This is the TDMST Weekly Round-Up of news affecting professional truck drivers, written by Vicki Simons for the week ending June 6, 2020.
We welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
Why are protests and riots happening?
Some sources would have us to believe that the protests and riots that have sprung up in 2020 are a reaction to the police brutality against George Floyd.
These events are supposedly about a Caucasian law enforcement officer who harmed a black or African-American man.
Let me say right here that I believe that there is only one race of human beings — the human race — because of what is written in the Bible in Acts 17:26:
“and He [God] made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation,”
Furthermore, Pastor Chuck Baldwin:
- clearly states, “George Floyd died at the hands of the American police state”; and
- keeps a “running report of the growing police abuses that are taking place on a daily basis in this country.”
An emerging police state is something that we should ALL be concerned about.
Contradictions
If the protests and riots were really about blacks being oppressed or discriminated against, why don’t we honestly address:
black-on-black violence:
According to numerous sources, including one here:
- “A black firefighter who invested his life savings into opening up a sports bar in Minneapolis was reduced to tears after looters destroyed his life’s work.”
- “While CBS reporters were interviewing Balla on Thursday morning, looters broke back into his bar to try to break into his safe.”
and the disproportionate number of abortions that happen in the black population:
- According to July 1, 2019, population estimates from Census.gov, the percentage of people in the USA who identify themselves as “Black or African American alone” is 13.4%; and
- According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the breakdown of abortions in 2015 (the most recent year for which numbers were reported), show that in the United States, “Black” accounts for 40% of abortions.
So, these protests and riots are not about — and are not intended to fix — so-called racial injustice.
We read in Proverbs 14:1: “Every wise woman builds her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.”
Who are the protesters?
According to the two videos linked immediately below, the protests and riots were planned in advance by the groups named:
- May 30, 2020: A Close Look at the Riots
- June 4, 2020: The Lasting Effects of Floyd Riots.
A nation divided?
Did you know that some people want for our nation to be divided so that we can’t recognize the forces that hurt all of us?
Recently, I watched a video of a black man who referred to something that does not exist.
There is no such thing as “Black America.”
This is the United States of America.
Yes, there has been discrimination in the past and many steps have been made toward correcting that in law.
When it comes to “minorities” (a phrase used strictly because of the percentage of the population they make up),
- many have either played the victim card; or
- certain people have riled them up to make them want to play the victim card;
in order to try to make others feel sorry for them or give them things.
The successful businessman Jim Rohn once said, “If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree.”
There are countless examples from history of people who overcame handicaps and injustices to leave a positive influence and legacy in this world.
I encourage those involved in the protests and riots to seek positive solutions, not perpetuate problems.
Amendment I to the Constitution of the United States reads:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Everyone in the USA has the right to assemble peacefully and petition the Government for a setting right of grievances.
Protesters do not have the right to steal, damage property, or harm innocent people.
Did you know that what you sow, you will reap?
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”
— Galatians 6:7
Stove: Heat Before Wood? (Won’t Work!)
Earl Nightingale was known as the Dean of Personal Development.
In his famous writing, The Strangest Secret, he wrote:
3. Your success will always be measured by the quality and quantity of service you render. Most people will tell you that they want to make money, without understanding this law. The only people who make money work in a mint. The rest of us must earn money. This is what causes those who keep looking for something for nothing, or a free ride, to fail in life. Success is not the result of making money; earning money is the result of success and success is in direct proportion to our service.
Most people have this law backwards. It’s like the man who stands in front of the stove and says to it: “Give me heat and then I’ll add the wood. How many men and women do you know, or do you suppose there are today, who take the same attitude toward life? There are millions.
We’ve got to put the fuel in before we can expect heat. Likewise, we’ve got to be of service first before we can expect money. Don’t concern yourself with the money. Be of service … build … work … dream … create! Do this and you’ll find there is no limit to the prosperity and abundance that will come to you.
Where are the protests happening?
Protests and riots have happened in many large cities.
Check with your driver manager or dispatcher for the best routes to take.
What are the protesters doing?
First, it is possible that there so many protesters because those people were thrown out of work by government officials who have unconstitutionally closed down businesses.
That injustice needs to be corrected.
Still, everyone has a choice about the activities in which he or she engages.
There have been many reports of protesters defacing property, destroying property, blocking roads, and hurting people.
Far from being peaceful, these protesters are engaging in anarchy and lawlessness.
According to one source regarding the difference between assault and battery:
In an act of physical violence by one person against another, ‘assault’ is usually paired with battery. In an act of physical violence, assault refers to the act which causes the victim to apprehend imminent physical harm, while battery refers to the actual act causing the physical harm.
It is obvious that what happened to Bogdan Vechirko, when he was pulled from his truck and attacked by protesters, was a case of assault and battery.
I’m surprised that he isn’t filing charges.
Even if the protests started because of police brutality against George Floyd — which I don’t think they were — perpetuating the problem of violence will not solve it!
Stating that “all white people” are racist is absolutely untrue.
Over the years, I have personally donated more than 9 gallons of my own blood to help people of all ethnic backgrounds live!
Do the protesters have a right to do what they’re doing?
We read in the Declaration of Independence (emphasis added):
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
So, we ALL have God-given rights that are not transferable to another or not capable of being taken away or denied.
Among these God-given rights are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
In order to secure our God-given rights, governments are instituted among men — and those governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed.
Again Amendment I provides that Congress cannot make a law to reduce, limit or curtail certain things, including “the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
So, any protest against government must be done peacefully and must be addressed to those in government, not carried out in anger, hate, or with damage.
Isn’t it illegal to block roads?
Part of 18 U.S. Code § 1951.Interference with commerce by threats or violence reads:
(a)Whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or attempts or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in violation of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
So, yes, it is illegal to interfere with commerce by threats or violence.
And, yes, the USDOT and FMCSA should be addressing this.
Another point that needs to be made is why law enforcement is allowing any person on a road who is not traveling at the posted minimum speed.
What is law enforcement doing about the protests?
From what I can tell, not much.
Why?
Well, here are some potential reasons why law enforcement isn’t enforcing the law regarding the illegal activity of protesters/rioters:
- They are scared or unable to (which seems unlikely, given the tools that law enforcement personnel have at their disposal);
- They agree with the protesters (which makes it unlikely that they will enforce the law, which means that they need to be replaced);
- They have been told not to enforce the law (which may be in violation of their oaths of office or respective state code of law); or
- They simply don’t have to put themselves in harm’s way.
With regard to the last point, we read:
“Police are not legally obligated to provide protection from criminals. Nor are they motivated to go after hardened criminals or investigate violent crime. Self defense (or private security) is the only reliable option.”
Did you “get” that?
Self defence (or private security) is the only reliable option.
And just so that you understand my position, the solution is not a national police force or the use of the U.S. military.
We need to be supporting our local police!
However, that raises the question:
Since some interstate highways have been affected, why haven’t the federal marshals been involved in quelling the protests or riots?
What does my state’s law say?
Every state has a code of laws that covers what is and is not legal there.
I encourage you to look up the laws that cover your state, which may be like the ones that cover mine.
Since I live in South Carolina, I will cite below (emphasis added) from the South Carolina Code of Laws:
Title 16 – Crimes and Offenses
CHAPTER 11 – Offenses Against Property
ARTICLE 1 – General Provisions
SECTION 16-11-420. Intent and findings of General Assembly.
(A) It is the intent of the General Assembly to codify the common law Castle Doctrine which recognizes that a person’s home is his castle and to extend the doctrine to include an occupied vehicle and the person’s place of business.
(B) The General Assembly finds that it is proper for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, their families, and others from intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves and others.
(C) The General Assembly finds that Section 20, Article I of the South Carolina Constitution guarantees the right of the people to bear arms, and this right shall not be infringed.
(D) The General Assembly finds that persons residing in or visiting this State have a right to expect to remain unmolested and safe within their homes, businesses, and vehicles.
(E) The General Assembly finds that no person or victim of crime should be required to surrender his personal safety to a criminal, nor should a person or victim be required to needlessly retreat in the face of intrusion or attack.
What’s happening to truckers?
Given the countless articles that I’ve read, the actions that have been taken against truckers in these protests or riots include (but are not limited to):
- Protesters blocking travel on certain roads (including interstate highways);
- Protesters surrounding trucks, intent on doing harm;
- Protesters opening tractor doors;
- At least one trucker being physically removed from his tractor;
- Protesters beating that trucker;
- Protesters opening trailers (whether empty or loaded);
- Protesters removing freight/cargo from trailers;
- Protesters climbing up on tractors or trailers;
- Protesters beating on or throwing things at tractors or trailers;
- Protesters endangering themselves by getting around tractors or trailers on the road;
- Protesters falling down somewhere in the vicinity of a tractor or trailer; and
- At least one protester getting run over by a tractor or trailer because he was between double trailers.
Protesters have also caused other kinds of harm.
How can truckers protect themselves, their trucks and their loads?
There have been many reports of truckers talking big about running over protesters on the road.
While I abhor violence, I strongly believe that one of our God-given rights is self defense.
Self defense is also a natural law that you can see at work in the world around us.
Here’s some ancient advice:
- “Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.”
— Proverbs 13:16 - “A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.”
— Proverbs 22:3; 27:12
Getting into specifics, here are some steps to help protect truckers, their trucks, and their loads:
- Avoid driving into known protest areas;
- Know which states have curfews, which roads are safe to drive on, and which roads to avoid;
- Know where to park and where not to park;
- Keep your tractor doors and trailer doors locked at all times, even when your trailer is empty;
- Invest in something to protect yourself, realizing that there are some big differences between jurisdictions on what is legal there.
One trucker with whom I was recently talking takes his tractor’s passenger seat belt and runs it through the passenger door handle before snapping the latch into the buckle.
Truckers should not engage in violence unless he/she is being attacked or his/her truck is being intruded.
Trucking companies need to communicate with their drivers — especially their company drivers — what they want them to do if they encounter a group of protesters or rioters.
While I do not necessarily condone everything in it, here’s one article that you may wish to read: How Drivers Can Stay Safe During George Floyd Protests
A movie that covered and overcame perceived black inequality
Have you forgotten about the lesson taught in the 1996 movie To Sir, With Love II?
With thanks to IMDB.com, here are quotes from the before and after parts of the “experiment” that teacher Mark Thackery performed on a street in Chicago with his class of students with mixed ethnic backgrounds.
Before:
student: They got their minds made up about us, Mr. Thackeray.
Mark Thackeray: Then change them.
student: Yeah, right! Maybe that would work where you’re from or where you went. You know, you run off to England and you teach in some school and you REALLY think you’re something, don’t you?
Mark Thackeray: I AM something – everyone is.
student: Well, in this country you’re nothin’. It don’t matter how many schools you teach in… you and me, we walk down the street and all people are gonna see is black skin.
Mark Thackeray: What do you want them to see?
student: Me.
Mark Thackeray: Who are you? Do you see YOU the way you want to be seen? Then you must see character in yourself, discipline in yourself, determination in yourself – to survive – with dignity, no matter how tough the world around you is. Is that who you are? If not, is that who you want to be? If so, come… let’s go walk down a street and see what we can GET them to see.
At this point in the movie, Mark Thackeray escorted a group of his students to a street and conducted an experiment.
After:
Mark Thackeray: What we saw yesterday is that to a considerable extent, we control how we are perceived. “Yo!” Gets you one response, “Excuse me, sir,” another. When we address someone with respect, we are more often than likely to GET respect – not always, but more often than you think, and if you’re smart, that ought to be enough. Common courtesy – “please”, “thank you”, “excuse me”… magical words, magical words.
That’s golden!
What is the solution?
We can solve ALL the world’s problems with just this one instruction:
“Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is: “Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.'”
— Mark 12:28-31
Summarized, this means:
Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength — and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Also, let’s not forget the Golden Rule, which in ancient times was written this way:
“In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.”
— Matthew 7:12
What does the Bible say about living in peace and building up?
Over and over again, the Bible instructs people to live in peace and building up (emphasis added):
“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:11
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.”
— Romans 12:18
“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.”
— Hebrews 12:14
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
— Mark 9:50
“Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.”
— Colossians 3:15
“So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.”
— Romans 14:19
“You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
— Ephesians 4:29
“Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority–the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!”
— 2 Corinthians 13:10
The legacy you’ll leave behind
How do you want to be remembered?
What kind of legacy do you want to leave?
Does anyone really want to be remembered for being a person of anarchy, lawlessness, destruction, injury or murder?
Or do you agree with the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States (emphasis added):
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Are there futuristic ways to protect truckers and loads?
Thinking outside the box — and with a bit of imagination inspired from certain science fiction movies I’ve watched — here are some potential futuristic ways that trucks can be protected:
- Force fields that deflect bullets, bricks and more;
- Electrification that zaps those who touch the tractor or trailer without authorization; and
- Unhackable electronics.
That’s quite a list, wouldn’t you agree?
For further consideration
The movie Anarchy USA was produced in 1965 at the height of the Civil Rights movement in America.
Finally, we all need humility and repentance before our Creator.
I encourage you to watch “Are You a Good Person?”
My husband Mike and I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.
Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2020.06.06 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
