Sunday, December 7, 2008
[singlepic id=13 w=320 h=240 mode=web20 float=left][singlepic id=12 w=320 h=240 mode=web20 float=left]Pearl Harbor Day, 2008.I haven’t posted in about a week. I have been sitting and chewing on my lip about this post for the better part of 4 days. In trying to find a point, or an angle that might not piss a great deal of people off that may not be “switched on” to the reality of the world we live in, I came to a conclusion…. I don’t care. Either you are the sheep, or you are the sheepdog. The wolves are at the door. On this Pearl Harbor Day, just a week since Mumbai saw the indiscriminate slaughter of 145 civilians, 18 police officers, and the wounding of hundreds of others, I can hold my tongue no further.
What if the events of Mumbai happened in LA, or New York? Minneapolis, or Dallas? How would this have turned out on our own soil? I would hope you consider it, because these terrorists just scored a massive victory for the world to see with 10 men with lo tech equipment and assault rifles. Terrorists will repeat what works. They always do. They take good notes. Our special ops soldiers find their notes in the caves they raid over there.
So many after 9/11 swore, “never again”. So many sat with tears of rage as they watched the buildings fall, the replays of the jets hitting the buildings, the brave fire and police professionals as they ran in while everyone was running out. I remember the pride I felt as they raised the flag at Ground Zero. I still feel that pride every time I am given the honor of flying a young soldier home for leave, or to see the birth of a child. Even the final flight for some of our fallen heroes, and their escorts, their combat brethren. So many have forgotten our fallen heroes of Pearl Harbor 67 years ago, and many have already forgotten the carnage on 9/11. How long will it take to go back to grazing after this week in India?
It leads me to my point of this post. The Mumbai attack this past week has brought to light the reality of the world we live in and the ease with which 10 men can affect us all. Terrorists will do anything, anywhere to get the spotlight brought to their cause. 10 men killed 145 innocent civilians, 18 police officers, and held the attention of the world for the past week. Reporters relayed that POLICE OFFICERS were hiding from these men, who apparently worked in teams of 2 as they methodically singled out westerners, and assassinated civilians like sheep. Police officers hid while civilians were being massacred. Un-freakinbelievable.
So, which do you choose to be? 1)The sheep, grazing along just doing what the herd does. I do not insinuate that a sheep is a lower life form, only that in the defense of itself, or its flock, it is rarely anything other than a target; or 2) The sheepdog, watching vigilantly over the herd, waiting for the wolf. Brave and loyal, unwavering in its duty to protect those under his charge. The sheepdog neither yearns for the fight, nor fears it.
In defense of your family, your loved ones, your friends, and yourself, which do you choose to be? Have you considered what you would do if the mall you were shopping in came under the attack of 2 gunmen looking for CNN fame? Give your life some thought, consider what there is to lose. Consider what you could do to prepare yourself. Consider what a disarmed society provides those who would attack our hotels, malls, train stations or airports. 10 men cut through the city of Mumbai like a hot knife through butter. A wolf through an untended flock. Consider the helpless feeling of sheep being left to wolves. Consider the horror of seeing your “supposed sheepdogs” turn out to be sheep hiding in dog uniforms. Consider the pleas of the Indian reporter begging the cowering policemen to shoot the terrorists as they were plinking human life as if it were sport. When bad things happen, you have to be your own sheepdog.
If you have read the accounts of all that witnessed the terrorism in Mumbai, and honestly believe it could not easily happen here, draw a deep breath and exhale a deep…… “BAAAAAHHH”. Be the sheepdog. For you, for those you love.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” Edmund Burke
Sunday, December 7, 2008
4 Comments
Ranger Rick
Amen brother! More people need to step up and take responsibility for themselves, and their families!
Sunday, December 7, 2008 – 08:15 PM
Mike Panebianco
Ah, Rick, my first comment donor to my blog! Wish there was a special prize in it for ya, other than thank you for breaking the seal!
You are absolutely correct! We must all be responsible for ourselves. Not everyone needs to be Bruce Lee, or earn a black belt, but we should have some kind of plan for our own defense. Hiding and waiting to be shot is not much of a defense unless you are really invisible. I choose not to be a sheep. I hope everyone who values their life and their loved ones will take action to get out of that habit as well. It doesnt take a ton of training to become proficient in some basic self defense.
Be safe!
Monday, December 8, 2008 – 09:31 AM
Ron Betta
Excellent post. Every word was spot on.
Friday, January 2, 2009 – 02:56 PM
Mike Panebianco
Thanks Ron,
That was kind of an emotional post, but I am unapologetic when it comes to events like these. I have read accounts from some fellow aviators that were in the hotels that were attacked. One gentleman was shot at, but managed to escape. He claimed that most others sat and awaited the worst. Some ran.
We dont have to be SWAT qualified folks, just ready to defend what we love. Be the Sheepdog!
Sunday, January 4, 2009 – 05:11 PM