HE DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL HER

The most radical act is to refuse to move on

Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

The name is almost too perfect, like something a playwrite would have invented. Her name literally meant Rebirth of the Good, her last words evocative of someone else’s: “Hey dude, I’m not mad at you.” As were her crucifier’s: “Fuckin’ bitch.”

Something went on in Minneapolis last Wednesday, and it wasn’t just another brazen, cruel transgression for which this administration has become known. Something seems to be different this time. Perhaps they went too far for a change, their lies too obvious, their shtick not totally working now. People are pissed and well they should be. Voices not usually so blunt are coming out and saying it: “This administration is lying to you.”

The administration’s lies started quickly, right after the incident, and they haven’t stopped. They’ve been amplified by FOX News and a few other lights in the MAGA firmament. It began when Kristi Noem said immediately, based on no evidence at all, that Good had perpetrated an “act of domestic terrorism.” Showing the video to reporters in the Oval Office, the President said that Good “behaved horribly…and then she ran him over. She didn’t try to run him over. She ran him over.” When one of the reporters pointed out that it didn’t look to him like the ICE agent had been run over, the President responded by saying that he had heard the woman had “behaved very badly.”

The administration’s point person, as usual, is J.D. Vance. He says the real tragedy is that Good had been radicalized by a left wing ideology! He repeatedly weaves the evil spell that ICE agents are “law enforcement officers” doing the Lord’s work, and we need to leave them alone so they can clean up America! Notice real law enforcement officers were pepper sprayed, beaten, practically murdered by a riotous mob at the Capitol on January 6th and those bastards will still tell you that that was a peaceful protest.

TrumpTeam frequently says the opposite of what’s true so your brain then does a somersault. And somersaults after a while become exhausting. How long can you handle the mental dissonance that the bad is good and Good is bad before you just move on? But we must not move on. The psychology of totalitarianism isn’t just the psychology of the perpetrator, but also the psychology of the victim. Evil thrives on our minimizing it. The most radical act today is to refuse to move on.

Meanwhile Good’s wife, Becca Good, put out a statement about her partner’s death. I hope as many Americans as possible will read this and pass it on:

First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family.

This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her.

Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.

Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.

Like people have done across place and time, we moved to make a better life for ourselves. We chose Minnesota to make our home. Our whole extended road trip here, we held hands in the car while our son drew all over the windows to pass the time and the miles.

What we found when we got here was a vibrant and welcoming community, we made friends and spread joy. And while any place we were together was home, there was a strong shared sense here in Minneapolis that we were looking out for each other. Here, I had finally found peace and safe harbor. That has been taken from me forever.

We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine.

On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.

Renee leaves behind three extraordinary children; the youngest is just six years old and already lost his father. I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way.

We thank you for the privacy you are granting our family as we grieve. We thank you for ensuring that Renee’s legacy is one of kindness and love. We honor her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion, turning away from fear and pursuing peace, refusing division and knowing we must come together to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.

If that was “left wing ideology,” Mr. Vice-President, I’ll take it.

To those who wonder about the role of spirituality in politics, that letter was it. It’s not just a letter, it’s a reminder: “…The people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way.” Those words are going to penetrate the lies and tear down the wall.

You watch.