“OPTING OUT IS NOT NEUTRAL. IT IS PERMISSION.”

–MITCH JACKSON, LAWYER, AUTHOR, SPEAKER

Given the events this week, I was not going to post, but Jackson’s eloquent wisdom gnawed at me. By now, you’ve seen the videos of Renee Good, the young mother of three shot dead by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, as she attempted to leave a protest in Minneapolis. Only seconds before, she rolled down her window, gave Ross a big smile, and said, “It’s OK, dude. I’m not angry with you!” He, however, pointed his gun straight at her and fired three shots into her face.

There is not a single, intelligent person who can look at the videos, (including the one Ross recorded on his cell phone) and conclude “she deserved it.” Trump declared that Good, “viciously ran over an ICE officer.” Open your eyes, Donald. Vance proclaimed her, “a deranged leftist.” Hardly. Noem dubbed her “a domestic terrorist.” (Frankly, one could easily apply that moniker to Noem.) Listening to their pathetic drivel was beyond stunning. Like January 6^th, it was all theater with bad actors spouting lies instead of lines.

Finally, I understand how this pathetic excuse of a human was elected President. There really are that many deluded people in this country. We don’t need to make America great again. We need to make it smart again. Unless you’re unapologetically ignorant, how else can you justify the cold-blooded execution of an American citizen and mother of three, with no criminal record? Perhaps the 19 billion Congress approved for ICE might be better spent supporting people than deporting them. 

Yesterday, I overheard a fellow pickleball player say, “She got what she deserved. She’s an agitator.” ‘Deserved?’ If we murdered everyone who disagreed with us, the world would disappear. As for Ross being ‘worried for his life?’ After he squeezed the trigger, he called Good a “fucking bitch.” Sounds terrified to me. The media has analyzed this incident ad infinitum and posited the legalities of Ross’s actions with several proclaiming, “He’ll never be charged.” But that’s not what worries me. It’s our indifference to life itself.

This post doesn’t come with a photo so you can envision the real horror in your mind. Picture Ross as he watched Good’s car crash mere seconds after he shot her. He did not go to her or render aid. Instead, he re-holstered his gun, turned from the scene, and walked away. He told another ICE agent to “call 911,” got into his vehicle and drove off as if it was just another day at work. Don’t worry that he or the others can’t sleep at night. It’s easy when your thinking is so shallow there’s no room for a conscience.

P. S. I am grateful for the readers from 68 countries that read my blog this past year. Thank you for taking an interest in my thoughts and sharing them with others.