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The Thin Blue Line
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<blockquote data-quote="Snattlerake" data-source="post: 3849340" data-attributes="member: 44288"><p>The Thin Blue Line</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]299493[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>Throughout history there are examples of how something fantastic and wonderful has been co-opted to represent something… well… not so fantastic; sometimes often outright evil. Virtually every religion has had their holy book used to justify cruelty and violence. Every symbol of independence and freedom from tyranny has been used as the banner for criminal behavior. But does that mean those holy books are wrong or somehow inherently evil? No. Does it mean that those symbols don’t still represent freedom and independence? No. What it means is that someone with evil or wrongness in their heart chose to rationalize their behavior by twisting something good.</p><p></p><p>The Thin Blue Line is more than just a phrase; it’s more than just a symbol. The Thin Blue Line is a family in a way that many can’t understand, and because they can’t understand – or are jealous or envious – they choose to attack and belittle it. I have been a proud member of the Thin Blue Line all of my adult life – going on forty years now. Like every family, we have those members we wonder about sometimes; those we have to just shake our heads at when they’re silly; those we have to take aside and have a word with to help them understand why something they said or did might not have been the smartest thing to do. And yes, on some rare occasions, we have to tell that family member, “Sorry. You’re no longer family. We reject you. You have betrayed us and we can no longer stand by you.”</p><p></p><p>Thankfully that doesn’t happen very often. Thankfully, The Thin Blue Line family can stand strong together, proud of the duty we perform, the sacrifices we make and the values we hold dear. Every one of us has taken an oath to uphold, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the laws of our states, county and city. Beyond the Constitution and all of those laws, we are also true to the Personnel Laws of our jurisdiction, the General Orders of our agency and every Special Operating Procedure that is published by our chain of command. Even more, beyond that, we are true to each other. I’d far rather have been called into my supervisor’s office to receive a written reprimand for having screwed up something instead of being called in and being told, “You disappointed me and you embarrassed the agency.”</p><p></p><p>The Thin Blue Line family is made up of members from every culture, every race, every religion, every sexual orientation and ages spanning from 18 to 70+. It is, hands down, one of the most inclusive families you’ll find anywhere on the planet. The outlook is simple: it’s a family you have to volunteer to join; you make the request and the family decides whether or not you’re worthy at the most basic level. If the family invites you in, you get educated and tested and have to prove your worth – not just to the family but to the community you intend to serve. You have to demonstrate that you are willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the citizens you take an oath to protect and serve. Once you finish the basic training (so to speak) you go out and work the street with your Field Training Officer (that big brother or sister who shows you how to do the job right and not upset the chain of command). If you finally pass all of the tests and training you become a full fledged member of the family.</p><p></p><p>Along the way, you will have fought and bled beside other members of the family. You will have learned who you can depend on and who will back you up even in the face of greater odds and almost certain discomfort. You’ll eat meals with The Thin Blue Line on holidays when you can’t be with your other family. You’ll drink coffee at three in the morning when you’re trying to stay awake because crime doesn’t sleep and it strikes when you least expect it. You’ll laugh at each other, cry with each other, and support each other through some of life’s most challenging changes.</p><p></p><p>Yes, The Thin Blue Line is far more than a phrase or colored stripe on a flag; it represents a family that, unless you’ve been a member of it, you’ll never truly understand. And if you want to feel what it’s like, deep in your gut, go visit the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. during Police Week. Take a look around. Look at the names on the wall. See the list of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Yes, some gave their life to protect other family members but the greatest number… the largest majority of those fallen officers gave their lives protecting citizens they had never met but who they took an oath to protect and then gave their lives in the process of doing so.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Snattlerake, post: 3849340, member: 44288"] The Thin Blue Line [ATTACH type="full" width="566px"]299493[/ATTACH] Throughout history there are examples of how something fantastic and wonderful has been co-opted to represent something… well… not so fantastic; sometimes often outright evil. Virtually every religion has had their holy book used to justify cruelty and violence. Every symbol of independence and freedom from tyranny has been used as the banner for criminal behavior. But does that mean those holy books are wrong or somehow inherently evil? No. Does it mean that those symbols don’t still represent freedom and independence? No. What it means is that someone with evil or wrongness in their heart chose to rationalize their behavior by twisting something good. The Thin Blue Line is more than just a phrase; it’s more than just a symbol. The Thin Blue Line is a family in a way that many can’t understand, and because they can’t understand – or are jealous or envious – they choose to attack and belittle it. I have been a proud member of the Thin Blue Line all of my adult life – going on forty years now. Like every family, we have those members we wonder about sometimes; those we have to just shake our heads at when they’re silly; those we have to take aside and have a word with to help them understand why something they said or did might not have been the smartest thing to do. And yes, on some rare occasions, we have to tell that family member, “Sorry. You’re no longer family. We reject you. You have betrayed us and we can no longer stand by you.” Thankfully that doesn’t happen very often. Thankfully, The Thin Blue Line family can stand strong together, proud of the duty we perform, the sacrifices we make and the values we hold dear. Every one of us has taken an oath to uphold, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the laws of our states, county and city. Beyond the Constitution and all of those laws, we are also true to the Personnel Laws of our jurisdiction, the General Orders of our agency and every Special Operating Procedure that is published by our chain of command. Even more, beyond that, we are true to each other. I’d far rather have been called into my supervisor’s office to receive a written reprimand for having screwed up something instead of being called in and being told, “You disappointed me and you embarrassed the agency.” The Thin Blue Line family is made up of members from every culture, every race, every religion, every sexual orientation and ages spanning from 18 to 70+. It is, hands down, one of the most inclusive families you’ll find anywhere on the planet. The outlook is simple: it’s a family you have to volunteer to join; you make the request and the family decides whether or not you’re worthy at the most basic level. If the family invites you in, you get educated and tested and have to prove your worth – not just to the family but to the community you intend to serve. You have to demonstrate that you are willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the citizens you take an oath to protect and serve. Once you finish the basic training (so to speak) you go out and work the street with your Field Training Officer (that big brother or sister who shows you how to do the job right and not upset the chain of command). If you finally pass all of the tests and training you become a full fledged member of the family. Along the way, you will have fought and bled beside other members of the family. You will have learned who you can depend on and who will back you up even in the face of greater odds and almost certain discomfort. You’ll eat meals with The Thin Blue Line on holidays when you can’t be with your other family. You’ll drink coffee at three in the morning when you’re trying to stay awake because crime doesn’t sleep and it strikes when you least expect it. You’ll laugh at each other, cry with each other, and support each other through some of life’s most challenging changes. Yes, The Thin Blue Line is far more than a phrase or colored stripe on a flag; it represents a family that, unless you’ve been a member of it, you’ll never truly understand. And if you want to feel what it’s like, deep in your gut, go visit the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. during Police Week. Take a look around. Look at the names on the wall. See the list of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Yes, some gave their life to protect other family members but the greatest number… the largest majority of those fallen officers gave their lives protecting citizens they had never met but who they took an oath to protect and then gave their lives in the process of doing so. [/QUOTE]
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