Last week I took my dad to the doctor, at the National Naval Medical Center, for a follow-up regarding an eye problem he was having. My father reminded me that he had his handicap sticker, so as we pulled into a handicapped parking spot I saw the sign on the wall and thought, what the hell?

I know that I am at the National Naval Medical Center because that is where I intended to go and I read the sign at the entrance gate. So cautious me; I go to the security guard and I asked him what's the "NNMC" for because everywhere else that I have been the signs just say handicap. He informs me that I should be fine just as long as you have the handicap sticker. I won't dwell on the fact that he really didn't answer my question. I was just wonder why put NNMC Handicap. I mean the signs in other buildings that I have visited just say Handicap. I just thought that was weird.

How about, lets teach our children to love themselves and each other. Help them to learn to make peace and not war.

Since we have “In God We Trust” printed on our currency, how about we bring prayer back into schools. Let teach our kids how to trust God at an early age. Coincidently prayer never really left the school because I know many people, myself included, who said a prayer on numerous occasions before taking a test.

Next lets teach our children to respect all adults and to act respectfully around all adults. Get back to the idea that it takes a village(city/town) to raise a child. Adults if you see a child doing wrong stop them. Parents when another adult tells you your child is acting up, thank that adult for being concerned enough about your child’s and discipline/talk with your child rather than trying to fight that adult.

While this is going on lets teach our kids about our history and their heritage so that they learn from and strive toward eliminating mistakes from the past, rather than repeating them.

Adults let start acting as if we are just that and deal with problems like adults. We are being watched. Set a positive example rather than a negative one.

Lets change our thought process, if we love ourselves we will love our environment. We don’ love ourselves that why our environment is in such a sad state.

Regarding its usage Wikipedia says The Thin Blue Line emblem is often seen on vehicles -- near the rear license plate or rear window -- with the assumption that the operator or owner is either an active or retired Law Enforcement Officer, or the relative of same. Presumably personal vehicles bearing the symbol will be treated with respect and personal courtesy that they otherwise would not be afforded.

Now obviously it’s a shame to think that you have to put a sticker on your car to be treated with respect and personal courtesy, but the real controversy is favoritism. I’m not naive I can see where a officer would want special attention/consideration given to himself/herself or their family member if pulled over for a traffic stop. Yet does it also mean that if you have this sticker on your car that you can drive with no regard for public safety.

Just this morning alone I saw three cars, all of which were displaying the Thin Blue Line sticker, make unsafe lane changes. Yes there are imposters who have reproduced these stickers and have no relation to law enforcement, but I don’t think that they are the only bad drivers.

Issue new stickers that show a serial number at the bottom that can link that sticker to a officers badge number. It might not cut down on the number of frauds, but when stopped and an officer runs that serial number then the frauds will be caught.