Law is Reason, Free from Passion?

I am neurotic aficionado of criminal television series.  And by this, I am neither referring to Judge Judy nor cops.  What I am talking about here is the hardcore, filled-with-plot-holes-but-who-cares-anyways series like CSI, Criminal Minds, Shark and the occasional Cold Case matinee.  How is this relevant you ask?  Yesterday I was watching episode #178 of CSI where an intense bodega hostage scene ensued following a dramatic montage of police cars and petrified grocery store captives.  The head cop began reasoning with the gunman over a loudspeaker, spouting lines like this (Almost exact wording, may I add):

Line #1:  "I need you to listen, nobodies going to hurt you." 

Line #2:  "This is a tough situation for you, but I need you to work with me." 

Line #3:  "You've got a choice, you can both come out together, or you can send your wife ahead of you." 

This rehearsed conversation sounded familiar.  Too familiar.  Why, I asked myself?  And then it hit me.  This cop-actor was using all of the techniques that we learned during training:  I-statements (Line #1), active listening (Line #2), and "giving choices" (Line #3).  I laughed at first, then seriously considered becoming a policeman for two seconds, and then decided to blog about this coincidence instead.  Now, in no way am I equating the Manheim campers to the deranged gunman I saw on TV, nor am I equating the mentors and myself to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.  I am simply trying to construct an analogy that imaginatively illustrates the intrinsic benefits that this program offers.  For instance,  while the LVPD upholds Nevadan statutes, we uphold camp rules one through five (Including bonus rule #6:  "Always have fun!").  While the LVPD is armed with guns and Kevlar bulletproof vests, we are armed with counting  and word-of-the-week activities.  In many ways, we are both arbiters of the law.  In both the real world (a.k.a the television world of CSI) and our Manheim microcosm, the laws and justice we uphold provide structure, safety and good times.  And if there is anything these kids have gotten out of this program, I would definitely point to those three benefits.  Some of these kids may go home to chaos, others may be fine.  Either way, in reasonable doses, I believe the daily routine we provide imbibes these kids with a sense of security and solidarity that will ultimately lead them to become less like the psychotic criminal on CSI and more like the LVPD, or us mentors.  For Israel, this program has provided him with a platform to practice his English and work on his self-confidence with regards to public speaking.  For Justin, this program has enabled him to express, accept and understand his true dance-loving and mercurial personality.  For me, I have learned more than can be expressed in this blog entry.  Oh, and and at the end of the episode, the gunman let all of the hostages go and everyone lived...Quite possibly happily ever after.