I started writing this post a couple of weeks ago and only got to the heading. I was going to write about the difference between having a job and doing a ‘duty’.
The heading just sat there because I was unable to find the words which I thought were appropriate to explain the difference – especially considering I was going to mainly write about the Police. The Police, in addition, for some time have been trying to gain status as a ‘profession’ – like lawyers! (Why?) I do understand that the ‘big Police machine’ is now trying to run like a corporation, there is always a couple of things that I believe have been forgotten. The Police is a job, a vocation, a career and a duty of SERVICE. In addition those undertaking this duty of service have all sworn an OATH. To a lot of people this oath may not seem much, but with it comes an obligation to serve and to do your duty. I am pretty sure there are not too many jobs where people swear on the Bible, or the Koran or take the affirmation that they will serve and do their duty. I know when I took the oath it was with my head and my heart.
These are all great words, often thrown about by the ‘Merchants of Misery’ (the Media) which in the end actually lose their meaning; I think Richie Benaud put his cricket commentary career into perspective about what words to use when he said “The Titanic was a tragedy, the Ethiopian drought a disaster, and neither bears any relation to a dropped catch.”
So often words are thrown about; words such a tragedy, hero, sacrifice, etc etc.
So, I was wondering how I was going to explain the word ‘duty’.
Why is it that swearing an ‘oath’ and doing things ‘in the line of duty’ is so special.
Well, on 29th September 2015, the words came to me in a Facebook Post I wrote. I got up in the morning knowing it was National Police Remembrance Day and was shocked that there was not one mention of it in the media – even today, the day has passed, unnoticed by most. After I scanned the news I sat down and wrote a few words from my heart and posted it onto Facebook. In the last 24 hours those few words have been shared and ‘Liked’ numerous times and comments have all been from those showing respect, sympathy, sadness, pride, thanks and unfortunately first hand knowledge.
So, I am sharing them here again, because this is my place, this is where my words often miss the filter of embarrassment, sadness, horror, ego and worrying about what others will think. I am also sharing these words because I just can’t get them out of my head and that feeling out of my heart:
I sometimes think that my life is a bit hard, I have been treated unfairly or was not given the opportunities I always wanted….
I sometimes think that other people have it better than me….
I sometimes think about working too hard, paying too many bills, how traffic is shit, food is expensive, holidays seen to short, the news is always bad on TV, the bachelor picked the wrong girl and the lawn needs a mow….
I sometimes think about my mates in the Police who will never get to complain about these things again.
They will never get to whinge about the footy, have a beer with their mates, hug their wives or husbands and watch their kids grow up.
I sometimes think about them; I often think about them when we are talking about the ‘good jobs’, the ‘big jobs’, the ‘funny jobs’ and the stories that can go on all night and get bigger, better and funnier over the years.
I sometimes think about them because they died, or were killed or were murdered, doing their job. I sometimes think about the others, the ones that lost the battle with themselves and the things they had seen.
I sometimes hunt through old boxes of real photos and hundreds of files of digital photos, just to see their face one more time – in a different time.
If I say I sometimes think about them, I perhaps lied a little; I think about them often; I am proud to be counted in the job they were a part of; the family we were a part of – although often dysfunctional like any family – it is still a family!
I sometimes think about them, and I am sad, and proud, and feel their loss.
Today I posted on Facebook because it is National Police Remembrance Day, but tomorrow they will still not be here, I will miss them, I will look at their photos, I will remember their stories (because through those stories they live forever), I will think of their families, I will think of their communities; all of who were a little better because of their service.
Also, because tomorrow a bunch of men and women in blue, will go out and do it all again; without fear from the loss of their mates; now that’s brave; that’s what makes the Police.
RIP heroes.
Well said mate, well said.
Thanks Steve.