“The gods hate hubris”
I was a handsome young policeman of 23. I had just graduated at the top of my class at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)in Glynnco GA. While there, I had been selected to return for ‘Crowd Control’ training. A ‘Train the Trainer’ program.
I thought I was a bad ass…
Oh yeah ::sniff:: they liked me front and center when that new News 24 hour cycle thing that was invented by a cable channel called ‘CNN’ started, especially when they were around the Pentagon…
On the east side of The Pentagon is a Metro Bus platform. It is a hub Station for Arlington county, and there is also Metro Rail ‘Orange’ line station under the parking lot.
We received a call ‘Man with a Knife on the bus platform’…
I hit my lights and hauled ass to the Bus platform…
I whipped my cruiser up diagonally, blocking the platform exit, lights flashing.
Yeah it was ‘textbook’.
It was also the beginning of rush hour in DC.
The platform was packed, buses everywhere. Hundreds if not thousands of people.
I just shut it all down with my cruiser…
I exited my cruiser, reached in, grabbed my hat (which I never wore), placed it on my head with one hand…
DAMN!! I looked good!!!
Another officer yelled
“This way!!”
So I took off in that direction.
The equipment they gave me.
Specifically my ‘Sam Browne’ belt was previously used, to put it nicely.
Actually, I had to use ‘shoe black’ to restain the leather, and tons of ‘Kiwi’ polish to make it look serviceable.
Here I am, running in front of an enormous crowd.
All eyes on me.
Did I say I was young and handsome?
Damn I looked good!!
Running along….
All of a sudden.
Clunk!!! KaClunk Clunk!!!! Scrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
My pistol fell out of my holster and slid 25 or so yards across the concrete of the bus platform, stopping directly in front of or at the feet of a large crowd…
Yeah.
Not so cool and dashing now?!?
Are we!?!?
What could I do?
I nonchalantly walked over, picked up the revolver, wiped it off, put it back in my holster, and took off running (with my hand on my gun this time, and forevermore).
There were snickers and giggles.
I acted like I was all alone.
We did not find a man with a knife.
As you can surmise, that was NOT one of my better days.
Congratulations to @Dylwa77 and @Apalm. Your questions were chosen for tonight’s Ask Greg and the Panelists.
@Dylwa77 If you were granted a wish to learn the truth about one controversial event, what would it be?
@APalm Do you remember a time that you succumbed to peer pressure, or resisted it?
Congratulations to @hillcatgut. Your question was chosen for tonight’s Ask Greg and the Panelists.
@hillcatgut Name an actor or politician that you met - was your impression of them different than their public persona.
See GUTFELD Live with Tom Shillue and our surprise guest comedians
Joe DeVito, Jamie Lissow, Michael Loftus, Joe Machi & Jeff Dye!
Sat, April 11, Duluth, GA, -Gas South Arena
Sun, April 12, Huntsville, AL, Propst Arena
Sat, May 2, Nampa, ID, Ford Idaho Center
Sun. May 3, Independence, MO, Cable Dahmer Arena
Sat, June 6, Frisco, TX (Dallas) Comerica Center
Sun, June 7, Charlotte, NC Bojangles Coliseum
Sat, Sept 19, Henderson, NV, Lees Family Forum
Sun, Sept 20, Clarksville, TN, F&M Bank Arena
Sat, Oct 17, Peoria, IL, Peoria Civic Center
Sun, Oct 18, St. Charles, MO, Family Arena
Go to www.GGUTFELD.com/live for tickets!
We’re keeping it low-key with friends for an early Easter brunch. I’m bringing, everything homemade,blueberry scones with lemon curd and vanilla ice cream… to be paired with a Bakery-bought pie. Yes, I said it—high end bakery-bought pie. Pie-making confidence level: still hovering somewhere below “crumble.”
What’s everyone up to this Easter?
Another year older, wiser....and still hanging out with us.
Happy Birhday to:
@marriedtodem 4/1
@RidgeRunners 4/2
@Stella4 4/3
@DPeltier 4/7
@moontide_99 4/8.
From History Cool Kids ·
The quote comes from Chapterhouse: Dune, often regarded as the weakest novel in the series.
Frank Herbert’s idea challenges that of Lord Acton, the 19th century English historian and moral thinker best known for the line, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Herbert’s view shifts the emphasis away from corruption caused by power itself and instead suggests that power attracts people who are already predisposed to corruption.
This closely parallels Friedrich Hayek’s argument in The Road to Serfdom, where he claims that centralized systems tend to elevate the most unscrupulous individuals, a pattern he associated with the political extremes of the WW1 and WW2 era.
Both perspectives ultimately suggest that power does not simply corrupt, but selects for those most willing to wield it.
Image credit: John Schoenherr
