Comments on the reaction to the death of Renee Good.
Like everyone else I have been trying to figure out what the tragic death of Renee Good means, and the reaction to it.
First, we are a nation that cares, and because we care we want answers. Why did this happen, how did this happen, who is responsible, what can we do to fix it? And because we care so deeply it is difficult for us to stand back and wait and give ourselves time to process the situation and answer the questions rationally.
I was deeply disappointed when the White House jumped in and started placing blame on Renee Good. After just a few short hours the White House reacted and began to dump accusations on her and defending the man who shot her. This is not the way it should be done. There should be no rush. The White House and the Office of the President should take time to make considered comments supported by facts.
Honestly the first thing out of the White House should be comments like, “We deeply regret the situation, and we are working closely with city and state officials to get the full picture.” I am also curious, at what point did the president call Governor Walz and discuss the incident with him?
Since people will jump all over me and say, “What about comments made by Minnesota Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey?” Something like this, especially at the beginning, needs to be handled by the state and local authorities. I will add that they are closer to the problem, with more access to the facts about what happened on the ground. Yes, they need to be just as cautious as the White House when drawing conclusions, but their direct connection to the incident requires that they be the ones to make the initial statements to the people, make sure that no more violence occurs and they follow all legal, due process measures to investigate the death of Renee Good.
Right now, in my opinion, the best way to prevent more violence is to reduce the number of ICE agents in Minnesota, not increase them. When the steam engine is about to blow you turn down the heat, you don’t turn it up.
Which brings me to my second point. The silence of our legislators in the House and Senate, at the state and federal level. These are the representatives who we entrust with the responsibility and authority to protect the people of our cities, states and nation. They should ALL learn the facts, ask questions, talk to each other and their own advisors and then tell us what they believe.
I want to know from my Congressmen and Representatives, what are they going to do to make sure that no one else is shot to death on the streets of America? And do it without blaming the protestors. I also want to be sure that they will track down and publicly identify the cause of the death and do something about it. This is much more than a routine stop by law enforcement gone bad.
My final point is this; I am concerned with the people around the president. Listen, I truly want President Trump to successfully lead America. The problem is that I do not trust those around him who are advising him. I do not believe that he is getting all the information that he needs to know in order for him to be the president that we need him to be. I am concerned that the information that he does get is biased in a way which makes it difficult for him to act in the best interests of the people of the United States. I am also concerned that the current House and Senate are not pushing those around the president hard enough to justify their actions. The president’s staff are making decisions and taking actions which are harmful to the nation and the world. Congress must get them under control.
