In Defense

Due to some complications in my life, I have not been blogging much lately. I will spare you the details.

One night, however, was noteworthy. Randyman had been called away to fight fire again, this time in the next state. Home alone, I had all the chores to do myself. It took a little longer than usual, of course. Before dark, coyotes started howling close-by. Their voices rose in crescendo and through out the night, I could hear them from all directions, surrounding us. About midnight it got so bad that Cletapotamus returned to stay close to the sheep so nothing could get by him. This seems to be a mutual understanding between the Maremmas, when things get out of hand. He had a shallow slash across his muzzle where it looked like he might have been in a scrap. He’s never gotten one from play-fighting before, so I suspected he had engaged a threat. I was grateful for his heavy coat which acts as a kind of shield against fangs and claws.

Bruno stayed out alone, running the perimeter trying to keep the predators at bay. I spent a sleepless night, both creeped out by the howling and worrying about Bruno, who was now on his own and outnumbered.

Potamus was still with the sheep in the morning when I went to feed. Bruno was nowhere to be found. I filled all the waterers and served all the animals and could still hear an occasional coyote as late as 9 in the morning. I’ve never found a coyote howling to be ‘romantic’, like in the songs and movies. I think of my neighbor’s small dog in California, that was snatched in the middle of the day just 3 yards from where we were talking and the kids in cities who have been stalked and attacked, as well as the hundreds of thousands of domestic animals that have been slaughtered by them. I think of when I have witnessed a pack harrying a cow and engage  her in fending them off, while the others came around behind her and killed her calf she was so valiantly trying to protect. I think of the calves we have found that became warm meals for coyotes while still in the process of being born. The coyote is a canny beast who can adapt to any situation and thrive, including city living. I worry about my stock and my pets and my LGDs. Several small dogs on the ranch have been lost to the packs. For someone whose life and experience is far from living with the reality of the threat, their perception might be different.

It was not a restful night for me.

Just as I was finishing up morning chores, Bruno showed up, slowly making his way to me. I opened the gate up and he collapsed in the shade of it. I’ve never seen a young dog so exhausted. He couldn’t even make it to his food. He did not stir for over 3 hours. At the risk of his own life and well being, he had singlehandedly spent the entire night running, barking, advancing, to keep the enemy at bay and protect those he chose to protect. Even after Cletus had returned to stand watch over the stock from a more secure position, Bruno fought on. 

By day the coyotes have been making it into the very pastures where the sheep are grazing. Even after a full night of patrolling, the ‘boys’ have to remain vigilant all day in order not to fail. They do it without expectation of compensation or gratitude, although gratitude is all I have to offer them. They are just born responsible, compassionate and sacrificial.

I think of our American soldier, on the front lines and bases across the world, protecting us here at home. As with Bruno and Cletus, I have nothing to offer them but my heartfelt appreciation. They do it out of a sense of honor and loyalty. It’s not for the reward, as they are poorly compensated, under appreciated and often overworked, over-faced and overwhelmed.

In a world that is growing increasingly more hostile, more dangerous, more unstable, our troops fight on against almost impossible odds. More recently, they have received far too little support, in numbers, hardware, recognition, moral support and national esteem. Many give the last full measure of devotion, as they are struck down, often in the prime of life and become a mere statistic for the cable network news scrawl.

In a recent disaster when 2 of our elite Navy Seals, our Ambassador and another American were brutally tortured and murdered in Benghazi, the only thing that is clear, is that they did not have adequate protection. Regardless of who is at fault, or what information may surface out of future investigations, that one fact is certain. They were unprepared, unprotected, underarmed and outnumbered. As a result, their families are left with nothing but grief and loss.

Recently soldiers were killed at Fort Bastion in Afghanistan, as well as $200 million in military hardware destroyed, yet the media remains all but silent, lauding trivialities such as political ‘gotcha' videos in their place.

Our heroes are all but forgotten and America is letting them and their families down.

Those who make it back, find jobs scarce, food and gas prices skyrocketing and life overall, increasingly challenging.

Soon defense budgets are about to take alarming cuts under sequestration, ($ billions) affecting both jobs at home and military readiness. Our men and women are already receiving minimal troop support, less protection and often inadequately fortified protective equipment and this is only going to make things worse.

The Middle East is burning, Turkey and Syria exchange salvos, Russia is saber rattling, China and Japan are on the threshold of war, Israel is under threat of being 'wiped off the map' and as N Korea flexes its muscles, Iran is going nuclear as Ahmadinajad boasts about bringing on Armageddon. Closing our eyes, singing peace songs and ‘minding our own business’ is not going to change the state of current affairs, or keep us safe. The threats surrounding us, both within and without are increasing and our military which has voluntarily vowed to protect us, is being systematically weakened. 

This trend can be changed and turned around. It’s up to us. This is not a time to abdicate our responsibility as citizens and insulate ourselves in our private worlds as though the threat to America and the world doesn't exist. It is a time to step up and provide the support and protection, which our heroes and thru them our families, both deserve and require. I implore you, register to vote and use your vote wisely. Do it for all of us, but mostly for the ‘boys’(both men and women) and for those at home for whom they sacrifice.

We cannot morally or responsibly allow this course to continue, anymore than I could allow my dogs to be defanged and chained up, leaving them to watch their sheep defenselessly slaughtered alongside them.

My remote location should allow me to shut out the world and deny all that is happening and coast along in calculated, blissful ignorance far more easily than most people, but my conscience will not allow it.

To our American servicemen and women, to our Veterans, I offer my most heartfelt thank you. May God bless and protect you and may America step up and do right by you.