“Stop Look and Listen” – That is the phrase that used to be plastered on every railroad crossing sign from Maine to California. What is true for safety crossing the tracks is true for all of us in our daily lives. The ancient Chinese curse is: “May you live in interesting times”. Well, I think we can all agree, these times are interesting, if not a bit scary. Let’s give some thought about being aware – knowing where you are, what is going on, what your options are – regardless of the situation. At this moment, I am in my home, pounding away at the PC, I’m reasonably secure here, but out in the world it’s another story. The threat level – for me – is relatively low. Here’s a thought picture for you; you’re standing on a bull’s-eye on a giant target. There are concentric rings radiating out of that target and each ring has a name.
1.) “Bull’s-Eye” = You, your own personal space. No family, friends, co-workers, just you.
2.) “Second Ring” = that’s where your family and friends, perhaps your co-workers, etc. are.
3.) “Third Ring” = your town, or your local area
4.) “Fourth ring” = your State (or Province, depending on where you live).
5.) “Fifth Ring” = your Nation
6.) “Sixth ring” = the World
Each ring on the “target” has its own level of importance at any given time, and no matter how selfless, the Bull’s Eye is probably the most important to you, because, well it’s you and without you there’d be no reason to care about the other five rings – right? The other rings will assume more or less importance as situations change. If you’re at home and an accident happens to a family member, your family might just be the most important thing in your life right then. If, however you’re sitting at home, and the “talking head” on whatever news program you’re listening to states that the Governor has just issued an Emergency proclamation regarding the distribution of heating fuel to the area, maybe Rings 1 – 3 are lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree. (and no, Nina Totenberg of NPR, I don’t apologize for saying “Christmas”).
National problems arise as do World problems, we must be aware of what is going on everywhere, at all times. Being aware doesn’t mean being afraid, nor does it mean being anxious. Being aware means that you are informed about the things that are going on in your particular “ring”, and that you have at least some understanding about what you can do to either effect an outcome in that ring, or to cope with whatever changes may occur.
What “awareness tools” do we have at our disposal, then? Your own eyes and ears are some of the most important tools you have at your disposal Talk to your family, sit down and have a meal with them, find out what your “Better Half” did and heard today, or what the kids were subjected to at school; “Gee Dad, we had a speaker from the Socialist People’s Party talk to us about how great the world would be if we just dumped Capitalism”. Sock the info. away, maybe it’s nothing (did they also have someone with a Conservative viewpoint discuss how great a free market can be?); if not, maybe you might want to have a talk with the school Principal, and a little chat with Junior or Princess and give them some Fatherly advice about the real world.
If you’re like me, you probably meet and talk with between three and twelve (or more) people every day. Talk to them, if you’re in the checkout at the local Super Mart (or whatever), strike up a conversation with someone in line, “hey, what do you think about the Mayor’s idea to have all firearms registered with the Town Police?”, or at the barber shop; “Gee, Bob, you’re on the Town DEP Committee why all the digging out near the old dump?”. You don’t have to go around snooping, but just keep your ears open, and who knows what you’ll pick up. Stock the information away, it may help in an emergency. Keep an eye peeled when you’re around and about, “boy, look at all the traffic at the Air Base”, or “where’s my escape route from this theater if trouble breaks out”, or “if something serious happened, how would I get to the rendezvous point that my family has agreed to”
Keep alert, and think “past, present and future” – “That wasn’t there last week”, or “a lot of traffic due to construction today, do I have an alternate route?”, or how about “better test my stored water supply when I get home”. The various news media, Okay, I have to admit, most of the stuff on the major and local network newscasts – ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and even Fox must be taken with a tablespoon of salt, but there are grains of truth everywhere, even in the most tainted of news reports. What area are they talking about — any video? Why would the National Guard be training at the local Correctional Institution? Gold shot up to what price per ounce? Lock it away, share with your friends and other like minded individuals, the information may come in handy. Radio/television, not news media. There are quite a few radio and certain television programs that you may finds worthwhile. I don’t want to sway anyone, but I listen to, (and watch) folks named Glenn, Sean, Rush, Bill, Ann and Mike. There’s a bunch more, especially local radio and television folks. Listen and learn from them, take them as they are, and use your own discretion when processing their information. You have a mind —–use it.
The World Wide Web (WWW). All right, some stuff on the web is really strange, I personally don’t think that any “green (or gray or chartreuse) men” are coming to get us (Hollywood does, though). But there’s a lot of web sites, blogs, etc. just jam packed with information. Here’s a tip – Don’t believe everything you read on the web – if something strikes home, do some research, get some facts (no, “Wikipedia” is not 100% factual – but it is fun to read), it may be baseless, or it may be worthwhile. There are also a lot of web sites that have just the stuff that you need, or just the type of stuff that you can put together on your own. As an aside, I have a certain amount of food stored up “just in case” and it is a combination of web bought canned and freeze dried stuff, home canned – and great tasting – food, and store bought items. Use your own discretion when surfing, there’s a lot of junk, a lot of good and a whole bunch of ideas. Books and magazines, Yes, I still read hardcover stuff, and you should too. I could have added “Newspapers” to that last item, but it’s harder and harder to find the gold nuggets hidden in the “dog droppings” in my local papers. – although if you have a local “Penny saver” you can find some news and a few bargains to boot. There are books on current events, history books that just may highlight remedies to today’s issues, magazine articles on the nuances of what’s happening now, and let’s not forget all of the training materials available out there. Most won’t cost a thin dime either, if you have a library close by. And if you want to part with some cash and purchase some readable stuff, there are book stores, online stores, or my favorites – flea markets and gun shows (for those who fear being tracked by “The Man”, it’s an all cash transaction, and nobody knows nuthin’).
Like minded individuals yes, there’s more of us around than you might believe. If you feel comfortable, band together for mutual support. Share information, talk, discuss, grow – become a “community” either actual or intellectual. There is safety in numbers. So how do we use all of this information to keep ourselves “aware”? The more we know, the more we will be able to come to terms with whatever comes our way. Knowing about our “Rings” will enable us to act and react to any and most outside forces. I say “most” because sometimes you just don’t see what’s over the next hill, but there’s always a chance.
Keep your eyes and ears open your mind open and active, be prepared, plan, rehearse, and discuss issues with family and friends. When something happens, use what you know – information, training, items at hand, knowledge, to take the best course of action for yourself and all other relevant “rings” that may be affected.
Here are a couple of examples: A huge winter storm knocks out power and all means of transportation in your community. What do you do? Well, if you’ve done your homework, you just might need to pull out that old kerosene heater from the tool shed and fire it up and get the Coleman stove going. Do you have a generator? Great! no? get out the lanterns or candles, then go down to the pantry and pull out some powdered milk so the kids have something nice to mix with that can of hot chocolate mix in the cupboard, maybe open up some tinned chicken, boil some noodles, and make a nice filling supper. No electricity means no “idiot box” but if you have a radio (hand cranked or battery powered) you’ll be informed and have some music to boot. Sit down and read to the kids, or even better, play a board game. Oh yes, you might want to check on your next door neighbor, — maybe. If you’ve planned right, you’re warm, safe and dry until such time as the “powers that be” get the power flowing and clear the streets.
How about this one: A television news commentator reads a statement from the office of the President of the United States, in which he or she states that due to the worsening economic and political situation, she will be demanding that Congress grant her temporary “Emergency Powers” , making her a virtual dictator (did I mention the President says it’s only temporary). You’ve been reading the U.S. Constitution, and you realize that this could be the start of something really bad for the American People. You’ve also kept up on several news blogs and radio programs that have been warning about a potential power grab by the Executive Branch. Time to make a decision, do you:
1.) Send a strongly worded telegram to your local Congressman and Senator?
2.) Head to Washington, D.C. where a protest is scheduled for the next day?
3.) Gather your loved ones (along with several articles you have on your “bug out” list), and head for your rendezvous point?
4.) Open that bottle of bourbon you’ve been saving for just such an occasion?
5.) The list goes on.
6.) And on.
7.) And on.
Be aware of what’s going on, don’t “just” worry about your own circumstances (food, shelter, gold coins?). Look at the big picture as well as your corner of the world, read, learn, absorb all you can. When the time comes, be over prepared, over trained and over informed and you will stand a good chance of weathering whatever comes your way.
on DVD. It is a “fish out of water” comedy. This quirky show is about a young New York City Jewish doctor, who to fulfill a contractual agreement, reluctantly moves to Alaska to be a general practitioner in the fictional town of Cicely.(The outdoor scenes were actually filmed in