This badge is my shield, I wear it to duty, but it is not mine alone. It protects my brothers on my left. Together we protect our county. I will never let my brother out of its shadow nor will we let our county out of its shelter. I would die with my badge before me facing the enemy of those we protect.

The Confederate Senate joint committee selected a word in consonance with the attributes of the Deity 'Deo'--God . Success has crowned their efforts in the selection of the word 'Vindex,' which signifies an assenter, a defender, protector, deliverer, liberator, a mediator and a ruler or guardian. 'Vindex' also means an avenger or punisher. "No word appeared more grand, more expressive or significant than this. Under God as the asserter of our rights, the defender of our liberties, our protector against danger, our mediator, our ruler and guardian, and, as the avenger of our wrongs and the punisher of our crimes, we endeavor to equal or even excel our ancestors. What word can be suggested of more power, and so replete with sentiments and thoughts consonant with our idea of the omnipotence and justice of God? Deo Vindice “God Will Vindicate

BESLAN AND MOSCOW, RUSSIA – As the memorial shrine in the Beslan school gymnasium grows larger by the day - with mourners leaving bottles of water, food, and toys to mark the thirst and hunger inflicted for three days upon hostages by terrorists last week - one handwritten note points to a troubling future. On a piece of white cloth inside an escape hole dug into the gym wall are written the words, "Here began the Third World War - against Terror."

"Give me a horse as red as the sun
Give me a blade that will make the blood run
I will ride out at dawn while the sun's in the sky
So the buzzards can see where the bodies will lie.
Bring me my lance, bring me my shield,
Strong as my sword is the vengeance I wield
To seek vengeance is wrong, claim my masterful lords
But vengeance has tempered my sword,
Vengeance has tempered my sword"
From "The Temper of Revenge" by Julia Ecklar

AN HONORABLE MAN
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither Victory or Defeat."
Part of a speech delivered by President Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in Paris France on April 23, 1910

There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter. Ernest Hemingway

"If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl."
H. L. Mencken —"Epitaph",

Death comes with a crawl or he comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow, or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only, how did you die?"


****In certain extreme situations, the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy, it is necessary to act outside the law. To pursue... natural justice. This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a valid motive, it's an emotional response. No. Not vengeance. Punishment. *****