Take a good look at your surroundings. Look in the mirror if you have to and think about every opportunity, resource and right you have been granted all of these years. Who do you have to thank? Your parents? Relatives? Coaches? Teachers? Now, take a minute and think about all of the men and women you glossed over that also deserve a genuine ‘thank you’ – those behind the scenes.

You know exactly who I’m talking about – the ever so selfless men and women who make up our police force here in the U.S. Unfortunately, we’ve entered an era where people can openly hate and mistreat such honorable men and women, but for a moment imagine our lives without them. 

The vast majority of Americans have the privilege of being able to take their dogs out at sundown and get a good night’s sleep without the fear of being kidnapped, raped or exposed to any sort of attack or explosive. Thank our officers for that.

Many can also hold the hand of the man or woman they love while simultaneously greeting an officer without the fear of being punished or beaten for doing so. Thank our officers for that.

Still, many can get into a horrible accident in the middle of the night and know that somewhere a man or woman in blue will soon show up to help in any way possible despite the danger they may face. Thank our officers for that.

In fact, you could be at an anti-police protest, get the wind knocked out of you by some punk and still bank on the fact that an officer will accommodate your every need. Thank our officers for that. 

You see, politics aside, every life on this spinning, blue ball we call home matters – especially those that protect your right to say and do heinous things like hate police officers. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has the right to wish death or disaster upon those that would put their life on the line if yours was in danger despite knowing a thing about you.

If this simple rationale still confuses people, let me spell it out further – having police officers that are there in dire situations is a privilege not an inconvenience. Respect them.

For instance, after speaking with Captain Mike Monsrud from Fridley, Minnesota Police Department, we were in agreement with the fact that the public has been more disrespectful toward officers in recent years.

“The use of cell phones to document police interactions may be one of the reasons for recent hostile encounters,” said Monsrud. “Cell phone usage, which often results in internet fame, has garnered many people’s attention and they will intentionally be more disrespectful when a cell phone is recording with the hopes of enticing an officer into an encounter that may bring them some sort of short lived internet fame. They often show disrespect right away because they do not believe they can have a positive interaction with the police.”

Monsrud then elaborated and said, “Contrary to most of these internet videos, most people’s reaction with the police is not hostile or confrontational, and in many circumstances the people (although not happy to receive a citation) understand that we are doing so to hopefully correct some type of dangerous or disorderly behavior they were displaying.”

Sure, is it frustrating to get pulled over on your way to work because you were running late and chose to speed? Absolutely. But that temporary frustration pales in comparison to a life and a country full of chaos, no law or order, no respect for authority and constant rule breaking. In 2015, there was an unacceptable number of assaults against law enforcement officers – 51,548 to be exact.

Quite frankly, officers and first responders are the backbone of their respective communities and are true examples of selflessness and sacrifice. Just this past year, ISUPD saved the life of Don Anderson who had a heart attack while behind the wheel after an Iowa State football game. It’s times like these where the mere presence of an officer is a matter of life and death.

Now, let me reiterate. Every life with the intention of doing good matters – blue, black, white, indigo, neon, you name it, it matters. However, officers that happen to have bad intentions should be punished and prosecuted for doing so. It’s the law. Every tree has bad apples.

On the other hand, if you happen to disagree with an officer that’s preventing you from doing something stupid, take a step back and reevaluate because the least you can do is respect those who took an oath to respect and protect you.

So the next time you find yourself contemplating whether or not to talk back to an officer that caught you red handed, think about the sacrifices these men and women make on a daily basis on your behalf. This is nothing more than my humble two cents.