To Serve and Protect

         What does this mean and where did it come from? I used to see it on law enforcement vehicles, but that does not apply much more now days. Its phrase started out in the Los Angeles Police Dept. in the 50’s and other law enforcement used to have it on their police cars. It basically means to provide and assistance to citizens while protecting them and safeguarding them from harm. I want to apply this to something else, this country. I am going to break it down word by word and maybe people will think about it.

         The word “To” means going toward, in the direction of, the start of a direction of a goal, agenda or a purpose.

         The word “Serve” has many meanings, but I am looking at the “perform” definition. To me this means an action or a dedication that you do to get to your goal you set.

         The word “and” means in addition to, couple, combined with another action to help secure your goal that you set out to do.

         The word “Protect” is your goal and that you preform to watch over and safeguard from harm.

         Now that I have broken it down, who do we “Serve” and what do we “Protect”? To me, we do not serve the elite, special interest groups, the establishment, but we serve the system.       The system is the country and our government that we have built that is handed down to generations after generations. We protect it from the establishment that is using it to control and dominate us. I believe that there are two groups, parties or beliefs that are trying to dominate this country. One is for themselves and the other is trying to preserve this country for what it was built for. It is like one is the “Chicken” and the other is the “Pig”. The difference is like comparing it to a plate of ham and eggs. The “Chicken” is just involved in the action/process and the pig is dedicated to the cause.

         This is where I believe it has lost it soul and people are serving themselves (ISM), the establishment and not protecting the country. The old phrase “they sold their soul” is a good example of this and you see it everywhere in the news. Our leaders and elected officials seem to only have their self-interest in their eyes. Every day you wake up, your primary job is the security and strength of this country. It is not just the job of the military to protect this country, it is everybody job. The sad thing is when this country falls, they will fall to.

         So, for me “To Protect and Serve” is what we do as an American every day when we get up. It does not matter what we do, work at, or occupation, we pass this tradition on to the next generation so they know what it means to be an American. This land of the “Free” comes from the home of the Brave being dedicated (Pig) to “To Protect and Serve” it at all cost.

                                                            R. Fleharty