Taking Responsibility

"It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong." Thomas Sowell

This should be one of the most fundamental cornerstones of any government, organization, or endeavor!

I recall a funny little cartoon, probably seen in some comedies as well, where a guy says something like, “I have a very responsible position here in the company. If anything goes wrong, they always say I'm responsible for it!”

Responsibility is the basis for a productive and healthy life, whether individually or collectively as a people!!!

The two shootings recently in Minneapolis bring up this issue of responsibility. Are these ICE agents responsible for criminally shooting these two people? I do not know. They will need to be judged with a thorough and careful examination of everything involved. Who can do that? 

I do know that the two people who were shot and killed could have completely prevented their own deaths in that manner. Quite simply, they shouldn't have been there! Renee Good was 37 years old, with several children who needed her to be a good mom; but that is gone now. I would suggest that just by her very actions she was not being a good, responsible mom. She should have considered the possible outcomes of these highly questionable actions and made a better choice. Same with Alex Pretti. He could have gone to work today, paid some bills, and had a nice dinner tonight. But he chose to show up to an inflamed situation with an expensive loaded handgun with extra loaded magazines, and he got in the face of law enforcement agents who were trying to do their assigned jobs. However this case works out legally, I know for a fact that Alex would likely still be alive if he had acted responsibly and made a better decision beforehand. 

I don't have all the answers, but I do have some answers. Slow down, think through things carefully, and try to do what is right. If you don't know what is right, consider that you should perhaps do something that won't get you killed! Seems pretty responsible to me. Unless there is someone who is going to get run over by a car, and you move quickly to prevent that from happening, and then get hurt yourself. THAT is being responsible. And that's okay, even commendable. 

Blessings, friends!