A single event can sometimes illuminate the expanding polarization engulfing our society. We have been presented today with a 21st century American morality play, complete with small dogs, the excessive use of force by a federal government agency, and two opposing viewpoints on the role of government in our daily lives.
From SFGATE we read:
A Montara man walking two lapdogs off leash was hit with an electric-shock gun by a National Park Service ranger after allegedly giving a false name and trying to walk away, authorities said Monday.
The park ranger encountered Gary Hesterberg with his two small dogs Sunday afternoon at Rancho Corral de Tierra, ... said Howard Levitt, a spokesman for the park service.
Hesterberg, who said he didn't have identification with him, allegedly gave the ranger a false name, Levitt said.
The ranger, who wasn't identified, asked Hesterberg to remain at the scene, Levitt said. He tried several times to leave, and finally the ranger "pursued him a little bit and she did deploy her" electric-shock weapon, Levitt said. "That did stop him."
Hesterberg, whose age was not available, was arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order, having dogs off-leash and knowingly providing false information, Levitt said. He was then released.
"It was really scary," said Michelle Babcock, who said she had seen the incident..."Babcock said Hesterberg had repeatedly asked the ranger why he was being detained. She didn't answer him, Babcock said. He just tried to walk away. She never gave him a reason," Babcock said.
The ranger shot Hesterberg in the back with her shock weapon as he walked off, Babcock said.
Rancho Corral de Tierra has long been an off-leash walking spot... In December, the area became part of the national park system, which requires that all dogs be on a leash, Levitt said.
The ranger was trying to educate residents of the rule, Levitt said.
Let's look at the some of facts presented. The only independent witness said Hesterberg had repeatedly asked the ranger why he was being detained. She [the ranger] didn't answer him and he just tried to walk away. She never gave him a reason. The ranger then shot Hesterberg in the back with her shock weapon as he walked off.
Hmmm.. The ranger gave no explanations for her requests. This is supposedly a free society, where surely a less than a month old leash law violation would not require the use of detention, much less force. Don't you think that Hesterberg had those thoughts in mind?
Ya gotta love that finally quote. "The ranger was trying to educate residents of the rule."
This will soon become another classic line for justifying the excessive use of government-sanctioned violence on its citizens. Much like the classic line from Cool Hand Luke where the captain says, "What we got here is... failure to communicate" Or perhaps the best darn example of the progressive mindset ever shown on film, another scene from the same movie:
Captain, Road Prison 36: You gonna get used to wearin' them chains afer a while, Luke. Don't you never stop listenin' to them clinking. 'Cause they gonna remind you of what I been saying. For your own good.
Luke: Wish you'd stop bein' so good to me, cap'n.
We have a socialist President and an aggressive Administration where disobedience to its new rules will be severly punished. And, shockingly, such disobedience is already being punished in a park near you.
A single event can beautifully illuminate the darkness ahead.
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