Sing in the shower. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated. Watch a sunrise at least once a year. Leave the toilet seat in the down position. Never refuse homemade brownies. Strive for excellence, not perfection. Plant a tree on your birthday. Learn 3 clean jokes. Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full. Compliment 3 people every day. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Leave everything a little better than you found it. Keep it simple. Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. Floss your teeth. Ask for a raise when you think you’ve earned it. Overtip breakfast waitresses. Be forgiving of yourself and others. Say, “Thank you” a lot. Say, “Please” a lot. Avoid negative people. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards. Wear polished shoes. Remember other people’s birthdays. Commit yourself to constant improvement. Carry jumper cables in your truck. Have a firm handshake. Send lots of Valentine cards. Sign them, “Someone who thinks you’re terrific.” Look people in the eye. Be the first to say hello. Use the good silver. Return all things you borrow. Make new friends, but cherish the old ones. Keep a few secrets. Sing in a choir. Plant flowers every spring. Have a dog. Always accept an outstretched hand. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life. Wave at kids on school busses. Be there when people need you. Feed a stranger’s expired parking meter. Don’t expect life to be fair. Never underestimate the power of love. Drink champagne for no reason at all. Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation. Don’t be afraid to say, “I made a mistake.” Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” Compliment even small improvements. Keep your promises no matter what. Marry for love. Rekindle old friendships. Count your blessings. Call your mother.
H. Jackson Brown Jr.

The big problem came from the police officer, Officer X (got to find the ticket to get his name). This officer was the most arrogant, disrespectful officer I have ever came in contact with. Sure his attitude is enough to tick you off, but it actually was his complete prejudice towards us that was the tipping point.

The officer naturally would be a little jealous of someone less than a half his age driving the type of car that we were in, but I had no idea that political affiliation would persuade an officer’s attitude like it did. Naturally, we sport a very large Ron Paul decal on the Corvette. But this officer had the stones to assume that because you believe in and support someone that believes in Liberty across the board, that you have something inside the car that you shouldn’t have.

The officer, very firmly threatened to get the dogs out should he suspect that we were being untruthful when being asked the question, “Now you better think about this when I ask you, and you better tell me the truth, because I WILL get the dogs out if I think you’re being untruthful, and they WILL scratch this pretty car. Is there anything in the car that you shouldn’t have?”

Apparently Townsend City Officials need to train their officers a little more than they do, or at least this one officer in particular, because the 4th Amendment protects you from unreasonable searches without a warrant. The last time I checked, driving a little over the speed limit doesn’t give officers the right to search your vehicle without your permission or without a search warrant.

As a citizen of a free country, one that still believes that the US Constitution is the law of the land, I would suggest that Townsend make sure their officers know that they are not above the law, and officers that believe that they are, should be suspended immediately, before they make an embarrassment out of the police force. Townsend should be glad that I handled the situation like I did, because if he had forcefully searched my car, damaged it, etc., there would be legal actions.

It’s absolutely disgusting to be pulled over by an impolite officer, threatened to be searched without probable cause, permission, or a warrant, threatened with property damage, all because I am a younger guy, driving a nice car, supporting a man that supports the US Constitution. Townsend Tennessee is a disgrace to the principles this country was founded on.

Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.C.S. Lewis

It’s been one of those weeks where you have to look at everything that’s happened, how well you know some people, what you’ve heard and what you’re smart enough to believe or disregard, and make the best decision you can make to avoid becoming collateral damage, but at the same time avoid compromising your integrity. To this guy, keeping my integrity is worth more than anything else. Sadly, there’s not that many people around that will say that same thing anymore.