Host: Inspector Ira Pierce is a Department of Defense weapons inspector, and graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continues to serve the United States by keeping the apocalypse at bay. (smiling). That was just a joke, Inspector Pierce. Thank you for joining us today.
Pierce: My pleasure.
Host: Let’s get straight to the point, sir. What scares you the most?
Pierce: (silent pause)That injustice can’t be corrected.
Host: That’s a sobering thought, Inspector. Use three words to describe yourself.
Pierce: loyal, cautious, and… mindful.
Host: What is the craziest thing that you have done?
Pierce: (laughing), inside, or outside, of the armed services?
Host: Either is fine. The craziest thing…
Pierce: (smirking) I can’t tell you the craziest thing, it’s classified.
Host: Second craziest?
Pierce: (thinking) Classified. Let’s just go with outside of the armed services.
Host: Whatever suits our purposes here.
Pierce: Craziest thing outside of the armed services would have to be… the time… I was playing Supermario Brothers 3 at my friend’s grand momma’s house. We were both thirteen, you know boys at that age like to stay up late. It was something like two or three a.m., and my buddy and I started to hear footsteps in the attic above us. Now, his grand momma was asleep downstairs, she could hardly walk upstairs let alone the rickety ladder up into the attic. My buddy dared me to see if anyone was up there.
Host: You were hearing footsteps?
Pierce: Yeah, like walking back and forth across the ceiling, like someone… nervously pacing.
Host: And you went up?
Pierce: (smiling) of course.
Host: And? Was anyone there?
Pierce: I reached the top of the rickety old ladder, and something, I don’t know what, ran at me.
Host: Ran at you?
Pierce: Yeah, these loud, pounding steps across the oak boards of the attic floor. Saw the boards bounce. Thought I was going to get tackled, and flinched. Then, this cold wave of air washed across me. The attic was quiet after that.
Host: Inspector Pierce, are you admitting that you believe in ghosts.
Pierce: (shrugging) I don’t know what it was.
Host: You’re giving me goosebumps right now.
Pierce: Sorry.
Host: Next question. Who are the most important people in your life?
Pierce: Oh, of course, it’s my Momma. Hello Momma. She’s sure to read this. She’s the strongest, most lovely, and stubborn in the best way, woman that I know. My colleagues, whom I can’t name, are among the most important people in my life too.
Host: That might be cheating.
Pierce: (grinning) There are easily another two that remain classified.
Host: If you could have dinner with any person, alive or dead, fact or fiction, who would it be?
Pierce: My father.
Host: You father is deceased?
Pierce: Yes.
Host: What would you say to him?
Pierce: I am afraid to consider what i might say.
Host: How so?
Pierce: I would be ashamed to say that the system of injustice that took his life… is still at work in the United States.
Host: That hurts.
Pierce: It does.
Host: What would you want to say to him?
Pierce: I would want to say, I love you Dad, I forgive you Dad…. and injustice can be corrected.
Host: What is your dream job, Inspector?
Pierce: Dream job. Huh. Well, this may disappoint you, but I can’t imagine a better job than the one that I have.
Host: Really? Any dreams of being… a film maker, musician? Philosopher retired on a tropical beach?
Pierce: That last one sounded nice. But no, I am exactly where I need to be, given my skillset and life history.
Host: Final question. Who do you admire?
Pierce: I admire many people. Too many that I can thank them all.
Host: Can you elaborate?
Pierce: I admire the service members of the U.S. Armed Services, and my colleagues at the Department of Defense. It is my honor to serve alongside them.
Host: Thank you, Inspector Pierce, for your time.
Pierce: Happy to.
Pierce’s Theme song:
Pink Floyd: Welcome to the Machine
https://youtu.be/lt-udg9zQSE
The Paradigm Convergence 