Cops without Badges

https://twitter.com/carlbernstein/status/832863337603952644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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I was 16 years old when the movie, "All The President's Men" was released in theatres. My adolescent brain battled between drooling over Robert Redford and following the story line. Even so, I got the gist of moral lessons.

Lessons from Doing Wrong

• Presidents are not infallible.
• Presidents are just like me in that they have issues and an Achilles' heel.
• Lying, paranoia, and all around doing the wrong thing will eventually catch up with a person.

 Lessons from Doing Right

• Believe in yourself even when others don't believe in you.
• Persist in your mission through the tough times.
• Eventually the truth will win

There is one more lesson I learned. The movie drove home how important the role of the press is. They are the cops without the badge. The reporters that seek the truth and possess a moral obligation to their countrymen, they are the ones that make sure that power is kept in check.

It is believed Napoleon said, "Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than 1,000 bayonets."

That fact that Trump is aggressively pursuing the press like a hyena hunts down an antelope is extremely disturbing. The press is not the enemy of the people. They are our powerful ally in times of trouble. They take down the giant with their weapons of words and truth. That's why Trump is so afraid of them and disparaging them. 

Trump is the man behind the curtain and the press is Toto, scrappy and unafraid to disclose the truth. 

Giving Up

Giving up is the beginning of freedom.
Dying to want is the beginning of love.
Letting go is the beginning of living.

It is not by my hand that I shall live.
Although I have considered it, it is not by my hand I shall die.
If I run alongside the river of truth
I will always know my path.

Each day when the flag is lowered and taps is played
Each night when my head rests upon my pillow
I will be done for that day.
I shall not carry the worst or the best to bed with me as they will rot
And I do not wish to entangle myself between the sheets with what is done and gone.

When my bare feet touch the floor
While the birds of the morn are calling
I will lean forward into the new day
To practice.  To maybe get it right.

I WANT A COWBOY

I want a cowboy.
His jeans are soft from wear.
I want a cowboy.
Leather gloves and leather belt.
I want a cowboy.
He is true, kind, and strong.
I want a cowboy.
He knows right from wrong.

His mind is clear.
His skin is tan.
His heart knows love
For beast and man.

I want a cowboy.

Be True to Yourself

As we grow and mature, we are told many things in our lives in regard to how we should live, what we should believe, and the correct way to think and to act. I could go on and on but it is too nauseating to try. 

Unless one is a psychopath, most of us are born with an innate knowing. Gut feelings. Intuition. We are taught to not trust those feelings but instead to rationalize. This is especially true for women. How many times did you know something, talk yourself out of it, then realize you were correct? Be at peace and listen to that inner voice. We are more than flesh and blood. Our spirits live in our bodies. Your gut, your intuition will develop as you learn to listen to it and trust it. You inherently know what is right, what is good. 

Just be true to yourself. That is all I am asking.