Is honesty the best policy?

I have a son who does not  respect the police.  It comes from an incident when he was a teen and was in some minor trouble.  He was taken to the police station. He refused to say a word. I was called of course and sat in on the sessions. I heard several times, and he did also. "Sir, we are not after your son, all we want is the truth," I forced my son to  tell the officers what they wanted to do, and he did.  VERY SOON the full weight of the law fell on my son and my family.  I was in the military.

That day I learned there is a morally right (which I enforced) and a legally right (which my son insisted, 'the law says I do not have to say a word.')  Too soon I realized he was right, our lives were turned upside down. The full force of the law came down on the son and my family.  Today he has little respect for the law. He has a friend who is in law enforcement, but still he insists the COP is in that position because of the AUTHORITY AND POWER he holds. 

Twice in my life other than the incident with my son, I have been rail-roaded by law-enforcement. I was fined for things I absolutely did not do,  BUT I still believe in the law, because I have known good men and true, in law enforcement.  I respect the law and the officers who enforce it.  I have enough sense to know every phase of life has incompetent men/women involved, but if we did not have law enforcement we would have chaos. 

Both cases where I was  mistreated and lied about were traffic violations. Both were speeding violations. Neither incident was I even close to speeding, but the officers lied under oath and I paid the fines and insurance increase. Both cases I had family members in the car and they knew. In the last case it was the same son who has a big problem with police.  His statement to me was, "See dad, they can do what they want."  So I know first hand, the officer can be wrong, and some will lie.   I know first hand why my son does not trust the law.

I said all that to say this, concerning the terrible events of late. A lot of folks have been wrong. To tell the truth the first time when as a young Marine, I was hauled before a judge by a highway patrolman for speeding, the judge practically winked at the patrolman when my wife swore I was not speeding, I really felt like getting my shotgun and walking thru the town and shooting every store window out, but of course I did not.  BUT  I KNOW FRUSTRATION, do you?

The sniper in Dallas was terribly wrong. I think the other two incidents were wrong, but do I know? No, I do not.  We as Americans do seem to be divided.  I hate that.  many bloggers have suggested prayer.  As I have always said, "Prayer can't hurt! Do it!

I have no doubt law enforcement must clean up their act.  But likewise many American Citizens (BLACK & WHITE) should clean up their act.

TRUTH IS, we need to learn to trust!
Nite Shipslog

PS:
Job interviewer: What do you think is your worst quality?
Job seeker:  Honesty!
Job interviewer: Ma'am, I don't think that is a bad quality.
Job Seeker: I don't really care what you think!

(The interview did not end well!)

This is my '48 chevy. I got my first ticket, deserved , in this, loud mufflers. (Now music is louder than my 'Smitties'.)

I have had 5 ticket in my 77 years. 3 deserved, 2 I did not.

I don't not want any more. 5 is enought!