I don’t know how to be more like Renee Good, and I wish I were. Yesterday someone asked me what I would have done if I were in her situation, so here it is.
If that were me in that car, in her seat, in that video where her final words were “That’s OK dude, I’m not mad at you,” I’d be dishonest if I told you I’d do exactly what she did.
I wouldn’t have been so kind to him.
The last video of my life, the last moments my kids would ever see of me, immortalized forever in history, played on every news network and social media channel, would be me telling that guy to eat a dick, or some other colorful words to that effect. Probably more like a whole bag of dicks. There’s an expression that always tickles me.
And not even calmly. I’d be telling him to fuck off with my full chest. And I would feel righteous in doing so.
Not because I don’t respect law enforcement. I do.
But because these guys are not law enforcement. They are mob enforcers, cosplaying as soldiers, doing the bidding of their mob boss. That’s what they are. And any argument to the effect of “just comply with them” only normalizes them, and justifies their presence where they have no business being in the first place.
But I digress.
I would not have complied. I want to believe that. So I will.
But I also would not have been as kind as my new hero, Renee Good.
And you know what’s absolutely killing me? I believe she would still be alive today if she had followed my example.
If she had told that guy to F off, or used her own favorite euphemism or two to disparage him in some way, she would still be alive right now.
Why?
Because he didn’t shoot her in self defense. He purposely walked in front of her car and switched his phone from his right hand to his left so he had access to his gun.
He didn’t shoot her because she wasn’t complying. Lots of people defy these guys everyday, and don’t get killed for it.
He did not want compliance. He demanded reverence.
He shot her because she refused to perform fear.
Because she denied him the emotional submission he believed he was owed.
If she had told him to eat a bag of dicks – and I have no doubt she’d have found a way to do so more eloquently than I – he would have smirked, and felt good about himself, knowing he intimidated her.
But she didn’t.
She smiled, remained polite, and said “It’s OK dude, I’m not mad at you.”
And his fragile little ego couldn’t take it.
So I believe if I were in her place, I would still be alive.
Not because I would have complied. But because in that moment, I know I would not have been able to rise to the level of compassion and humanity that Renee Good did.
So thank you, MAGA. I have an opportunity to reflect on that, and learn how.
And thank you Renee, for providing the roadmap for me to follow.
