me, then started laughing.  Then I was given to understand by one of the French ladies that they NEVER picked up a hamburger and ate with their hands.  Never!

It was about this time that my lovely bride was visible just about to exit the establishment, so I followed suit, and thus did not get involved in a physical altercation with guests of our nation and of the great State of Nevada.  It was funny, though, that my lovely bride seemed a little...well...upset with me.  But I promise I had the best of intentions.  I mean, who would not immediately come to the aid of a person who thought it was proper to eat a hamburger with a knife and fork?

Viva Las Vegas!!

A Special Kind Of Stupid

My friends, there are times if someone calls you stupid, that person is inadvertently paying you a complement. I do not support and have never supported B O's policies (with VERY VERY RARE EXCEPTION) and do not believe every line published on ANY news service whether its Fox, CNN, NBC, or whatever. If this makes me "a special kind of stupid" I very proudly wear that title. If believing in the Constitution is a special kind of stupid, I am there. If agreeing that people have the right (on their own property, homes, vehicles, etc.) to fly whatever flag or bumper sticker or poster or whatever, makes me a special kind of stupid, I am there.

 As a police officer I had to guard a Black militant group as they held a rally, AND as a police officer I had to guard and protect a Klan group. Both groups had the right to assemble peacefully and say the things they wanted to say. Our soldiers have died and paid for that right over and over. The Klansmen sported swastikas, a very offensive symbol if it is used in the Nazi context. I did not LIKE protecting these people...and the funny thing was that BOTH groups spouted the same hate gospel, just with different targets. But, they had the right no matter whom they offended.

Now we are in this age of hypersensitivity, so that really no matter what we say, we are apt to offend SOMEONE. This is "a special kind of stupid" that I hope we can all recover from someday. The United States of America should be the example to rest of the world that different people of different opinions can still be one nation, a great nation, that can exist and thrive and be still be a shining beacon of Liberty instead of a nation of victims, wanting a corrupt and over-reaching government to "protect" them and eventually take ALL responsibility for their well-being.

God Bless (and HELP) America.

I AM OFFENDED

I am offended by a bunch of Muslim extremists around the world dealing out their hate and death, even to children and the elderly. I am offended by a supposed leader of the free world who places representatives of this group into high places in the government. I am offended by the Westboro Baptist Church holding themselves out to be representatives of the Christian faith. I am offended by people who must use their wealth, power with the media, or whatever other means they have, to tell Americans what is offensive and what is not...and that Americans MUST agree or risk offending others. I am offended by man who is not even strong enough in himself to leave the Confederate flag painted on what is an iconic part of television history. I am particularly offended by the fact that the tragedy of an obviously deranged, delusional person who murdered several beautiful, innocent people was used to force an idea on the nation, and that anyone who did not accept that idea was placed in the status of "supporting slavery, hatred, and racism." I am offended MOST by the fact that Americans now are less free than EVER in the history of this nation to express their many opinions. No, the Government is not censoring us...we ourselves are doing it. We "tolerate" differences and diversity in ANY FORM OR FASHION EXCEPT TRADITIONAL VALUES. A comedy like "The Dukes of Hazzard" is cancelled, while EVERY SUNDAY you can find on the Internet "Reverend" Wright's hate-filled messages that our Leader apparently follows. For instance this message (below) from that great Christian preacher. I find this pretty offensive, but Reverend Wright had the right to say it, and I have the right to disagree. But it appears that in present day America (two terms into Obamistan) if ANYONE says ANYTHING that OFFENDS ANYONE, that person can be and is branded racist, a hater, a "redneck," 
 

As for me, I firmly believe that my right to my own opinions, expressions, flag-waving, car bumper-stickering, is STILL INVIOLATE, and I am strong enough in myself to post those things I want to post. If that makes me a racist and a "hater" (definition: someone who disagrees with someone else), than feel free to slather me with all the insults, labels, threats, or whatever you want. I am not a Confederate, but I am a Texan, and proud of my heritage. I am not a slave-owner and I had NOTHING to do with owning slaves. I am proud of Texans, old and new, as a whole. And I am proud of America....proud to be an American first, then a Texan.
 

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Obama's Pastor: God Damn America

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America." The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is...

abcnews.go.com|By ABC News

 

I guess what is MOST OFFENSIVE is that we have sat back and let the nation come to this.  That is that we are afraid to have opinions anymore here in America because someone MAY be offended by an opinion.    No, we should ALL be free to have and express our opinions, whether others are offended or not.  This is STILL America, and America is STILL the LAND OF THE FREE.

An Officer's Last Watch: June 25, 2015 - Sergeant Korby Kennedy, San Angelo Police Department, San Angelo TX

It is unbelievably difficult to make a post like this on two consecutive days.  On Wednesday a Hutto police officer was murdered by a fleeing felon. 

Yesterday, Sergeant Korby Kennedy, San Angelo PD, was escorting a parade of boats that were being taken to the boat races to be held this weekend.  As the procession made its way down Knickerbocker, a vehicle pulled out of a parking lot and drove directly into Sergeant Kennedy's motorcycle.  The officer was transported to a nearby hospital but died a short time later.

May God be with his family, his friends, and the officers of the San Angelo Police Department who have lost a colleague.

Rest in peace, Sergeant Kennedy, and join the Thin Blue Line over Yonder.

End Of Watch: June 24, 2015 Sergeant Christopher Kelley, Hutto Police Department, Hutto, TX

Today Sergeant Christopher Kelley of the Hutto, Texas Police Department was murdered as he and other officers attempted to arrest a wanted felon.  Although details are sketchy, there was a struggle during the attempted arrest and the felon was able to get into one of the patrol vehicles on the scene.  This brave criminal deliberately ran over Sergeant Kelley in order to escape.  He was arrested a short time later but the officer died of injuries sustained during this felonious assault with a vehicle.

Sergeant Kelley had served with the Hutto Police Department for eleven years.  Before that, he served in the United States Air Force.  He leaves behind his widow and two children, and his brothers and sisters in blue.

Rest In Peace, Sergeant Kelley, and take your place in the Thin Blue Line over there.

Punish A Murderer, Don't Ban A Flag

A man full of hate and loaded up with legal drugs murdered nine people, and let another live after making racial slurs and delusional statements.  Then he ran away into the night, to be captured on the following day.  When this man did his hating and his killing, he wrapped himself in the cover of what to many has come to be known as the "Confederate Flag."  This man was a warped, cowardly individual who murdered several sweet, good people who were guilty of nothing.  But this coward hated Black people and he killed those people, his own townspeople.  I would like to state again, THIS coward killed those people, BUT the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia DID NOT KILL ANYONE!

No, the famous (or infamous) "Confederate Flag," hated symbol that it may be to some people, did not kill those people in Charleston.  Nor did the hateful ideas of racism and bigotry kill them.  Again, it was a cowardly man who will now hide behind his need for medication that killed those people.  I bring out this point because the Constitution of the United States, the very document that affirms freedom for all Americans, also affirms the right of any American to believe and express himself or herself in any way he or she may like, as long as the person does not physically harm another.  Muslims in America who shout hate and murder are protected, in their speech and beliefs, by the laws of this land.  The Ku Klux Klan, an organization that I wish someday would go away forever, have the right to say all kinds of things which most people do not agree with, nor even want to hear, and their speech is protected by the Constitution, the law of this land.  Americans for years have had the ringing words of hatred from Louis Farrakhan flung in their face on the nightly news, and before that Malcolm X.  I personally DO NOT like the Klan, or any other group or individual, that spouts out hate and denigrates others, that revels with pride in their hatred of others. BUT I DO AGREE with their right to say those things, and that includes their right to fly flags that express their opinions, from Black Power to that hated battle flag of the Northern Virginia Army.

The cowardly murders in Charleston have led to the call by many to "ban" the display of the "Confederate Flag" anywhere, in any form, by anyone.  I do not have the perspective that some have, of being descendants of those who were so brutally mistreated for so long, and I do not have their perspective of hatred for what some consider to be the "symbol of slavery."  But I can understand why many Americans of color do not want to see this flag displayed.  And because I understand it, I have to say to them, please take a little while to breathe, to grieve, to be angry (rightly so), but then step back and step under the Constitution again.  In spite of terrible crimes committed in the name of one cause or another, the Constitution remains, at least for now, the law of the land.  In spite of how some people may feel about one flag or another, about one group or another, about free expression, the fact is we live in a land where differences, including different beliefs, are both tolerated and protected by law.

Having said all the above, I do not understand why a couple of states continue to use a Confederate flag as their state flag.  The Constitution limits our government in its constraint of the people, not the other way around.  Therefore, I have to wonder why states that reaffirmed their statehood after a long and bloody war still insist that the flag in question must be a part of state government.  Remember, an individual has the right to post any flag he wants on his on property, on his car, on his gatepost, or wherever else he wants, and this right is protected by the Constitution of the United States.  But a state government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and FOR the people.  In this light, I can and do understand why a significant number of people, Black, White, and other "colors" do not want and can no longer tolerate a flag that symbolizes hatred for so many to be a part of a legitimate government's state flag or seal.  I can understand why a Black person might feel a sense of hesitation and intimidation when the person must walk under this flag to walk into a state building, a building that belongs to ALL the people.  In this regard, I understand and support the movement to eliminate the Confederate Flag from a state's official government trappings. 

Yet, no matter how I feel about the Confederate Flag, I say again that this flag in and of itself did not murder, nor did it LEAD to the murder of, all those good people.  And as unpopular as these sentiments may be, I do not support the "banning" of the Confederate Flag from use by individuals.  I myself am somewhat offended by seeing flags of other nations flying at homes and businesses in and around the Midland area.  I do not like seeing flags of other nations displayed as stickers on automobiles.  But, I understand that these people, Americans JUST LIKE ME, have the right to express themselves, including displaying flags or images of flags that I personally do not want to see.  And in fact, these symbols, these things I - and many others - may not want to see, did not kill anyone.  So, as distasteful is this sentiment may be, a ban on the Confederate Flag or any other flag is intolerable in the United States of America.  But murder of innocent people, for any reason, is intolerable as well.  So let the Constitution cover free speech, whether we like that speech or not, and let the American justice system not fail, but deal with this dangerous man, so that he never see the light of day outside a jail cell again.

May God bless those who are mourning for their loved ones tonight, and may God Bless America.

 









 

The Murderer Killed People In Charleston, But Failed To Kill The Spirit Or The Faith

I am still in shock...and I was not even there!  Nor were any of my relatives or loved ones murdered.  But I am still in shock, nonetheless.   But I am also a realist, in part because of my personality, and in part because of my years in law enforcement.  I have long understood that "anything can happen anywhere, anytime."  Along with that mantra is another, "nowhere is absolutely safe."  But one place where most of us want to believe we are safe is at "church." 

The truth is we are usually at less risk inside a church building than we are at most other places.  Unfortunately there have been many incidents over the years that have shown us we are not absolutely safe even "at church."   Tornadoes have struck church buildings while people were inside having services.  Church buildings have caught fire and have been hit by flash floods, with lives lost and other lives torn apart.  Other tragedies have struck churches as well, including murder.

But the murder...the KILLING...of those nine loving and beautiful people in Charleston by a person who had worshipped with them just before shooting them...that was truly a shocking event.  And even though I (and you, most likely) was not directly impacted by this senseless violence, I am still subdued and saddened.  I cannot imagine what the families of these people are feeling, what they are going through, the treasures that were taken from them by this young man whose name I refuse even to write on this page.

And yes, this latest horror was appalling for two reasons: one, because it happened; and two, because of the killer's motive.  Regardless of all the "reasons" that will be espoused trying to demonstrate that this killer was emotionally unstable, on medication, was treated poorly in school, did not have good parents, etc., ad nauseam, he...and he alone, made the decision to kill those people.  Maybe all of these things are true of this man, but in the United States there are, I am sure, thousands of people with all these same "disadvantages" who do not go around murdering people at church.  And yes, murder BLACK people.  This murderer's deliberate and intentional targets were Black (or person of color, if you prefer) Christians.  That motive adds another layer of disgust and anger...and senselessness...to this terrible deed.

In the days since this happened, I have been reminded of another senseless killing of Black worshippers that happened in a town called Selma.  Four little girls were murdered by a bomber and his co-plotters.  I do not know if the bomber in 1963 "suffered" from mental illness or any of the other "disadvantages" that some are ascribing to this latest murderer, but I know that the bomber then ALSO spread racial slurs and hatred just as Wednesday's killer did.  The Selma bomber wanted to kill Black Americans and wanted to enlist other White Americans into the widespread, institutionalized racism that was prevalent at the time.  But the killing of those four little girls so disgusted and enraged WHITE Americans (as it obviously did Black Americans) that public sentiment shifted, eventually making way for the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Act.

People all over the nation feel a lot of rage toward this man who Wednesday dealt out so much tragedy.   But in the wake of these murders, I have seen something else.  I hate to be so trite as to call it the "silver lining" and I will not, but it is a very amazing thing to me.  Maybe it should not be, though.  That amazing thing is the outpouring of forgiveness that the people (the Church) have shown toward this killer.  Amazing grace.  I have to say I am not as good a Christian as the people that make up the AME Church of Charleston, South Carolina.  Maybe in a few decades I would be able even to just utter the word "forgiveness," but these true Christians, in the midst of their grief, anger, and probably some passing moments of hatred, were able to tell this man in court that they, and God, forgave him. 

The words of those mourning their dead robbed this man of his goal, and offered him their love in place of his murderous rage. And here I was reminded of those words in the Good Book, "Oh death, where is your sting?  Satan, where is your victory?"  You, murderer, hoped to kill the faith of these people, and your delusional self thought you could instigate a racial war.  You caused heartbreak and tragedy, grieving and sadness, that is true.  But you did not rob those you killed of their reward in the Good Shepherd, and you did not rob the survivors of their faith in God.  You stood there today in arrogant silence as the loved ones told you what you had taken from them, but I believe you must have been so disappointed that you did not ignite racial hatred...instead you brought the people of this hurting but solidly-grounded church, the city of Charleston, and many Americans across this land, closer together than ever.

So I ask you, Murderer, where is your victory?  Killer, where is your sting? 

As you sit in jail, and later in prison, I hope you spend hours, days, and years mulling over this one great, undeniable fact....YOU FAILED. You failed in every single thing you wanted to accomplish with your act of murder and rage. 

May God have mercy on your soul.