After eight years of, among other things, a putridly soft-on-crime approach to governance, Louisiana took a pivotal step this week in making the state a proud one and not an embarrassment to the rest of the nation.

Led by Governor Landry, the Second Extraordinary Session, heavily focused on cleaning up Louisiana’s streets and establishing law and order, has moved in a way that actually makes our state flag legitimate and not just political jargon not backed up by sound policies or trustworthy people.

The flag was officially adopted on July 1, 1912. In medieval lore, the unique bird illustrated–the pelican–was believed to be so attentive to the needs of her chicks that she would even draw blood to feed them if no other food was available. As well, the image of the pelican in her piety would come to symbolize the Passion of Jesus Christ and the Eucharist. 

Of course we perhaps overdramatize the point here, but if there is one thing all of us could stand to do is demand more authenticity from, well, everything in society, government, our families, our religion, etc. In the work done in the Second Extraordinary Session of the legislature this past week, led and signed off by Landry himself, perhaps Louisianans will see an authentic attempt to carry out the message and meaning of the pelican, one of law, order, protection, and common sense not dictated by back alley politics.

For in the view of the opposition, what exactly are they protecting with their soft-on-crime, release 40 murderers back into the wild before Edwards leaves office type of approach? The question of course is rhetorical. They are protecting the right of criminals to continue to wreak terror on the population, much in the same vein Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen, who was arrested by University of Georgia police and has been charged with felony murder, kidnapping, and false imprisonment of young Laken Riley.

That is the type of human the Left wants to help out. Not you. Not me.

Said Landry, “Last year I promised the people of this state, if elected Governor, I would do everything within my power to improve the safety of our communities through legislative and executive action. Today, I can proudly say we have kept that promise. Victims finally have a voice and will receive the justice our state promised them a long time ago; our officers will be supported, and there will be truth and transparency in our criminal justice system. Today, the good citizens of Louisiana who work hard and play by the rules will be able to pump their gas without fear. I appreciate the legislators who worked hard to pass these bills, as well as the victims of crime who had the courage to share their stories.  Today is a great day for Louisiana.”

Scott McKay opined on the America First victory on Friday:

In El Salvador, for example, which was the world’s murder capital, President Nayib Bukele rounded up practically every member of the criminal gangs responsible for that violent crime and stashed them all in massive prisons – and El Salvador is now the safest country in Latin America. Bukele was re-elected a few weeks ago with 85 percent of the vote because he had the guts to do what was necessary, and the Salvadorans can now release the criminals piecemeal back into a society whose culture is changing into one no longer tolerant of criminals in their midst.

Louisiana tolerates crime. The fact that the state is among the leading incarcerators in America is immaterial to this fact. We incarcerate large numbers of people for a very simple reason – we are plagued with a large number of criminals, so much so that especially in our cities we have a criminal culture pervading the streets. Weak political leadership – and in fact, compromised political leadership, because particularly in New Orleans and Baton Rouge it’s fairly clear that organized crime has influence within certain of the political leaders in those cities – has created a situation in which the rights and privileges of the criminal class have taken precedence over those of law-abiding citizens.

Spend your time trying to cater to criminals with respect to prison conditions, availability of public defenders, speedy appeals and protecting juvenile offenders, which is not to say that those things shouldn’t be attended to, but they’re the only items Democrats like Willard seem to care about, and what you’ll get is an industry with more political power than that of the regular folks the criminals victimize.

Landry is the first governor Louisiana has had who makes a priority of reversing this trend and putting the interests of the law-abiding first.

For a state that has had to bear the shame of dirty politics, crime-ridden streets, and failing schools, among any number of other things, a state that is most known for New Orleans and Mardi Gras, which is just a case study in filth and debauchery much of the time, it is inspiring to consider where this state might be going now that it is in capable and not criminal hands.

Union. Justice. Confidence. It is everything the law-abiding citizens of Louisiana have been clamoring for for what seems like forever. Forget the detractors who will rant and rave against posts like this and opinions that honor law and order, that honor common sense. If we continue to remain strong and stay on this path, perhaps one day soon the Christ the three drops of blood represent in the flag will touch us with his miraculous hand as well. For certainly, this past week’s work is the stuff of five loaves and two fish offered by a willing but weak people.

And that may very well be worthy of a “He Gets Us” commercial in next year’s Super Bowl.

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May everyone named directly or referenced indirectly ask forgiveness and do penance for their sins against America and God. I fight this information war in the spirit of justice and love for the innocent, but I have been reminded of the need for mercy and prayers for our enemies. I am a sinner in need of redemption as well after all, for my sins are many. In the words of Jesus Christ himself, Lord forgive us all, for we know not what we do.

Jeff LeJeune is the author of several books, writer for RVIVR, editor, master of English and avid historian, teacher and tutor, aspiring ghostwriter and podcaster, and creator of LeJeune Said. Visit his website at jefflejeune.com, where you can find a conglomerate of content.