Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no.
-Timothy Snyder
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This is a reminder for people in public service, like police officers and soldiers, who carry weapons to protect others. It acknowledges the honor and responsibility of their roles, wishing them well. However, it also warns that in the past, terrible events happened because individuals in these roles were gradually asked to do things outside the law or their moral code—“irregular things.”
The message is clear: stay vigilant, and if you’re ever asked to do something unethical or wrong, have the courage to refuse, even if it’s difficult. Saying “no” or pausing to question in these moments can prevent history from repeating itself. Pay attention.
If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no.
-Timothy Snyder
________
This is a reminder for people in public service, like police officers and soldiers, who carry weapons to protect others. It acknowledges the honor and responsibility of their roles, wishing them well. However, it also warns that in the past, terrible events happened because individuals in these roles were gradually asked to do things outside the law or their moral code—“irregular things.”
The message is clear: stay vigilant, and if you’re ever asked to do something unethical or wrong, have the courage to refuse, even if it’s difficult. Saying “no” or pausing to question in these moments can prevent history from repeating itself. Pay attention.
