By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel

Language is powerful. The acronym, COMBAT, should be replaced with something that speaks of peace not conflict. We have police trained to confront and deconflict. If you think, you’re fighting something, you are…

If you believe you’re defending, you’ve dignified (and sometimes invented) the aggressor. How about a model of peacekeeping?

It’s not a popular model…the UN. Wow, there’s a controversial organization. Blue berets, no weapons? Hearts and minds. Treaty enforcement. The alternative rhetoric is steroid action figured, chiseled, steely-eyed, fully funded COMBAT. Really? Seriously?

We have a treaty in place; the rule of law.

We have property owners, some admittedly absent.

We have dedicated security forces.

This is sounding like a military security assessment, but this COMBAT acronym has me thinking that way.

Don’t fight, keep the peace.

How about GARDEN? – genuine action, results, devoted enthused neighbors…