Wars: life's a battleground

I guess through experience you learn that life consists of a series of trials by fire. Perhaps it begins at childbirth while your mom screams bloody murder and you're born crying. Too deep? Perhaps.
But I sometimes believe some of us are born warriors, while others choose to sit and watch, be trampled underfoot or observe other's battle. I have no idea what drives each of us to this crusade, but, some of us are always on the front lines.
Look around. Not everyone can be a cop, fire-fighter, soldier, bodyguard, or work in a jail or emergency room. Most don't.
Life gives each of us challenges, and no matter whom you talk to you'll hear their story of how they have fought an illness, a court dispute, or even a neighborhood property line argument. We are all on the front lines, some more than others. I have also learned through experience that you should only put your efforts into battle when;, and listen closely- When You Are Right.
I'm not taking any moral high ground, here, but, fight when you're right. I believe when someone is 'wronged' and everything points to the obvious villain, give it all you've got.
Yet if you don't choose your battles wisely, you will exhaust yourself and do nothing else.
But if you have been delivered an illegal hit--- Get your armor on. Grab your weapon and stand and deliver.
Maybe it's the Capricorn in me, I don't know. But I am never afraid of a good fight- If I Am Right. I know when I am not right. Beginning a war against someone because of ego, spite, hatred, intolerance, or just plain stupidity, does not make it right. Think carefully about what you are doing when you run over someone and ask yourself, was that a smart, thoughtful thing to do to that person? Did I pick on them for my own selfish gain or ego?
If you have, I'll warn you. Don't start that battle, you will lose.

But--- if you are in the right, you have been trampled heedlessly, treated less than human or without respect to your rights and liberties. FIGHT. Let me tell you from experience from someone who has been on the front lines. If you set up for the tackle, you can win. Hold tight to your pride, your self-respect, and hit the bastards where they deserve it.

Battles are won and lost every day in this life. And each of us pursues our personal demons. But never allow someone to mistreat you and gloat. Turn the other cheek if you can, but if you are wronged, fight, baby, fight. You will win. Take it from me, the re-incarnated soldier. (destiny? Who knows.)But if you need an ally, you got me right by your side.

The Game of Blame

I suppose since I was a police officer, I could honestly say, "I've seen it all." I've seen drug addicts blame each other for their heroin habits, poor drivers blame one another for an accident, husbands and wives blame each other for a domestic battle, and cop shooters blame the cop for asking to be shot.
When did we forget to say, "I made a mistake, I did it." Or, "I'm sorry." The finger pointing has gotten so out of hand, its global. Republicans blame the state of the country on democrats, and visa versa, one country accuses the other of environmental damage, it goes on and on.
Let me tell you something you may not know. We -WE- are responsible for our actions. No, your over-bearing mother did not make you a wife-beater, YOU- are a wife-beater. And for, of course, the ebook stealers, (you know I can't forget them) watching them justify their behavior as the author's fault or the website's fault or...well, it was free so I took it's fault, is laughable. I'm sorry, people! You did it! You stole it, you broke it, you over-indulged, you behave the way you do because of YOU!
How many times do we see someone stand up and admit they were wrong? Only a few stars who are shamed or into the publicity? Is that it?
What about on a personal level? Who says, "I did it. I was wrong. I'm sorry?" It's as if we can't handle the blame any longer. I'm sorry. Let me tell you all. I'm sorry to tell you If you steal, you are a thief. If you kill, you are a murderer. Simple as that.

Here in Ohio a cop processed a driver for being over the alcohol limit. That cop later was ambushed by the drunk. He was shot. Luckily he survived. What did the drunk do? He blamed the cop for catching him? for processing him for drunk driving? I'm sorry to tell you, the drunk was shot and killed. Sorry to tell you, he's dead.
No. To be honest. I'm not sorry. Those who do illegal things and blame others, then get punished? I blame them. Sorry.

Pirate sites

Pirate sites have long been the bane of any writer's existence, but the number of illegal downloads cropping up has become epic. And not EPIC in a good electronic publication way. Though ebooks are the wave of the future, the theft of them and the lack of prosecution and jurisdiction has made the battle uphill. Authors rely on the goodness of humans to buy, not steal their novels. And at 1.00-5.00 a book, come on, people? Really? Can't buy a book for a buck?
Sad but true. And though the problem is widespread, it's the same morons who upload the novels once they have been taken down, through a long process of notices and hoops. Why do these people do it? Getting their jollies? Power tripping? or just the rush of a freebie to share? I have no clue. But being an ex-cop, I have never understood the sense of stealing what does not belong to you. Perhaps it's just a value of a normal person, and the abnormal ones don't get it.

But I ask any reader of ebooks to respect your beloved authors and discourage, name and shame, and do not support the illegal sites. In fact, help get rid of them. Join groups to delete their nasty existence from our planet.