I have been a fan of Steve Martin since I was a teenager. I always thought that his goofy, physical comedy was not just really funny; it was really smart. He did dumb things that led to intelligent insights – and he played the banjo like nobody’s business. 50 years later, he’s still doing amazing work in TV, music, and comedy. One of the early shows I saw had him doing a standup routine that included an idea to curb overpopulation – death penalty for parking violations. Absurd, isn’t it? The very idea that something so small could result in something so final falls into the realm of total absurdity. Might as well include littering or breaking noise curfews.
Unthinkable and absurd – until I saw the many videos of the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis over and over. And while all the facts are still being gathered, it seems clear to me that what she did, while wrong, was not worthy of the death penalty. It is obvious to me that she was trying to move her car, and that the ice may have caused he to not have total control of her car. From every report of every person who knew her, she was a kind and gentle person. No – she should not have been blocking traffic. Anyone who has taken training to deal with this problem should have learned that you always follow the law, no matter what. Take videos, but don’t interact physically. Post on social media, but don’t block the road.
What disturbs me is the number of people I have seen supporting the idea that Ms. Good deserved to die because she committed a parking violation. Killing someone for this kind of reason is what totalitarian governments do. People like Stalin and Mao and Hitler created an atmosphere that shut down dissent by any means necessary. One woman in Minneapolis yesterday was trying to get to a doctor’s appointment and was arrested after ICE attacked her car. Around the country, people who believe in rights and freedom are saying no. We have the right to challenge tyranny, but we need to keep it legal. Don’t give them an excuse to abuse their power. They are already doing that every day.
Holy God, cure us of our madness – speak to those who commit crimes against freedom – help us. Amen.
Today’s art is “Compression” by Marian Kamensky.