Rant on a Pet-Peeve

Why is it that people who argue ignorant points of view in a forum thread insist on ending their argument with the statement "nuff said"?  For one, "nuff" is not a word, or even part of a word.  Using it makes you seem even more ignorant than the ludicrous point you are trying to drive home.  Even properly saying "enough said"  is stupid.  Just because you think your point is the end all, be all of an argument doesn't make it so.  What if another poster has information that you don't, and if you had said information, you would change your point of view?  What if someone agrees with you and could make an intelligent, well written post in support of your claims?  Well now they can't, because you already said "Nuff."  How about instead, you formulate your opinion and place it in coherent sentences, and invite someone to have an intelligent discussion or debate about a topic?   Don't take it personally when someone disagrees with you.  The world would be boring if we all thought the same way.  You may learn something and you may not, but at least you have had a conversation with a stranger and not come off as a douche bag.  And, for gods sakes, if you can't spell or use proper grammar, write your post in Microsoft Word, utilize the spelling and grammar tools and cut and paste it where you want to post it!

I Need a Shower

Four tweakers bagged and tagged today.  Three men and one woman living in a one bedroom, one bathroom shack.  There was only one bed.  I didn't ask, because I don't want to know.  The truth is, though, I already know.  My years in law enforcement have taught me many things, one of which is that if four tweaker dudes live with one tweaker chick, they are all banging her.  Such a sad, sad life for both the woman and the men.  She is someone's daughter and probably a mother a few times over herself.  She has been reduced to whoring herself out to be tossed a few crumbs of dope every now and then.  For what?  She was at a party and a "friend" guaranteed her the time of her life if she would just take a hit?

The men remind me of a Jamey Johnson song, in which he sings, "I had a job and a piece of land / And my sweet wife was my best friend / But I traded that for cocaine and a whore."  They are even worse.  They traded it all for even less.  What do they have?  A one-bed shack that is less than a hotel room?  A whore to pass among themselves?  Friends that rat on them so they can stay out and stay high?  This poison is wrecking our communities. 

I know that the drug war is a war we will never win.  There are too many constraints and too many sympathetic ears.  I am an intelligent guy and the writing is on the wall.  Meth is something else entirely, though.  We don't stand a chance.    The addiction is too strong, the likelihood of addiction is too high. 

Who can really abandon empathy for these people?  I can't.  I've surely tried.  My colleagues all think that I have a "book 'em all and let God sort 'em out" approach to meth labs.  The truth is, I know that they are more likely to get help while staring down the barrel of a fifteen-split-three, than with a few months in drug court or a slap on the wrist possession charge.  I take that approach for their own benefit, whether they know it (or believe it) or not.  Let me make this clear, I don't trump up charges, but if I have probable cause, they take the ride. 

*this was actually posted on 12/11/2010, but I wrote it earlier.

Officer Down

An officer I met died one year ago today. 
    
     Officer, I met you once or twice, but I didn't know you.  Strangely, I shed more tears at your funeral than those of people I knew and loved.  I have always seen tears as a sign of weakness, yet I cried openly, surrounded by my brothers in blue, at your wake.  It was a strange feeling for me.  It almost felt wrong to be so upset over a stranger.  I really wondered why and it was months of self-reflection before I figured it out.  Your death brought reality home.  You were the first cop I ever met that was killed in the line of duty.  Your wife's tears showed me the tears my Angel would cry for me. It forced me to confront my complacent attitude, and modify it.  I had gotten too comfortable and sure of myself.  Your sacrifice has made me more careful.  For that, I am very thankful.  I know that experience has been repeated a hundred times over across the region.  You did not die in vain.  Rest in peace, brother.