Video Shows Laquan McDonald Murdered By Chicago Police Officer.

Just within the past hour, dash cam footage of the altercation leading to the death of seventeen year old Laquan McDonald was released by court order. Below is the police video of that incident. Warning -- this is not for children to watch. The altercation begins in this video around the 5:20 mark.

On October 20, 2014, Chicago police officers responded to McDonald, whom was reportedly stealing radios. While I certainly don't believe McDonald to have been innocent in the matter (he had a knife in his possession), his execution certainly was not called for. McDonald deserved his day in court before a jury of his peers, just like any other American, whether guilty or innocent. His death was not necessary, nor do the police possess the right to administer capital punishment.

Officer Jason Van Dyke initially fired a shot which put McDonald on the ground, incapacitated. For the next thirteen seconds, Van Dyke continued to fire into McDonald's lifeless body, without any threat of bodily harm whatsoever. A fellow officer on the scene finally convinced Van Dyke to not continue reloading his weapon and resume firing. Van Dyke claimed that McDonald lunged at him with a knife, causing him to feel threatened and fire his weapon. As you can see from the video, this simply is not the case.

I ask that you watch this video and form your own opinion on the matter, free from the influence of outside sources, your friends or family. THINK FOR YOURSELF. Upon doing so, I believe you'll agree that the police are clearly capable of murder. The police are not always in the right one-hundred percent of the time. The police can and do exercise unnecessary force, not just in the case of McDonald, but all across this country.

Again, let me reiterate. I'm not saying McDonald was innocent, but he didn't deserve to be put down like a dog in the street. There could have been a more peaceful solution which didn't end in blood.

Why are moments like this important for the public to process and understand?

We have to prevent such barbaric behavior from becoming commonplace for the police. As much as the police serve and protect the common good, they must also remember that they work for the public. The police are not our prison guards. They are not our shepherds. Most importantly, they are not our executioners. If we give the police an inch on this matter, then I fear we teeter on the verge of fascism.

To protect the rights of the innocent, we must also protect the rights of the guilty. Otherwise, the police will be coming for you and I next.

I hope this Thanksgiving holiday is peaceful for the city of Chicago, but I fear for the worst.

St. Louis... Finally!

Well, I've finally arrived in St. Louis. This is a place I've wanted to come for nearly all of my life. Today's leg of the journey was busy, but fun. This morning, Crystal and I visited the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. It was absolutely gorgeous. The horses kept there (there are many different breeds) are very happy and healthy. We road a horse-drawn trolley, then met four champion horses in retirement. After leaving the park, we visited the Wild Turkey distillery. That was mind-blowing! It's quite nice knowing where Wild Turkey is produced. Their facility is clean and state-of-the-art, but still uses some of its old fashioned ways. One of the storage houses used for aging the bourbon was built in 1890. The inside smelled amazing! Our drive through southern Indiana and Illinois was quite boring. The landscape is comprised of rolling hills and farmland. Not many towns to see, nor anywhere to stop. If not for the large storm I drove through, it would have been a total snooze fest! We made it to our hotel safely, thankfully. I'm ready for a full night of rest and relaxation. Tomorrow, we go and watch a Cardinals baseball game. Woohoo!

We're in the Midwest. Now What?

Crystal and I are planning our next big vacation for 2015. After such a successful journey out west to New Mexico last year, we'd like to replicate those results. This time, I think we're considering traveling through the Midwest.

The basis of the idea is simple; we can do a big loop through Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. I know right off the bat that we can go see a Cardinals baseball game (which Crystal is only ever-slightly excited about), but I'm trying to think of other ideas for things to see.

This is where I turn to you, my readers. Can you provide any suggestions for sites to see in the Midwest? Our loop would take us through Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago and St. Louis. We both like to see natural things -- parks, mountains, lakes and gardens. I enjoy cultural landmarks, art and museums. Crystal likes animals and nature. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.