America’s New Year's Resolution: Reawaken the Nation

It is a new year, time for individual resolutions, but also for America to make a resolution to reawaken the nation.

As memorialized in my Epoch Times weekly column over the past two years, there are daunting challenges throughout America demanding a full force commitment to transformation.

America must rise to the occasion and be renewed, rejuvenated, and restored; ignited by the principles of leadership, vigilance, and collaboration.

Challenges throughout society are clearly indicated by our crisis of character, culture of violence, and the devastating consequences of natural disasters.

America will rise and be reawakened as our people have hearts of courage, compassion, and community.

But, inspired by our legacy of freedom, democracy, and liberty, we must honestly assess our failure to transform the nation.

America’s Crisis of Character

A review of the FBI website immediately crystallizes the crisis of character throughout America defined as public corruption.

This venom poses a fundamental threat to our national security and way of life. It impacts everything from how well our borders are secured and our neighborhoods protected, to verdicts handed down in courts, to the quality of our roads, schools, and other government services. 1

Public corruption also costs billions of dollars every year, which can be better spent on programs including education, health care, homelessness, unemployment, and veteran’s services.

Compounding public corruption, the crisis of character also negatively impacts us through a culture of greed in our corporations, and every other facet of society – sports, entertainment, family, and even faith-based communities, where we witness alarming stories of scandal, deception, and betrayal.

As detailed in my article titled “America’s Leadership Crisis: Reigniting Our Character” for the Epoch Times, Sept. 12, 2014 edition, “Character must be the heartbeat of the nation and we must heed the words attributed to Thomas Jefferson, one of our founding fathers: 'Yes, we did produce a near perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the path of destruction.'”

America’s Culture of Violence

In my presentations throughout the United States, particularly since the Columbine tragedy in 1999, I have used a metaphor of a head-on collision of a crisis of character and culture of violence, to audiences of educators, law enforcement, government officials, community leaders, and students.

America’s culture of violence is continually manifested throughout our workplaces, schools, campuses, houses of worship, communities, and families.

Aside from many other forms of violence, recent and notorious mass shooting tragedies, are indicting America for its failure to prevent violence:

Dec. 2, 2015: At least 14 people died and 21 were injured during a holiday celebration for county employees in San Bernardino, Calif. It was the deadliest mass shooting in America in the past three years.

Oct. 1: Nine people are killed, eight students and one teacher, and nine are injured at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore.

July 16: Two military centers in Chattanooga, Tenn., are attacked, leaving four Marines and a Navy sailor dead along with three wounded.

June 18: A suspected white supremacist kills nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.

Sept. 26, 2013: A former Navy enlisted man shoots and kills 12 people and injures 3 at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.

Dec. 14, 2012: A shooter kills 20 first graders, six and seven years of age, and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

April 16, 2007: The deadliest shooting in U.S. history by a single gunman takes place at Virginia Tech with 32 students killed and at least 17 wounded.

America’s Devastating Natural Disasters

Just this past week, the natural disasters of dangerous snow, bitter temperature, devastating twisters destroying communities, widespread loss of power, and major flooding assaulted much of America’s central section, leaving dozens dead.

As nature unleashed relentless havoc in Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama, with more dangerous weather coming to America, we are reminded that nature can be cruel.

Natural disasters demand that the crisis management principles of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery are always front and center.

All responsible for safeguarding communities must heed well that competence, professionalism, and vigilance must always be the order of the day. Also, America must always respond with compassion toward all who suffer from calamities.

Final Reflections

Leadership, vigilance, and collaboration as our heartbeat will resuscitate America.

America will rise from the crisis of character, culture of violence, and devastating consequences of natural disasters when we reignite the principles of leadership, vigilance, and collaboration.

Read More:

School Violence Crisis: America, Wake Up

Mass Shootings: America’s Public Health Crisis

America’s 21st Century Student: Character, Courage, Community

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Photos

1. American Flag, Grand Central Terminal, NYC, Sept. 26, 2012. (Vincent J. Bove)

2. FBI / NYPD arrest. (Courtesy FBI)

3. Mourners visit a makeshift memorial near the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., on Dec. 4, 2015. The FBI has officially labeled the attack carried out by Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik as an act of terrorism. The San Bernardino community continues to mourn the attack at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino that left at least 14 people dead and another 21 injured. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

4. Pam Russell, left, rescues her cat, Larue, from her damaged home on Delta Drive a day after a tornado hit in Rowlett, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015. (Nathan Hunsinger/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

Endnote

Endnote

1. FBI Website, Public Corruption.

Collaboration Key to Defeating Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat that seeks to inflict itself upon democracy, freedom, and human dignity and demands a collaborative response.

In my Epoch Times column of Feb. 27, 2015, titled “Terrorism Concerns Accelerate: Protecting America,” I provide a straightforward definition of terrorism.

The article states that “terrorism is a contemptuous evil against life, justice, and charity as well as a cowardly assault against human rights, moral law, and the dignity of humankind.”

In a follow up March 6, 2015 column titled “Understanding Islam Is Essential to Community Policing,” I wrote, “All who adhere to the great religions of the world understand that faith, hope, and charity are sancrosanct.”

This article argued that “anyone who takes innocent human life in the name of religion commits the gravest sacrilege against faith. This desecration deserves the world’s most severe condemnation, resolve, and justice.”

Recent FBI Cases

A look at the FBI website immediately confirms their dedication to protecting America from individuals with nefarious intentions through recent cases including the following:

Dec. 17: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL

Dec. 17: Pennsylvania Resident Charged with Providing Material Support to ISIL

Dec. 17: California Man Charged with Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorism and Being Straw Purchaser of Assault Rifles Ultimately Used in San Bernardino, California Attack

Dec. 16: Upstate New York Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison for Providing Material Support to Terrorists

Dec .14: Maryland Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL

Dec. 14: U.S. Army National Guard Soldier Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL

Dec. 10: Tenth Minnesota Man Charged with Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to ISIL

Dec. 10: Former New Jersey Resident Admits Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL

NYPD SHIELD Conference: FBI Director Keynote

On Dec. 16, I attended the NYPD SHIELD terrorism conference at their headquarters in New York City, attended by over 600 law enforcement, private security, and community representatives.

The purpose of NYPD SHIELD is countering terrorism through information sharing by building collaboration between the public and private sectors.

FBI Director James B. Comey, a man of great integrity dedicated to protecting America, was the keynote speaker for the conference.

Comey stated that the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) treat was very active through social media, not with individuals going to a website, but through a “chaotic spider web arriving on smart phones all over the world, including America, with messages through online social networking services such as Twitter, that resonate with followers, sympathizers, and potential recruits.”

The FBI Director also stated that ISIS has a multi-pronged approach of “attracting followers to come to them, kill wherever they are, and sending trained, experienced fighters throughout the world to kill in their name. He stressed that the FBI does have an enormous concern with ISIL fighters who may enter America, posing great dangers.

Comey stressed that collaboration, with local police, community members, coworkers, and family are a critical response to this “hydra-headed monster.”

Encryption: Issues and Response

The dark challenge of intercepting terrorist communication through devices that cannot be accessed due to encryption was also addressed by Comey. He emphasized that encryption is positive for protecting personal information including banking and health care records, but public safety is another matter. We must not allow security to be undermined, he said.

“Encryption must not be the permitted tool of terrorist operatives working in the dark to commit evil against us,” Comey emphasized.

Democracy must rise to the occasion and America, working collaboratively together, must find the way to protect Constitutional rights of privacy without violating principles of public safety.

Final Reflections

There is a current climate of misunderstandings, and even crimes against houses of worship, compounded by misguided, inflammatory, and misleading messages by various presidential candidates, and community leaders that demands attention.

Hate crimes have tripled in wake of the Paris and San Bernardino tragedies, including assaults, arson, vandalism, shootings, and death threats against Muslims and Mosques, according to a California State University research group.

The moral code at the heart of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and this principle must be affirmed, defended, and respected by all true believers and non-believers as well.

Terrorism will be defeated through leadership, vigilance, and a collaboration of law enforcement, citizens, corporations, and faith-based communities fearlessly upholding the principles of human rights, democracy, and moral decency.

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As authored for Vincent’s weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times, 35 countries, 21 languages and growing.

Photos

1. NYPD presence at Macy’s, 34th Street and Herald Square, NYC on Nov. 21, 2015. (Vincent J. Bove)
2. Vincent J. Bove at NYPD SHIELD conference, Dec. 16, 2015. (Courtesy Vincent J. Bove Speaker Services)

America’s President Must Have Character, Ethics, Leadership

The Republican Presidential Debates continued this past week with the nation analyzing which candidates possessed the leadership principles critical to America.

As detailed in my article titled “America’s Next President Demands an Ethical Protector,” for the Nov. 12 edition of the Epoch Times, our nation’s concerns are inseparable from those of the international community.

Some of the hot-button topics demanding leadership include foreign policy, cybersecurity, economics, climate change, immigration, military action, refugees, policing, health care, terrorism, and violence.

America demands a president with unwavering character, ethical principles, and influential leadership.

These are presidential qualities critical for a 21st century American leader who must ignite patriotism, community, and character in America.

Ethical Leadership: Heart of the President

America’s president must inspire an ethical society that stands as a counterculture to violence, apathy, and corruption we have seen unleashed in our society. Our president must be the preeminent model of ethical leadership and inspire a reawakening of the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Perhaps some reflection on ethical leadership qualities from some past presidents will serve the presidential candidates with virtues worthy of emulation. These are also qualities that the American people should demand in their next president.

Although every president is a human being lacking perfection, these are some qualities detailed in my book “Listen To Their Cries” deserving attention:

Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson modeled moral courage, daring to speak for all Americans when he wrote that Parliament had no authority whatsoever over Americans. He claimed our independence, writing that Americans were “subject to the laws which they had adopted at their first settlement” and laws accepted by their own legislatures. In his bold conviction, Jefferson no longer petitioned the King of England as his subject or even as an Englishman, and he spoke of England as a foreign country.

Jefferson called for Americans to make resistance to the British “it’s common cause and exert their rightful powers to reestablish their constitutional rights.” He encouraged a boycott of British goods and referred to the colonies as states. Although aware that his writings would be considered treason punishable by hanging, Jefferson excited the hearts of patriots with his passion against the corrupt British king.1

Abraham Lincoln: Although interpersonal skills as well as the ability to persuade through communication are hallmarks of leadership, so are the qualities of great reserve, quiet, and study. Abraham Lincoln, modeled character by temperament and early training, growing up as a man of great reserve, so different from many politicians who attempt to be everyone’s best friend.

At times Lincoln was secretive, reticent, and self-contained, but although a warm friend of very few, he was the true friend of the people. Lincoln was a very private man who handled and acted on his thoughts carefully and with great discretion.2

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: In 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) had been president for seven years, but he had been paralyzed from the waist down for almost 20 years. Although he once flourished on physical activity such as golfing, tennis, swimming, horseback riding, and running in the woods, the mere act of standing up with his heavy metal leg-braces locked into place was a painful ordeal. FDR lived a very private pain with the infectious disease that crippled him—polio. He modeled a passion of dedication to America, concealing his disability so well that millions of Americans never knew he was a paraplegic.

It is awe inspiring to visit the home of FDR in Hyde Park, New York, and to walk along the second floor (where he could not stand on his own) and visualize him getting into his wheelchair each morning in his bedroom, rolling himself to a pulley system at the end of the hallway, and using all the upper body strength he could muster to lower himself to the main floor. Despite his hardship, Franklin D. Roosevelt led his country through World War II and championed the saving of democracy through his courage, determination, and patriotism, immortalized in his words, “The only thing we have to fear is … fear itself.” 3

Dwight Eisenhower: Leadership possesses courage that transcends trials, sufferings, and hardships as exemplified by Dwight Eisenhower. When he prepared for the D-Day Invasion, he was aware of the pending bloodshed of young American and British soldiers on the beaches of Normandy. Yet, he was also aware that these heroic sacrifices would not be in vain but would lead to the saving of civilization from tyranny, dictatorship, and despots.4

Final Reflection

American presidential candidates, the eyes of the nation are upon you and demand that you rise to the occasion and serve the people with character, ethics, and leadership. These qualities are what America is expecting and will lead to the reawakening of the nation.

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As authored for Vincent’s weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times, 35 countries, 21 languages and growing.

Photos

1. The White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 6, 2012. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
2. The Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 31, 2010. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
3. A podium waits for the U.S. president outside of the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2008. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Endnotes

1. Thomas Jefferson, Willard Sterne Randall, 209-210.
2. We Are Lincoln Men, David Herbert Donald, 28.
3. No Ordinary Time, Doris Kearns Goodwin, 16-17.
4. D-Day, Stephen E. Ambrose, 52.

Port Authority Police Department: America's Ethical Sentinels

On Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, I returned to the Port Authority Police Department's academy in Jersey City, New Jersey to continue my ongoing training and development initiative titled "Port Authority Police Department: Honor, Leadership, Protecting America.

Today's training for 61 police officers, who will eventually be promoted to sergeants, was a continuation of my previous presentations this year to the Superintendent of Police and executive staff on July 29, and sergeants awaiting promotions to lieutenants on Oct. 20.

The two presentations of today's training program were titled as follows:

* Port Authority Police Department: America's Ethical Sentinels
* America's Ethical Sentinels: Courtesy, Trust, Respect

Aside from PowerPoint presentations, attendees received copies of my newest cover story for The Chief of Police Magazine titled "Principles of American Policing." This article was an extended version of my "Reawakening the Nation" column for the Epoch Times, also published in The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine, June 2015 edition.

It was a great honor to serve these dedicated men and woman who make us proud to be Americans by their commitment to protect and serve.

Port Authority Police Department: Pride, Service, Distinction - Oct. 20, 2015 blog

As requested by the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), I am conducting an leadership initiative titled “Port Authority Police Department: Honor, Leadership, Protecting America.”

This initiative complements the PAPD motto of "pride, service, and distinction."

Attendees first involved the superintendent of police, commanding officers, inspectors, chiefs, captains, lieutenants, and executive staff. The program is now being conducted for PAPD officers and sergeants being prepared for promotions.

The PAPD, one of the largest police departments in America with 1,700 members, is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with responsibilities including the following: Port Authority Bus Terminal, World Trade Center, PATH System, Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Port Authority Marine Terminal, Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, George Washington Bridge, The Bayonne and Goethals Bridges, and the Outerbridge Crossing.

The major airports alone: Newark Liberty International Airport, JFK International, and LaGuardia, handle more than 110 million air passengers, over 1.3 million aircraft movements, and over 2.6 million tons of air cargo annually.

The PAPD provides a wide array of services in their dedication to protect and serve the millions of people that use Port Authority facilities with capabilities including the following: Emergency Services, K-9 Patrol, Motorcycle Unit, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Commercial Vehicle Inspection, and Defibrillator Program.

During my presentation, I used a metaphor of a head-on train collision causing catastrophic chaos, painting the picture of America’s crisis of leadership and culture of violence. I emphasized that the PAPD is vital to our nation.

America's Crisis of Leadership

The crisis of leadership was depicted with examples including the following:

• Massive and pervasive arrests, indictments, convictions, and imprisonments of public officials throughout every level of government.
• Continuous corporate fraud cases including Enron, WorldCom, Purdue Pharma L.P., the narcissistic arrogance of Lehman’s Brothers Richard Fuld, and the long tentacles of Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion swindle that wreaked havoc on many lives.
• Scandals within the world of sports including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, FIFA, and Olympic champions.
• The sexual abuse of children in the Roman Catholic Church compounded by disgraceful cover-ups from bishops who failed to protect society from contemptuous crimes that screamed to heaven for justice.
• Scandals against our veterans who have borne the battle yet suffer from deplorable healthcare deficiencies, unemployment, and homelessness.
• Entertainment stars involved with substance abuse, domestic violence, and shootings.

America's Culture of Violence

The crisis of violence was depicted with events including the following:

• Sexual assaults of teenagers by their peers with reprehensible postings of the attacks posted online that led to heart-breaking suicides of numerous victims.
• Horrific incidents of school and campus violence including Columbine, Virginia Tech, Newtown, and Yale University where a murdered student’s missing body was found on what would have been her wedding day.
• Senseless workplace violence massacres including the killing of 14 at a Binghamton, New York Immigration Office, the killing of 12 people during a Batman movie in Colorado, and the Navy Yard mass shooting that left 13 dead.
• On-going violence at houses of worship, once considered sanctuary, including the horrific killing of nine people at an historic Charleston, South Carolina church.
• Senseless acts of terrorism including the Boston Marathon attack, 9/11, the lone-wolf attack of NYPD officers, and the killing of 4 Marines and a Sailor in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• Continuous police officer fatalities who died while faithfully protecting and serving our communities.

Final Reflections

At 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, a hijacked airliner struck One World Trade Center, igniting a blazing inferno in the side of the 110-story structure. Seventeen minutes later, another hijacked jet slammed into Two World Trade Center causing a second inferno.

PAPD members, who were some of the first law enforcement personnel to respond to the terrorist attacks, quickly rushed into the burning buildings and heroically helped rescue thousands of employees. Some of these heroes climbed high up into the burning towers to assist those who were seriously injured or trapped.

Thirty-seven members of the PAPD were killed on that fateful day and their heroism deserves to be eternally honored.

It was an honor to serve these men and women who protect and serve America as their sacrifices are essential to our liberty, freedom, and democracy.

Note Well:

Port Authority Police Department Testimonial
"I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for taking time out of our busy schedule to speak with the Port Authority Police Command Staff on July 29th.

"You are a true Patriot, and your presentation was well received and appreciated by all of the Staff in attendance..."
Commanding Officer Port Authority Police Academy

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As authored for Vincent’s weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times, 35 countries, 21 languages and growing.

Photo’s

1. Vincent J. Bove with his class of 61 PAPD Police officers on Dec. 8, 2015. (Courtesy PAPD)
2. Vincent J. Bove conducting training for Port Authority Police Department sergeant’s prior to promotions to lieutenant, Oct. 20, 2015. (Courtesy PAPD)
3. Port Authority Police Department personnel at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC. (Courtesy PAPD)
4. Port Authority Police Department providing security for the PATH. (Courtesy PAPD)
5. Port Authority Police Department salute. (Courtesy PAPD)
6. Port Authority Police Department patch. (Vincent J. Bove)

Mass Shootings: America’s Public Health Crisis

Last week, after attending an event with 125 law enforcement and private security professionals near the New York Stock Exchange, I began a walk uptown to enjoy some of the holiday decorations in New York City.

Unfortunately, the American flags flying at half-staff throughout the city to honor the victims of our most recent mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, were a stark reminder of our culture of violence.

The sight of so many America flags throughout the city, once again at half-staff, overshadowed the holiday decorations.

It is a disturbing commentary on American life, when flags at half-staff seem to be the norm, rather than the exception.

America’s Culture of Violence

America’s culture of violence is continually manifested throughout our workplaces, schools, campuses, houses of worship, communities, and families.

There appears to be no end in sight to the carnage.

Recent and notorious shooting tragedies indicting America for its failure to prevent violence, paint an unsettling picture:

Dec. 2, 2015: At least 14 people died and 21 were injured during a holiday celebration for county employees in San Bernardino, California. It was the deadliest mass shooting in America in the past three years.

Nov. 29: Three people are killed and 9 wounded at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Oct. 1: Nine people are killed, eight students and one teacher, and nine are injured at Umpqua Community College in Rosburg, Ore.

July 16: Two military centers in Chattanooga, Tenn. are attacked, leaving four Marines and a Navy sailor dead along with three wounded.

June 18: A suspected white supremacist kills nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.

Sept. 26, 2013: A former Navy enlisted man shoots and kills 12 people and injures 3 at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.

Dec. 14, 2012: A shooter kills 20 first graders, six and seven years of age, and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

After each of these tragedies, the American flag was lowered to half-staff.

America must stop the violent rampages and resolve with full force leadership, vigilance, and collaboration to keep our flags flying at full-staff.

Security Countermeasures: Practical Tips

A robust security program must be comprehensive, proactive, and continually updated. Security must never be piecemeal, negligent, or have its importance minimized.

Approaches to security in workplaces, schools, campuses, houses of worship, communities, and families must include the following:

Security Vulnerability Assessments: These must be conducted by board-certified, reputable, and experienced public safety professionals in order to identify and evaluate areas of risk.

Background Checks / Investigations: This is an essential due diligence countermeasure that prevent hiring individuals who do not deserve employment or access. These checks must be made by qualified, licensed professionals who honor laws conducting background checks. Background checks include criminal history reports, drug testing, motor vehicle driving records, credit checks, liens and judgments, sexual offender registry’s, employment and professional credential verifications.

Investigations that include surveillance, interviewing, and information sources by experienced, conscientious, and ethical professionals are critical to protecting public and private enterprises.

Training: A critical component of security and safety is ongoing training that includes personal safety, substance abuse awareness, domestic violence, diversity, conflict resolution, ethics, situational awareness, Internet security, workplace violence, fire prevention, crisis management, emergency preparedness, loss prevention, economic crime, crime prevention, drills, evacuations, terrorism, and warning signs.

Warning Signs: As detailed in my article titled “Warning Signs Are Critical to Violence Prevention” for the July 31 edition of the Epoch Times, we must recognize warning signs and provide the necessary intervention, training, health care, and security measure necessary to prevent tragedies.

Physical Security: This includes countermeasures preventing unauthorized access that includes fencing, barrier arms, card access systems, ID cards, lighting, crime prevention through environmental design, defense in depth, locks, alarms, fire extinguishers, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), mass communication systems, and metal detectors.

Personnel Security: Certified, well-trained, and licensed security officer programs involving reputable contract or in-house professionals with either armed or unarmed personnel.

Procedural Security: Drills deserve planning and evaluation with table-top exercises and involve partial and full-scale initiatives based on numerous possible scenarios. These must be complemented by the expertise and involvement of law enforcement and first-responders.

Essential to training and drills is the Active Shooter program detailed on the FBI website titled RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.

Informational / Cybersecurity: In this age of instantaneous global data at the fingertips of individuals across the globe, some with nefarious intentions, protecting information is vital to security.

Informational security must be effective and continually updated with ongoing training for personnel that empowers them with preventive techniques. This protects companies from breaches of information through the Internet, dumpster diving, and social engineering and can prevent unnecessary turmoil to companies and employees.

Final Reflections

America must do everything in its power to prevent our flag from flying at half-staff to be the norm rather than the exception, due to violent rampages.

Violence is preventable and we can safeguard our nation with sound security measures, training, and assessments, complemented by the principles of leadership, vigilance, and collaboration.

Note Well:

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As authored for Vincent’s weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times, 35 countries, 21 languages and growing.


Photo
Kyle Workman, his wife Christina, and their daughters Pepper (L) and Samantha attend a prayer service and candlelight vigil at River Bend Park to remember the victims of the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in nearby Roseburg, in Winston, Oregon, on Oct. 3, 2015. On Thursday 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer went on a shooting rampage at the college killing nine people and wounding another nine before killing himself. Both Kyle and Christina were students at the school. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

America Matters: Leadership, Vigilance, Collaboration

The second verse in our treasured song, "America the Beautiful," reminds us of our noble history and beckons us to reawakening the nation:


O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America, America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.

This verse is an inspiring reminder of our destiny, forged by history, demanding that we rise from contemporary challenges to the ideals that America stands for.

America’s Cauldron of Corruption

Just a few days ago, America was once again blistered by another corruption scandal exemplifying our crisis of character.

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, was convicted of charges involving devious schemes to earn $5 million illegally and then lying about it.

Silver now faces decades in prison after being convicted of all charges: honest-services fraud, extortion, and money laundering.

Corruption throughout every level of American politics is business as usual.

America’s cauldron of corruption poses a fundamental assault to our national security and principles of democracy, freedom, and liberty.

Corruption impacts security on our borders as well as in our neighborhoods, the integrity of verdicts in our courts, and all government services.

Aside from Silver’s conviction, additional scandals of public officials, documented on the FBI website include the following:

• Former New York State Senator Thomas W. Libous Sentenced in White Plains Federal Court for Making False Statements to the FBI.
• Two Donna School Board Members Indicted on Bribery and Attempted Extortion Charges.
• Army Captain Pleads Guilty to Gratuities Charge.
• Guilty Plea of Former U.S. Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert of illegally structuring cash withdrawals in order to evade financial reporting requirements.

America’s Culture of Violence

Tragically, we are continually witnessing violence throughout our workplaces, communities, schools, campuses, and families and there is no end in sight.

Alarmingly, tragedies appear more commonly but outrage within society is diminishing.

America must wakeup, take action, and stop the carnage.

Recent and notorious tragedies of America’s culture of violence paint an unsettling picture:

Dec. 2, 2015: At least 14 people died in a shooting at a social services center in San Bernardino, Calif.

Nov. 27: A reprehensible, deadly attack and standoff at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs and killing of three people including a police officer. Nine others were injured.

Oct. 1: A gunman shot and killed eight fellow students and a teacher at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

June 18: A suspected white supremacist ills nine members at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

May 23, 2014: A killer follow through on his meticulously planned attack near the UC Santa Barbara campus that leaves 6 dead and 7 wounded.

Sept. 16, 2013: A former Navy enlisted man, shoots and kills 12 people in the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard.

Dec. 14, 2012: A 20-year-old kills 20 children, ages 6 and 7, and six adult teachers and staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

America must have its eyes wide open and resolve to put the lessons learned from these horrific acts into action. Complacency, incompetence, and apathy cannot be excuses for failing to remedy America’s culture of violence.

The broken-hearted families of those gone too soon, especially the children and parents of the victims, demand America’s commitment to violence prevention.

America’s Police-Community Relations Crisis

The recent charges against a Chicago police officer, for the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald were made more difficult for the city to accept because of the way city officials delayed the indictment for a full year. The incident has once again cast the criticality of accountability, transparency, and integrity into the police-community spotlight.

As detailed in my article titled "Police-Community Crisis: Rise to the Occasion" for the May 29, 2015 edition of the Epoch Times, “over 900,000 dedicated law enforcement officials perform acts of respect, courtesy, and bravery each day throughout America, and these dedicated professionals deserve honor. Yet, there are issues emerging that crystalize necessary police reforms.”

In the article, I further argued that “this is a defining moment for police reform in America and the training of ethical protectors.”

Final Reflections

America, the eyes of the world are upon us. The clarion call for leadership, vigilance, and collaboration as our heartbeat will resuscitate the nation.

America the Beautiful will rise from the cauldron of corruption, culture of violence, and police-community crisis through a renewal, when we reignite the principles of character, courage, and community.

Note Well:

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As authored for Vincent’s weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times, 35 countries, 21 languages and growing.

Photo - American Flags, Rockefeller Center, NYC on Nov. 7, 2014. (Vincent J. Bove)