Rourke: The following is a previously unpublished submission from Panhandle Rancher – circa 2013. He was responding to an article I published that discussed the state of the country and community involvement as a means to generate positive change. A lot has changed since 2013 and I wonder if his thoughts on the subject changed at all. I’m hoping a mutual friend who would know better than I will share his thoughts.
Yes, we should know each of our local elected officials for we put them in office. I submit that people of our way of thought and lifestyle must get involved with our communities; that we get involved with the Tea Party, with the Republicans, with the Democrats, with the Libertarians, perhaps even create a new political party, and use political processes to effect change within acceptable channels of change. We have been given a most unique gift, a flexible government amenable to change without bloodshed. This is a gift of unimaginable proportions. Destruction is easy. We need only to look at our own Civil War, to Serbia, to Afghanistan, to Syria, in order to see this. To build and to build something better, now that is much more difficult and the challenge much more gratifying.
I have been an elected judge in the Great State of Texas. Even though I chose to serve but one term of office, for the rest of my life, I shall likely receive mail addressed to the Honorable. I simply cannot describe what that feels like, how very very humbling it is, how grave and solemn it is, to receive mail so addressed; to have men older and no doubt wiser stand when I walk into a room, to no longer to be called by my name but to be quietly addressed as ‘Your Honor.’ How so many elected officials live lives less than honorable when openly referred to as ‘the Honorable’ is beyond comprehension. Nevertheless, elected leaders at the White House, at Congress, at State Houses, and at our local Court Houses across the land all too often live lives and perform deeds that are by no standard, Honorable (all elected leaders receive the appellation). In the post-Nixon era it has become common for a politician behaving in a horribly egregious manner to apologize and all is forgiven. Nay, I say. Nay! We should never forgive nor forget anyone who tarnishes the high standard of public trust conferred by elected position.
I became involved in the political process and ran for office when someone I thought undeserving ran unopposed. This my friends is the heavy burden life in our Republic places on each of its citizens. Civics and political science classes often curtail the obligations imposed upon citizens of this Republic. To vote and to serve on a jury are the obligations most quoted. These are important and by no means trivial, however, the mature citizen understands the higher obligations of military service and the political processes.
A philosopher far wiser than myself once observed that every people have the government they deserve. This is the reason different peoples have organized under warlords, kings, dictators, democracies, and republics. Functional representative governments require citizens willing to stake their fortunes, their liberty, and their very lives, for abstract and intangible principles.
The only physical difference between El Paso and Juarez is the Rio Grande yet we have two peoples living with totally different sets of opportunities. Our ancestors decided they did not want to live as unrepresented citizens of the Crown and violently threw off the mantle of British rule. By so doing they ultimately created a political system that has made the United States the envy of the world. Far too many citizens of Mexico would flee rather than undergo the sacrifice required to create there what we have here. As long as this happens, life under their form of government will always remain less desirable. That we are willing to absorb a people unwilling to make those ultimate sacrifices, many unwilling to even learn our language but all more than willing to absorb our largess works in concert toward our ultimate downfall.
Some of us are quick to call for the violent dismemberment of this representative government that is the envy of the world. Friends, our ancestors, and many of us alive today have paid an incredible price for the however much-diminished freedoms we now enjoy. They have given us a political system amenable to non-violent change. Hiding in a hole with our beans, bullets, and band-aids is not the answer. What we need, is the courage, the commitment, and the will to use political processes to effect desirable change. My friends, it will always be easier to destroy than to build.
Humbly submitted,
Panhandle Rancher
A wonderful piece from our departed friend. You who knew him in person were really lucky but I think we are all richer from his contributions here.
Rourke, I think this is actually a wonderful eulogy. Rest in peace, PR.
Very prescient man. As usual, the best among us are the most humble and sincere. Thank you for this glimpse into the soul of a great American.
John, he was ahead of his time recognizing things we are seeing to change this republic. I think if more people go to their election offices and see how to become a poll watcher on voting days there would be a lot less corruption in elections and we would not be in the position we are now. May a good man rest in peace.
A philosopher far wiser than myself once observed that every people have the government they deserve…!
John, I spent a lot of time with PR at his place and mine. His views did change somewhat. The last time we spoke about this topic .. maybe 6 months ago, he had grown disenchanted in the way the media was manipulating the narrative. The crux of it was that you can only perform your function, as a citizen that is well informed. So his question was essentially. “How does one remain well informed, in an era of deliberate information manipulation?”. We all have our sources, and we shared encrypted emails between a cadre that felt much the same about the topic. Older wiser men than I, and I was honored to have been included in the cadre.
The more severe the medical conditions became the tougher is was to be objective and hopeful, as it would be for anyone. Terminal illness brings on depression, but of course he used the events to boil it down to a few truths, he felt were the reasons to be hopeful, and to a degree methods.
Without exception he felt that the process was severely flawed based on media manipulation, but with occasional sparks of hope and was still recoverable. That the longer it took, the harder it would be. He felt that prayer was essential, as was an understanding of where the grounding of one’s faith comes from. He remained confident that the God he would soon meet had a plan, that he didn’t know what it was, but remained faithful to God’s eventual victory.
As to methods, he still believed that the process could be used successfully to bring about positive change. Steve was actually a member of the RNC for quite a while. He and his wife Donna pursued involvement deliberately. He put his money where his mouth was, his entire life.
He remained active in the FBI agents associations, as a member, as well a support for local LEO’s and Politicians in both the pulpit and gatherings small and large. He was not afraid of sharing what he believed.
The frailty brought about by his illness frustrated him, as it kept him from sharing at times and took sop much of his energy and focus. Five years was a long time to bare that cross and be bore it stoically. Still he did what he could, albeit less than he desired. His final email to me was hopeful about his destination and encouraging and thanking me as a friend and brother. Can you imagine? They don’t make men like him anymore. I am glad they once did and hopeful we will again.
I hope everyone has a blessed holiday…
JR. Thanks for keeping Steve’s memory alive and sharing the words he no longer can.
GG58