NORMAL...

What is normal?... there's not much normal in this world but the human temperature... and even some humans do not have the same "normal" temperature as others.

The following message was received from a reader:

" Let's see what is going on this morning:

Our allies are buckling...

The Pope is attacked for telling the truth... (he quoted a leader from the past)...

The Democrats hate the President...

Lesbians want to be men...

Gay Rights mean subjugating everyone else's rights...

The court won't back Police...

The school system won't hold children or parents responsible for the dumb ass actions of the children...

Our military is not supported by congress with good pay and needed equipment...

You can't pray because it might offend someone... (They can't grow up)

YouÊwill be offended by all kind of crap from Hollywood...

We are made to listen to celebrities (like they have some expertise in anything other than pretending)...

Teachers (REALLY HOT ONES) are pedophiles... (The female are just too pretty to go to Jail)

Children have no respect and can't be taught it...

Yep, all's normal in America."

Quite an indictment, is it not?

The reality is that if you listen to the thoughts and expressions of
many people in our country, you may hear these expressions most anywhere two or more
peopleare involved in a serious discussion or exchange of views.

The exchanging of views could be normal for the ones involved in the
conversations. The views expressed in the quoted message in the introduction could
be normal as the writer sees it. What is normal as you or I see it
may be the same as quoted or totally different than the writer's expressions. The citizens of
this country may have views as diverse as it is possible to have from
one extreme to the other. Anything that could be called normal must fall into the spectrum of
what the law abiding majority has defined by law and morality is
accepted as "Normal"... and even therein are many variables.

Many of our citizens believe in and support the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan... many do not... and some others could care less one way or the other.

It is said by some polls that a vast majority of Americans are
believers in God. It has been said by others that the true believers in God are a very small
percentage.

Because we are a Representative Republic we elect representatives
from among us to go to the seats of government for the localities; the State; and
the Federal Governments. In their respective places they hold
discussions and then vote on the subjects that they discuss. Some constituent or some representative
has an idea for a law that is needed. The proposal is introduced...
discussed... voted upon if it gets to the full body... and passed or rejected. Some laws that we want
passed are rejected. Some laws we do not want passed are accepted.
Sometimes it comes out the way we wanted it to come out.

Sometimes it takes a long time to get a good law passed. Sometimes
it takes a long time to get an old, no longer necessary, law removed. Sometimes
the representatives are totally opposite the people they represent
and do not follow their comments and recommendations. Sometimes it all goes well and
everyone involved is pleased with the results. The majority of us in
this country want justice and rights for all people... and we are willing to give up some
things in order to get some other things. Life, for most of us, is
give and take. Sometimes we give and do not get. Sometimes we lose and do not gain. Sometimes we gain and
do not lose. That is life.... and life is arbitrary... we must work
with what we get in each day...
sometimes it comes down to what we get in each moment. Life
sometimes is very difficult... sometimes it is exhilarating.
Sometimes life saddens us... sometimes it
gladdens us. We have to live with what we get until we change it or
it changes us.

To most of us, life and those that we live among are precious. Most
of us cannot fathom... explore the depths of... the attitudes of people who do not
care about those other people around them. To some people no one is
important. To others everyone is important. Sometimes our view of life seems to change in
relation to whatever is happening in the moment or has just happened.

Some days we are just where we want to be. Other days we are no
where near to where we want to be... or who we want to be. What causes the variations? Time... events... feelings....
attitudes... What in all of this can you and I as individuals control?... Nothing but ourselves
and how we react to any given stimulus.

What was the cause of war in the Mideast? Somebody wanted what some
others had and were willing to use any means to take what they wanted
when they had the power to act that way. Saddam Hussien is a typical
example of that behavior. The insurgency is a typical example of that behavior. The
Sunni and the Shittes killing one another is another typical example
of that behavior. We cannot understand the attitude of wholesale killing for things or for an
idea. The individuals that I have just mentioned were raised from
birth to now on a simple premise...

we must survive and promote the government of Allah as God...

and if your neighbor does not understand Allah the same way that you
understand Allah then kill your
neighbor and stop the unbelief. The Sunnis and the Shittes are doing
that daily to one another. Saddam slaughtered thousands according to
the accepted trial
evidence because he wanted what they had or because they did not
agree with him.

Can a Democracy be built among people who were trained this way from
birth to death?...

in the same country so readily and easily kill those who do
not agree with them or do as they dictate that they must do. I find
it hard to believe that they can live in a Democracy with the attitudes that they display everyday
in being so willing to kill their own citizens in their own country
and in their own cities over religious doctrinal differences...

and/or kill them because they are willing to work with or for our Peace Keepers as the Peace Keepers
are there trying to give all law abiding citizens a chance to live and prosper.

We have a very, very difficult problem in this nation, as a people,
understanding the minds of those involved in the conflict in the Mideast. We were not
reared as they were. We were not educated as they were. We were not
trained as they were. We cannot comprehend how they think unless we understand all of the
influences on each and every individual who is a citizen of those
countries involved in these daily ongoing battles, confrontations and killings. Most of our American
citizens are not aware that there are such ongoing battles,
confrontations and battles going on right
here in our own country, in some places, every day.

Peace Keepers know what must be done and they do it to the best of
their ability.

Yet within our citizens there are those who outright reject that we
need law enforcement, courts, prisons, or the military.

Peace keepers... I know from much experience that there would be no
peace and no life as we know it today if it were not for each of you and all of
you. You observed the conditions of your world and the world in
general and followed your heart when it told
you that you were needed in a special place and needed to do a
specific job for the sake and welfare of those that you love and care for.

In taking that place that you have taken you have also stepped up to
keep or restore peace for all people around where you are. You have sworn an oath to
do this...

No matter how others think or feel about your actions...

whether they be for you or against you...

you have committed yourselves to follow rules, law and procedure to keep the
peace...

restore the peace...

and take whatever actions that are necessary in order to accomplish these goals including injuring or killing those who resist if that becomes necessary...

and/or possibly being injured or killed yourself as you make your best effort to keep this commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness guaranteed to our citizens by our Constitution.

That is normal for you. It may not be normal for the rest of the world...

but it is normal for Peace Keepers of law enforcement and the military. Therein lies the difference between you and the people that you serve as you carry out your duties. Those people that you serve wherever you are do not feel as you feel...

do not think as you think...

and in many cases they do not trust you because you are different from them
in your thinking...

your actions....

and your attitude. They will all run to you when they need you...

and often will want to be rid of you the moment that you have met their needs. Peace Keepers represent a power that makes most other people very uncomfortable. When people are uncomfortable for very long,
they also become resentful. When they are resentful they want to be out of your
presence...

they want you to go away. Sometimes they will try to kill you in order to be rid of you.

Sometimes the costs of their actions do not have any deterring effect upon them...
they will simply pay any price to be rid of you. It happened in Houston Thursday...
it can and will happen in other places as well.

Peace Keepers have to live with this knowledge but not let this knowledge keep them from doing the job that must be done. I am amazed at how well Peace Keepers do their jobs in spite of this knowledge. Whether on a foreign battlefield such as
Afghanistan or Iraq...

or on the home front on a battle field in a home or on a playground...

the reality and the duties are always the same...

Do the best you can to do your duty...

that is why YOU are there...

to do the best you can for the peace and welfare of those who need to have done what only you can do for them where
they are.

My Commander-in-Chief and I do eternally appreciate the commitment that you
made and the duties that you perform... THANK YOU!

"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!" Be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary.
Take the very best care of you in all facets of your being...

including the spiritual facet. It must be strong so that you may be successful and survive the demands upon
you. If I may be of any assistance to you, write and I will do what I can.
As it has always been....

So it still is...

"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR, WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN." Sun tzu

ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL
PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!

WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as you do your job...

it means doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all
your faculties to get the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping
or restoring peace...
it does not mean to avoid duty and honor...

it does not mean to cower or allow anything to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and
ethics...

it means that if the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible in the process.
That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God
or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and protection of all
the things and people that we hold dear.

I represent, write for... and give the credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son (the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live... with Him and for you I serve...
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ALUMNI,
RETIRED Police Officer, Certified Police Instructor,
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
=================================================
Copyright: CHAPLAIN CORNER (DRS) 2006. All rights reserved.
May not be duplicated without permission, except to be forwarded
with copyright and all source information for any quotation intact.

To subscribe to this free e-mail message for Peace Keepers,
write to Chaplain D. R. Staton at chpln1@verizon.net or at
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.

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