Who was That Masked Man?

When I was a young boy before we had television, my mom used to let me listen to the adventures of The Lone Ranger on the radio.  I watched The Lone Ranger on TV later, after we finally got one.  (My folks didn’t have a lot of money.) 

The Lone Ranger and his friend, Tonto, roamed around the Old West righting wrongs and bringing the bad guys to justice. Every program would begin with The Lone Ranger’s horse rearing up on its hind legs while he yelled “Hi ho Silver away.” and with the William Tell overture. 

The Lone Ranger wore a mask, and he was always mistaken for a bandit by the townspeople. They realized that he was a good guy by the end of each episode. Then somebody would ask “Who was that masked man?” 

The press and the liberal politicians are making a big deal out of federal agents wearing masks while apprehending criminal illegal migrants. The level of ignorance these people are displaying is really aggravating.  The masks are a precaution against retribution against the officers and their families.  They also protect the American public from these lawbreakers gaining control of our social order the way they have in countries South of the border. 

Aljazeera recently did a story about mass graves in Brazil near the border with Venezuela that the Brazilian authorities we're attributing to Tren de Aragua. [1]  It is well known, or it should be, that a common modus operandi (normal method of operation) of criminal gangs and cartels is to render the police, local officials, and even state and national officials in Mexico, Central America, and South America ineffective by threatening to kill them and their families – and they follow through.  They have frequently kidnapped people and held them hostage to get what they want.  Even those criminal illegal migrants who are not affiliated with gangs or cartels often have serious criminal histories. 

As employees of a state department of corrections, we were discouraged from having identifying items on our persons or in our offices.  Cell phones were not allowed in the facility, and we were discouraged from bringing in check books, credit cards, or driver's licenses.  We had picture ID’s, but without addresses, phone numbers, etc. If an employee lost their ID or keys, the facility was locked down, and a thorough search was conducted. Furthermore, the legal offenders we were dealing with were already incarcerated and were (theoretically) sober and unarmed.  We worked in a risky environment, but it was usually safer than the one ICE and CBP are operating in … and it was still wise to take precautions. 

To the loud mouths in the press, and to the liberal politicians making political hay at the expense of brave law officers: Let’s see you go out and try it.

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[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx8bcirDccg

 

Scapegoating

You can say it several different ways, but when something goes wrong there is often an effort to fix the blame on one person, or group, to deflect the responsibility from an organization, or the leader of the organization. You probably have heard some of these before. However, we'll provide a few of them here. 

Sometimes, it is said that someone is getting, “thrown under the bus.” Another way of putting it is that someone is “being made the scapegoat.” In the same way it is said that someone is “a sacrificial lamb.” There are others, but we think you get the idea. 

In fairness, President Trump appears to be supporting ICE, CBP, and Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, in connection with the deaths of two demonstrators in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  We hope the President will continue to handle things fairly, especially since Congress and the press are not. 

We all grieve when a person dies. It is worse when they die at a young age. We grieve for the decedent’s family, friends, and community. Two of our fellow Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, have died while protesting our government’s deportation operations in Minneapolis.  It hurts to see things come to this. It was predictable, due to the volatility of the situation, but let us pray for the peace that only God can give. 

Grandma used to say that “When you point a finger at someone, three fingers are pointed back at you.” There is certainly enough blame to go around for the tragedy in Minneapolis.  It would be a mistake to blame just one or two people for the totality of the situation that resulted in the death of American citizens. 

Before we play the blame game, it might be useful to consider a widely quoted Japanese saying, “Fix the problem, not to blame.” The responsibility for the loss of life in Minneapolis may fall on the shoulders of a number of people. We are not advocating that those responsible should not be held accountable. One thing we learned investigating cases of child abuse, however, is that it is a mistake to rush to judgement. Another way of putting it is that we ought not to jump to conclusions. We must let the investigations into the recent tragic deaths of the two demonstrators  proceed for a reasonable amount of time, until more facts are known. 

That said, events often will not wait. The situation in Minneapolis needs to be defused to avoid more death and injury.  The responsibility for that rests upon both sides. 

One principle that we have learned over 25 years of management and supervisory experience is that it is often a mistake to change personnel and policy on the basis of an isolated incident(s).  Further, when an incident happens in Minneapolis, it may not be necessary to make changes nationwide, nor should we abandon the goal of deporting all persons who have illegally entered and remained in the United States. 

Therefore, it is distressing to see people in Congress and in the press jump on a bandwagon - demanding that the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, resign, be dismissed, or be impeached. The tactics of ICE and CBP can be reviewed and changed. People funding the violent demonstrations can be held accountable. It is a mistake to make Secretary Noem a scapegoat and then expect the problem to get fixed by doing so. 

Secretary Noem apparently made public statements that were premature about the incident. We must keep her overall situation in mind before we accuse her of wrongdoing.  She may have been given erroneous information.  We won’t know until all the facts are available.  Remember, also, that she has agents on the ground doing a dangerous and difficult job, and it is important that they feel supported. It is understandable that she may have been trying to demonstrate to all federal agents that she “has their back.” 

Although the standard, “I cannot comment while an active investigation is in progress,” would have been preferable, it does not necessarily mean that what she said was disingenuous.  It may mean that she should have waited until she had a better understanding of the situation before she spoke publicly about it.  We are sure that at some level she should have known that her political enemies would use anything she might say against her. 

It's probably wishful thinking to expect that we would see a little more restraint from Congress and the press, before they call for Kristi Noem to resign or be fired – and especially before they talk about impeaching her.  She has done a good job so far, and the loss of Kristi Noem’s leadership would be a great loss the country.  People should try and remember that in November. 

The Democrats are threatening to defund Homeland Security and blocking funding of the government – again. That is why we absolutely must elect a clear majority of Republicans or conservatives to the US Senate and House of Representatives in November, and why President Trump must not reduce that majority by appointing legislators to work in his administration. 

Please pray that God will heal our land.

 

Take up the Cross

Let us set aside our earthly wants and desires, so that we can find eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord: 

And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”  They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”  And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”  But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone,  saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised on the third day.” 

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it.  For what good does it do a person if he gains the whole world, but loses or forfeits himself?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels.  But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:18-27 NASB) [1]

 

 

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nasb_/luke/9.htm

 

Light and Darkness

Jesus said: 

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”   (Luke 11:33-36 NIV) [1]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/niv/luke/11.htm

 

Greenland

President Donald J. Trump did not make billions of dollars as a real estate developer by being shy, retiring, or afraid to take risks.  He has the ego-strength that it takes to prevail in negotiations.  He understands the art of crafting win-win deals.  He wrote a book about it. 

President Trump has an uncommon talent for identifying the present and future problems the United States is facing. Unlike career politicians, when President Trump identifies a problem, he takes action to fix it. He doesn't waste time by creating a study group, forming a committee, or setting up a task force. 

In America, everyday transactions are not usually done by bargaining. When we go to the store, we pick something that we need from the shelf, take it to the cashier, and pay for it. If we don't like the price, we go to a competitor who sells it for less. American tourists are often at a disadvantage when buying things in other countries. They pay too much because they are not used to bargaining.  Sometimes, they enjoy the novelty of bargaining for goods with local vendors because it is so different from what we do here. Anyway, when President Trump negotiates with other countries in matters of foreign policy, we are not always able to understand what he is doing. 

An example from everyday life might be helpful.  You may have sold a home and thus become familiar with the process of buying and selling real estate; at least at the ground level (pardon the pun). If your real estate agent, an online resource, or an assessed valuation places a certain value on your home, it is in your best interest to ask for a higher price. That is because when a potential buyer becomes interested in your home they will probably offer less than your asking price. Then, it is customary for you to make a counter offer lowering your price a little bit. The buyer may agree to that price or make another counter offer. This process continues until both parties agree on a price that they are satisfied with. Or, the deal may fall through because an agreement cannot be reached. 

President trump exaggerates his goals in international relations, so that he can still protect US interests if he agrees to take a little less. It isn't really difficult to see what he's doing. 

A problem arises, however, when he pushes the envelope too far.  By nature, he is a man who will test the boundaries.  He will go for as much as he can get, unless he is compelled to reconsider. It often scares me - big time. On the other hand, President Trump disrupts the status quo, causes everyone to come to the table in a hurry, and brings about a solution to the problem. A different approach might result in the “establishment types” in our government and other governments talking it to death rather than acting. You have to hand it to President Trump … he gets results. 

Greenland is self-governing but remains a part of the Danish Kingdom.  The Danes maintain a small military force on the island. [1] 

Is there a present threat to American national security, or is our newfound interest in Greenland purely proactive?  The Chinese have been thwarted by the United States and Denmark from succeeding in attempts to get permission to build airports and buy an abandoned US military base in Greenland. [2]  They have also shown an interest in establishing “research” outposts in other parts of the arctic. [3]  For detailed information please visit: 

https://www.clingendael.org/pub/2020/presence-before-power/4-greenland-what-is-china-doing-there-and-why/ 

The information available at the time of this writing indicates that there is no Russian military presence in Greenland.  However, the US has long regarded Greenland as strategically important to our defense against a Russian air attack.  Consequently, with Denmark’s and Greenland’s permission, we maintain a military base at Pituffik. [4]  Greenland’s strategic location makes it ideal for building the Golden Dome air defense system that President Trump has proposed. 

President Trump has pointed out that Russian and Chinese military vessels have been seen near Greenland.  News reports indicate that his claims may have been exaggerated. [5] The president is privy to information that we do not have access to. However, the EU is an important trading partner for China.  Consequently, sighting Chinese merchant vessels along trade routes to Europe is understandable. 

It is widely known that Greenland has deposits of minerals that are used for military purposes.  The United States does not.  China does.  Ukraine does.  The US, Russia, and China covet these natural resources.  People, groups, communities, and governments usually do things for more than one reason.  Truthfully, it would compromise American national security to have Greenland’s mineral resources fall into the hands of our geopolitical opponents. 

It makes common sense that it is easier … and that it is less threatening to world peace … for the United States to craft agreements with Greenland, Denmark, and NATO that will keep Russia and China out of Greenland, rather than to try to kick them out once they establish a presence there.  The key is to do it legally, ethically, and with the greatest respect to the people of Greenland’s right to self-determination. 

The United States of America is not Vladimir Putin’s Russia or Xi Jinping’s China.  We do not take things by force; just because we can.  It may motivate our friends to get off the dime, but we cannot agree with threatening to do something that is so contrary to our national character. 

We are not among those who shout, “No Kings!”, in the street, or who falsely accuse President Trump of being a tyrant, a Hitler, or a fascist.  That is a bunch of left-wing fear mongering.  We must remember, however, that how others see us is reality for them.  Therefore, we need to be careful, as a superpower, to avoid creating the impression that we would abuse our power. 

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[1] https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-s-arctic-militarization-behind-trump-s-focus-on-greenland/7946621.html

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/21/china-strategic-opportunity-greenland-us-donald-trump  

[3] https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-greenland-denmark-trump-arctic-security-russia-china-6346aa8e86be594e467e8cc18f98357b

[4] https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-s-arctic-militarization-behind-trump-s-focus-on-greenland/7946621.html

[5] https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-greenland-denmark-trump-arctic-security-russia-china-6346aa8e86be594e467e8cc18f98357b

Shake the Dust Off Your Shoes

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.  And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.  Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.  Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.  And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.  Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.  Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’  But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,  ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’  I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town." (Luke 10:1-12 ESV) [1]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/luke/10.htm

Gus

My dog Gus died last Monday, the 12th.  He was a full-sized Pomeranian.  Poms live a long time. He was almost 18 years old. 

Those who love dogs always think that their dog is the best dog that ever lived. That's how I felt about Gus. He was my friend. I don't say “my friend” often or lightly, but Gus was a true friend. 

We got him when he was a puppy. He was with us for a long time. He was part of my life, and now that part is gone. To say that it hurts and that I miss him is an understatement. 

Our veterinary clinic, and others close to me, have suggested that I get another dog. If I do, I can't call the dog a “replacement dog.” No other dog could ever replace Gus. It wouldn't be fair to the new dog to expect him to take the place of Gus. I'm going to wait until I get my feelings sorted out before I think about getting another dog. 

I don't know what it is about dogs. They work their way into your heart.  Then, when it’s time for them to go, it breaks your heart to have to say goodbye. I don't know if I want to let myself in for this kind of pain again. 

I am grateful to God for sending Gus into my life. He was a blessing.