IRCLE THE WAGONS
Some have suggested that I have particular political views which permeate my short articles on our current life here in the 21st century U. S. of A. I may, but my efforts are simply from various random musings generated by the books that I am reading. Currently it is Hannah Arendt's ON VIOLENCE, a tome recommended to all.
What has occurred to me in the past and consistently thereafter is the "circle the wagons", "build a fort" mentality of our law enforcement. Once again, I may be accused of picking on cops. I'm not picking on cops: I'm simply making an observation worth making.
I grew up when westerns were everywhere. From Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and all the rest. Upon invading the land of the Sioux or the Cheyenne or the Comanche or the Apache, one often was required to circle the wagons or for a more permanent placement, to build a fort. Forts were necessary in hostile territory; without one, you wouldn't last long; you would be dead.
The analogy I'm making, and it comes with observations that are uncontestable, is with the current practices of our law enforcement. Now, I'm not familiar with law enforcement practices in states other than Iowa, but one can assume, I expect, that other states are similar. Our local law enforcement here have built themselves forts. They are forts in every respect. They have limited access, they have protective structures between them and the access the public may have, and they have the guns. Sheriff offices and police stations can be described in no other manner than as forts in the genre of the old Western.
Now, what is significant about this, is the attitude of our law enforcement of the general public. The only reason that you would house yourself in an impregnable structure is because you are afraid of something and that something is the public. Now one can say that it is just the bad guys. I don't have a fort to work or live in and so far, in a long number of years, I have not been accosted by the "bad guys". So the question must be asked, who are the bad guys and will they be attacking sheriff offices and police stations where locked or unlocked everyone has access to firearms and are continually trained to use them.
It is the same with our courthouses. To be locked and monitored by security at all times and to be wanded and metered to gain entry is simply another sign of fear. Our government is afraid of us, the indigenous population. This really can not be contested and it actually should frighten us. Can you really believe that a government who is afraid of its citizens will act in their best interest?
Richard E H Phelps II
Mingo
