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The Liberty of Obediance



I was taking a long walk through my neighborhood the other night and saw this sign. I was admittedly gobsmacked when I saw it. Enough so that I had to take a picture of it just so I could be sure I really saw it. Now, just so you know, I don't live in any kinda of kooky neighborhood. No gangs, no snake handlers, not much of anything really. Shaler Township is a nice, quiet, BORING area. The church posting this sign is technically in Etna...not a particularly exciting area either...unless you count the flood some years back.

The last few days this sign has really bothered me. No, I'm not against "obediance" but obediance to who? God? Sure, all for it. The government and it's agencies on the other hand, I'm all for disobediance. This country has slid a bit too far to the right and is pretty much becoming a third world nation for it.

I take this sign as meaning "OBEY and you'll be left alone". I don't relish that thought one bit. It strikes me as an appeal to this minister's congregation to accept the status quo...don't rock the boat...let those in authority do whatever they need to do to keep everyone safe. Safe from who or what? Maybe I'm paranoid. I've done my fair share of partying...but it seems to me that the only people or groups that WE THE PEOPLE need to fear are governmental in nature. They are the ones creating the mess that we all are in.

Sure, give tax cuts to the rich...the poor will make up the difference. Sure, allow the politicians to give themselves pay raise after pay raise...and pensions for long after they've performed their duties...most often badly.

At what point did our country become a military state? Just today, my girlfiend and I were coming home from dinner and were pulled over. The crime? My girlfriend made a right turn on a YELLOW light. OK, judgement call perhaps...but this cop was WAY out of line! As my girl made the turn, the cop (on his motorcycle) yelled "Hey! What do you think you're doing ASSHOLE?" Yes...the cop called my girl an asshole. Her car was nowhere near his bike. There was very light traffic and I can tell you from watching the whole scene unfold, she turned on a yellow light. Yellow. Sure, she probably should've slowed to a stop rather than make the turn but who among us hasn't done the exact same thing?

As we drove up the street I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the cop turn around. I suggested she pull over as he was coming. She did. He put on his light and pulled into the lot behind us. (a school parking lot) She already had her license and registration, etc. out and ready for him. Was he polite about it? No. He continued speaking to my girlfriend in a rude, insultory tone. When he asked again 'what the hell she thought she was doing' she calmly stated that she had made a right turn on a yellow light. Before she could even finish her sentence, the officer become even angrier and stated that he was planning to let her off with a warning but since she wanted to argue, she would get a ticket instead.

OK, most of us have had traffic tickets before...but come on...this was bullshit.

Had we been obediant little drones and merely "Yes sir"ed and "No sir"ed the officer, he probably wouldn't have given her a ticket. Had I not been in the car, I can only guess the actions he might have suggested! He was really that much of an ass.

Is this the type of America We The People want to live in? What happened to police accountability? Serve and Protect! Who is being served or protected by this type of police behavior? This guy is nothing more than a bully with a badge and a gun and the assumed right to use them.

The Liberty of Obediance? I don't think that's the world I want to live in. Count on me to do everything I can, all the time, to disobey those who think they can control our lives. Because folks...that's what it comes down to. Being controlled. Do you feel the need to be controlled? If so...enjoy the liberties of obediance. You can cower in the shadows like mice. I'd rather be taken down on my feet than live on my knees.

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