NOT RIGHT: The Self-Centered Politicians on the Left

“...Good men, men who love tranquility, who desire to abide by the laws, and enjoy their benefits, who would gladly spill their blood in the defense of their country; seeing their property destroyed; their families insulted, and their lives endangered; their persons injured; and seeing nothing in prospect that forebodes a change for the better; become tired of, and disgusted with, a Government that offers them no protection; and are not much averse to a change in which they imagine they have nothing to lose.” - Abraham Lincoln's Lyceum Address was delivered to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois on January 27, 1838, titled "The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions" William Herndon, who would become Lincoln's law partner in 1844, and whom my wife happens to be a direct descendant of, recalled that "The speech was brought out by the burning in St. Louis a few weeks before, by a mob."

Perhaps if history wasn't being ignored we could learn from lessons already known to our forefathers. Instead, modern-day leftist politicians allowed mob violence to continue throughout 2020 in many communities across America. Lest we forget the left seemingly had little issue with inciting, threatening and confrontational behaviors. Democrat U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters is famously known for asking her supporters “Let’s make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that (Trump) Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”

It wasn't until those in the Congress felt threatened in January 2021 themselves that many of their viewpoints seemed to rapidly change, and with a vengeance.

There are countless American citizens who begged for the National Guard to protect their families & businesses for months this past year in response to violence, looting, riots and arson often to no avail. Yet when it came to a virtual inauguration, all of the sudden the National Guard was everywhere.

Now have we discovered that leftist politicians actually support police and believe in the militarization of law enforcement? They even believe in bringing in the National Guard to quell civil unrest, at least when it comes to preserving their own peace?

Do those on the left now:

· Believe in walls when it comes to protecting their own place of work?

· Believe in guns, at least when their own safety is at risk?

· Believe in law and order and are against mobs and violence?

· Believe in harsh punishment for rule breakers and believe in accountability? As evidenced by the acting attorney general’s proclamation of a “zero tolerance policy for violence, other crimes — anywhere in United States — targeting Inauguration Day for President-elect Biden.”

· Believe that words matter, are against coarse language and care about civility?

· Believe in a peaceful transition of power, at least this time, as opposed to 2016, and now believe in the Electoral College in representing the legitimacy of the people’s vote?

Do they magically believe in all of this when they feel threatened? Just not in defense of you or your family? Benjamin Franklin noted that, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While elected leaders go to extraordinary lengths to protect themselves, many feel as though they are not even receiving one ounce of protection for themselves or their families and communities.

Maybe it’s possible that some politicians are realizing that they have reached a tipping point with their last-minute fear that National Guardsmen who were called into our secured Capitol district (where you needed a valid ID, credentials, and approved passage through a predetermined checkpoint before you entered) were a potential threat themselves against the orderly transfer of power from one administration to another? It is the very armed military presence they insisted upon in our nation’s capital for the Inauguration of President Joe Biden but somehow paranoia seemed to set in.

Lady Justice is one of our most recognizable symbols. The statue holding the Scales of Justice demonstrates the principles of fairness and opportunity. In fact, Lady Justice, or a version of it, is not only common to the United States, but is a familiar symbol for multiple countries across the world. Self-centered politicians must be replaced with public servants who will put the true interests of their constituents first and foremost upholding the principles that we hold dear.

Too many citizens have “become tired of, and disgusted with, a government that offers them no protection.” The era of different standards for bureaucratic elites only serve to create further division, while the same elitist are disingenuous in calling for unity. This must cease if we are to survive as a free and sovereign nation with liberty and justice for all.

Just ask Honest Abe Lincoln.

Joel E. Gordon is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com