What to say…
Am I wrong in thinking that we all should have a respect for life? The consideration for the life of another human as they stands before you, walks beside you or passes you in movement?
I am questioning this. And have for some time but hoped that it was just that part of me where the worst case scenario not only creeps in, but is just there but not a reality. It’s a part of me that I work hard to push down, to not go to, but it is in me. Maybe even part of my DNA.
Even the most evil of evil I believe deserves life. Yes even those who take a life. Do we, can we truly know, understand or even investigate why it happened. Sure, sometimes it seems simple. But is it? The man who pulled the trigger three times and killed Renee, why? What in him made that acceptable, including his comment after as her car rolled away and I can only assume she was already dead. His father said he was a good man, father, husband and Christian. That’s a little hard to take in considering what we have seen and heard. So again what in him, not saying anything about his position, gave him license to act as he did? When you see or hear of law enforcement who don’t display this type of behavior, what damage allows it? Who is Jonathan Ross?
At this point, I think his position is not relevant. Indictment, trial, judgement and yes, incarceration. In many cases it is required and needed. Eye for an eye? No. The leading cause of death of those on death row, natural causes. But that’s an entirely different topic of consideration.
The death of another often opens grief that has been postponed or tucked away for later. Even when is someone I have never met and do not know. Either way, it does stop me when it comes into my view. Regardless of who it is.
This week, a 37 year old woman. A few weeks back Rob Reiner. Last year Charlie Kirk. Other notables, Keaton, Pope Francis, Swaggert, Redford, Goodall, Cheney, Kennedy, Floyd, Martin, Brown, Arbery, Taylor, the list goes on. And the deadliest year in two decades, 32 died in ICE custody.
About Renee Good I didn’t have enough in me to post more than her picture and;
“a wife, mom, and poet.
Murdered by ICE.
Minneapolis”
About Rob because the current president needed to be himself and make it about himself. “When someone you don’t know dies and it opens those raw places, why? Is it held over past grief that somehow or for some reason got pushed down? Is it the insensitive, unnecessary commentary from some that need to push away or displace grief for an uncomfortable comparison to bring attention to themselves?
About Charlie:
“Yesterday someone took a gun, loaded it, aimed, shot and killed him, murdered him in a public place. A son, a sibling, a cousin, a husband, a father, a friend. I’ve had a cousin killed by gun violence. This feeling is devastating and numbing. His family is changed for-ever. His children, 1 and 3 now only have pictures and videos. No arms for hugs, no more words of love.
This is not okay. This is horrific. This is not right or left, THIS IS WRONG. This is NOT how we debate difference.
I decided to cover the image of what I guess are Tweets. Emotional, angry words demanding more violence. Violence toward Democrats, leftist organizations, lunatic leftist and radical left. More name calling, more assumptions with a ‘single story’ labeling a group of people, that includes me as celebrating this. I am sure there are some who are. I am not.”
This week Rep Jasmine Crockett got very emotional speaking about Renee Good on Capitol Hill, repeating a line from what the Mayor of Minneapolis said. Others in the room were more offended by the “f” word than the murder of a young woman.
I saw a post quoting Rep. Randy Fine(AZ): “If you impede the actions of our law enforcement as they seek to repel foreign invaders from our country, you get what’s coming to you. I do not feel bad for the woman that was involved.”
“I think it’s worth it. It’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.” ~Charlie Kirk
Considering our President, Vice President, DHS and Rep Randy Fine’s comments. Have I changed my mind about Charlie, I do not feel bad for the man … anymore. No. Because, well saying why feels as wrong to me as what these “leaders” have said. While they may deserve a disparaging comment, I’ll keep it to myself. Even though my Mom would say, if you thought it you might as well say it.
As inhumane as the comments from these “officials” is. As abhorrent as they tend to be when it is about someone in opposition, I will not stoop to their level. Regardless of who leaves this plain next, regardless of how diametrically opposed they are to my beliefs and convictions, I will not disparage or disgrace them in death as others do.
“There is something uniquely dangerous about a population that refuses to be hurried past its dead. Something unsettling to power about people who show up wet and cold and angry. And not to burn it all down, but to stand together and say, “No, you do not get to move on from this. This is not chaos. This is not despair. This is discipline.” ~ Robert Arnold