The Moral Line We Pretend Not to See - Because Looking Is Uncomfortable

This past week has been highly charged not just for me but for our entire country.  I have woken up each day and I am astonished that we are where we are as a country. As a self-proclaimed empath, this hurts so much more than not agreeing with the current administration or their policies. This is about what is before us and choosing not to believe what our eyes are telling us.  This is fact vs. fiction. I reached my limit of what I am willing to brush off as political theater. I am afraid that is what this current administration wants not only from me, but everyone who feels as I do – helpless and about to give up. 

I consider myself familiar with current events and am not afraid to admit when I’m wrong. I enjoy having lively discussions with people who have opposing beliefs. By realizing that one view is not the holy grail, I hopefully can see situations differently. It helps me understand complex situations more fully when my biases are addressed and challenged. If I don’t have the answers, I seek out the information.

Having said that, with the horrible news coming out of Minneapolis, I lashed out on Facebook and shared with the world how angry I truly am.  And frightened. And disappointed. And shocked. And heartbroken. And horrified. The world is on fire, there are more wars, more violence, more unrest than we’ve seen in 80 years. The world is being held hostage by maniacal leaders across this globe, and I am afraid one or all of them will push humanity into oblivion. I am really struggling to understand how anyone is ok with what is happening in our country and hit my limit on January 7th. Unfortunately, my inability to hold it together prompted me to get into it with others on social media. I know I am not alone. I am sure social media traffic, key word searches, and algorithms are designed to lead you down a rabbit hole and stir the proverbial pot.

I posted a meme on Facebook, and it garnered some attention from my network including a few at the opposite end of the spectrum, likeminded, and some who by force of nature challenged me to question the information I think I know.  The first comment was a pejorative and condescending remark from someone I briefly knew in high school. He enlisted and served in the Army after 9-11. While I commend his selfless act and service to the country, he attempted to shame me because he assumed I never was in a tense situation where split second decisions are made and that he believes in legal immigration.  The second comment was from a cherished friend, and it forced me to put a pause in the conversation because his words, as always, forced me to see the many different sides of a complex situation,

Image from The Hill - https://share.google/images/wgC3jsbWkpYobOuZr

some I may have overlooked. He made me admit to myself I don’t know everything. And then came the most surprising and bizarre encounter this one post of mine prompted - a phone call from a friend’s husband. He asked me “what the rules are” if he were to unfriend me, could we still talk in person because we travel in adjacent social circles.  This really took me by surprise. I was actually excited to have a spirited conversation and learn why he was still so unequivocally supportive of Trump and I appreciated the call.  I shared how I hit my limit, my convictions and why I posted what I posted, not that I needed to explain myself. When I asked him where his redline was – he chose to say “I don’t want to get into politics”.  Didn’t he reach out to me about a political post?! As my husband so eloquently says “Don’t pee on my head and tell me it’s raining.” Ultimately, I felt that he was trying to humiliate me for my post unintentionally or not.

Image from Sky News https://share.google/images/1MSENUIxXzrfGeTvz

I then scrolled some more and saw a post that a friend of 40+ years shared about how the left and right reacted to Charlie Kirk and Renee Good's murders. In this shared post, it claimed the left rejoiced to Kirk's demise yet were devastated by the woman. I felt my anger escalating as I started writing in the comments. I was checking facts feverishly, was supporting my arguments and didn’t care if I was lighting a fire that resulted in burning multiple bridges. As I was about to hit send, my husband, in his infinite wisdom stopped me.  As we used to say to my son when he was growing up – “take a personal pause”.

I closed my laptop, silenced my phone and took several deep breaths.  I woke up and deleted my social media from my phone and was determined to figure out what to do with this untamed anger, constant uneasiness and utter dismay and started to put my feelings into words – so here it is. 

Disclaimer: My intent is that it will prompt an openness to dialogue, to contemplate the other side, to be open to exploring opposing views and to maybe see that not one side is completely right or wrong.  It is unfortunate that we’ve lost the ability to see and absorb multiple points of view. We need to open our eyes to facts not opinions, and fight to protect our crumbling societal norms instead of being on the precipice of losing morality, humanity and compassion.

Here are my thoughts and the sources I used to formulate my opinions for the week:

The shooting of Renee Good was a tragedy.  I encourage you to read in its entirety the Code of Federal Agents on the US Government website of what a federal agent is allowed to do. Firing shots at a moving vehicle is not one of them. To summarize (this is pulled from the DHS website): ICE and DHS policy generally prohibit discharging firearms solely to disable a moving vehicle or only as a warning shot. 

a. General Prohibition: Firearms shall not be discharged at a moving vehicle, vessel, planes, or other conveyance unless the use of deadly force against an occupant is otherwise justified under the imminent threat standard.

b. Deadly Force Exception: Deadly force is authorized only when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject poses an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others, and no other objectively reasonable means of defense or apprehension exist. The vehicle itself can be considered a deadly weapon in such a scenario.

c. Officer Conduct: Officers are generally expected to move out of the path of a moving vehicle if it is feasible to do so, rather than placing themselves in a position where using deadly force becomes the only option.

d. Fleeing Suspects: Deadly force cannot be used solely to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect unless that suspect poses a significant, imminent threat of death or serious physical harm to others. 

We know that Jonathan Ross, the shooter, discharged his weapon and shot 3 bullets directly into the windshield of a moving vehicle driven by Renee Good and killed her. The facts are not up for debate. 

Image from Chicago Tribune - https://share.google/images/jiAm7bndc9y0Y3yDQ

While reading this you may think I am a leftist lunatic, yet I consider myself a centrist. What some of you are not aware of is that I am fully supportive of ‘legal immigration’. What I am seeing isn’t legal.  What I am seeing is abject cruelty.  What I am seeing is offensive on every level. What I am not in support of is the means and

tactics ICE use by bringing out its military mite and terrorizing communities in the process. How is anyone ok with this?

I am also of the mindset that those who have entered this country illegally or children of those who entered illegally 30+ years ago, yet have been a productive member of society, are law abiding and pays their fair share of taxes should be afforded a way to citizenship – they’ve proven themselves to be an asset of this country. I can honestly say I have no idea of the struggles one encounters that would force someone to leave their homeland and everything behind. Where is humanity and compassion I know we have capacity for as a nation and as individuals?

As ICE patrols targeted cities, I encourage everyone to ask themselves:

• Have ICE agents had ample training?

• What sort of training do ICE agents receive?

• How long is the training of a newly hired ICE agent?

• Have ICE agents been trained to de-escalate situations with large crowds?

• Have ICE agents shown critical thinking in deciding when force is needed? 

• Are ICE agents protecting life, ensuring human rights, and honoring individuals with their constitutional rights? 

• Are ICE agents working with local law enforcement or going into cities on their own and preventing local law enforcement agents doing their jobs?

• Are there background checks of these ICE Agents?

• Are potential agents flagged if they have had a criminal record?

• Were any ICE agents involved in January 6^th? 

• Were any ICE agents pardoned for participating in January 6^th?

• Are newly minted ICE agents paired with seasoned agents

• Is there a probationary period?

• Are ICE agents trained the same way as our military and police force?  If so, who is doing the training or are they handing military grade weapons to a trigger happy angry man?

• Why are ICE using tear gas, pepper spray and a variety of fire arms against US Citizens?

According to the Daily Beast, training of ICE officers has been reduced to 47 days, much shorter than the 6 months previously required.

Image from PBS website https://share.google/images/hl447i2U84Uk50HFa

From what I’ve seen the way ICE conducts themselves across the country, I tend to believe that many of the newly minted agents at minimum, attend January 6^th activities. While I have nothing to base this on but the images and virulent videos of ICE storming buildings and 5-10 agents tackling one person, I would be willing to bet a large sum of money on it, and I'm not a betting person. Many of the actions we’ve seen on video closely resemble actions captured on video on January 6^th including the rabid crowds pepper spraying the Capital Police Force, the complete disregard for life, wearing paramilitary gear, and not showing any level of empathy or humanity. I’ve seen the physical provocation of peaceful protestors, rubber bullets shot at clergy outside an ICE detention center and a military operation storming an apartment complex in the middle of the night, and plucking individuals out of their bed - all for the sake of "our safety".  I am willing to hear your argument as to why this brutal force is necessary. I’m listening.

We can argue until we are blue in the face about how the situation with Renee Good happened and even debate point by point about how it escalated and why deadly force was used during the confrontation. I’m ready to listen to your point of view.  We can watch the same videos together and come up with different opinions, yet I am open to hear what you see, frame by frame. Split second decisions, a community activist, Jonathan Ross – the now infamous ICE thug whose traumatic baggage (was injured doing the same type of incident 6 months earlier), of putting himself in front of a moving vehicle is in direct defiance of DHS Code of Conduct. And, ignoring commands of an ICE agent who charged the driver and did not identify himself, yet was dressed like a paratrooper including a mask to cover his face.  All these factors played a part in the perfect shitstorm of last Thursday.

What cannot be argued with is the level of ruthlessness, brutality, cruelty, indifference and the denial of medical care to Renee Good after she was shot should horrify everyone – left and right!  The shooter, Jonathan Ross, had the wherewithal to record the entire encounter on his phone with one hand, shoot at point blank range and squeeze off 3 rounds into her face with the other and then called her a ‘fucking bitch’ once the car crashed into 2 parked cars. Call me crazy but I don’t see that as his life being in danger, I see utter contempt and disregard of a human life. And to use Charlie Kirk’s own phrase I ask you to “prove me wrong.”

Image from Reuters https://share.google/images/nsq4xuhoMZ8w6IMpb

ICE has morphed into a dangerous paramilitary wing of DHS, and the newly hired ICE are being rewarded and praised for the brutality they inflict on their prey and are fulfilling quotas for extra pay. When TV Hosts, Talking Heads, podcasters, shared social media posts and MAGA Politicians attack a dead woman’s character and call her a domestic terrorist before a complete investigation is purely performative cruelty that many of you continue to buy into, further driving a wedge between us. Have you asked yourself why did the FBI kneecap local law enforcement agencies out of any investigation?  What are they trying to hide? If you can explain that to me, I’d be grateful. If we can then get the answer to that, then maybe then we can have a productive dialogue.

In my opinion, history is repeating itself but of course I am only an ‘armchair quarterback’ as my former High School/Facebook friend called me. Do you see the parallels from the past? His limited ability to look beyond “complying with a federal officer” and have an open mind are part of the problem. Did Jonathan Ross or the other agent identify themselves? I don't think the shooter deserves to be called a federal officer. Modern day ICE agents are goons who wear masks to hide their identity for a reason, they are dressed up in military gear to inflict fear and intimidation, and use unchecked brute force to collect the undocumented. Weren't we told ICE was going to get the bad guys? All I am seeing is chaos, uncertainty and further division. In their roundup frenzy, they’ve also detained law-abiding US Citizens terrorized communities, schools, churches, homes, and everything in between. It is depraved cruelty - And that is the point folks.

The FBI’s definition of a domestic terrorism includes violent acts perpetrated by individuals or groups inspired by U.S.-based extremist movements, have ideological motivation that stems from political, religious, racial, social, or environmental extremism with the intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, or influence government policy.  Sound familiar? The Proud Boys anyone? The only difference here is these thugs are getting a sign-on bonus, a livable salary, and extra pay when exceeding their quotas. We are talking about human beings, not manufacturing products or closing a sale for fuck’s sake. This sounds like ICE are the domestic terrorists with a badge and reminiscent of the Brown Shirts, the paramilitary wing of the German Nazi party of the 1930s. The eerily similarities are too close to stay silent.

Going back to the thread my 40+ year friend shared comparing George Floyd’s murder and the community’s reaction, one of the commenters found it incredulous that he was celebrated and called him a criminal. She wholeheartedly agreed.  He was not celebrated because of his run-ins with the law; he became a symbol of police brutality and what unchecked power does to those in charge. I feel sorry for anyone that can’t see beyond his criminality.  It is tragic that Minneapolis has once again experienced the brutal murder of another human being from “law enforcement” and this time round the term “law enforcement” is used loosely.  The video documentation once again highlights the depravity, cruelty and indifference one person shows to another and that is a permanent stain in our history.  When I read that comment calling George Floyd a criminal, it angered me. Yes he had a criminal past, yes he had runs in with the law. Calling someone a derogatory name is equivalent to calling a someone an “illegal” and is the same type of language the Germans used to dehumanize the Jews in 1930s.  Do you not see it that way? I'd honestly like to know.

As a Jewish woman, I am guided by the teachings of the Torah's call to live ethically, with compassion, justice, honesty, and the sanctity of life to create a better world – it is called Tikkun Olam or Repair the World. I believe the majority of those who came to the US looking to better their lives deserve our compassion and support by finding a way to citizenship with thorough extensive background checks. Wouldn't our tax dollars be better spent on ensuring those wanting citizenship than outfitting some dudes to wreak havoc and play Army on the streets of our cities? Someday I may need their help and support because of all the Jew hatred around the world and in the United States. Jewish people are screaming from the rooftops that antisemitism is alive and gaining traction. Just yesterday, a historic synagogue in Mississippi was torched and destroyed. For Jews, Catholics, Christians, Methodists, Unitarians, Baptists, Hindus, Greek Orthodox, and every other faith I can't think of right now, we need to ask ourselves, Are we to only to fight and protect our own? Some of my Jewish friends are still steadfast in their support of Trump and his policies and I am astounded they are able to look the other way when our government is targeting other populations. These actions are pulled from Hitler’s playbook. In Trump’s first term, Muslim, Puerto Ricans (Hurricane Maria), and LGBTQ were targeted, now it’s the Mexicans, Latinos and Somalians. I ask all of you – Do you think you are safe?  As someone with multi-generational trauma from the Holocaust, I am constantly asking Will I be next?

While I agree that immigration policies and procedures need to be overhauled, do not believe in open borders, and earning the right to call yourself a US Citizen, the hunting down of children in schools, congregants in houses of worship, individuals in their homes, work or in their community is terrorizing everyone, not just the undocumented. Reading the comments on my friend’s thread, I am convinced Trump has successfully incited deep seeded hatred and fostered a climate of indifference in far too many of us.

In that same thread, the original poster claimed the left rejoiced and celebrated his untimely death.  Let me say this plain and simple, Charlie Kirk did not deserve to be murdered, and those on the other side of the political spectrum did not celebrate his death as most like me believe no one should be murdered.  He was a political commentator who was afforded a day of mourning, flags flown at half-mast, a televised fire-work spectacle of a memorial service and Renee Good received a character assignation from our president, vice-president and the secretary of homeland security – all before a thorough investigation. All death, especially by gunfire is a tragedy. It is also indisputable that Charlie Kirk was a provocateur and someone who was divisive and encouraged hate speech. Here are a few examples.

I know the majority of you for a very long time and believe you are people with a great capacity for generosity, love and compassion.  Yet, I am wrestling with the thought that many of you do not share the same core values as me, or claim you do but turn the other cheek when you see the ugliness that ICE engages in on a daily basis. I would welcome a productive discussion about our differences.

I remain hopeful that some of you will read the entirety of this essay. I also know it is highly unlikely I will move the needle either way. It is hard for anyone to admit they were misled, misinformed or wrong from both ends of the political spectrum. And that, I’m afraid, is why we are here.