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5 minutes before I learned of the ostensible murder of Alex Pretti, I had to explain this scene to my 5yo. Explain that the Stormtroopers "were so mean that they just killed them all". Authoritarians kill the innocent when they are inconvenient. They kill the innocent to enforce their power.

Non-political authoritarians do the same. I saw it while living in San Pedro Sula Honduras, when my neighbors' adult daughter was gunned down in the street. Her crime? Arguing with another woman too loudly: she was killed because she was an annoyance. Authoritarians of all types value dominance.

The following are just a few thoughts came as I spent some time reflecting on all of this.

1. If the Trump Administration fails to investigate or feigns a sham investigation, then we no longer live in a constitutional, democratic republic. We will know with certanty that we live under an authoritarian tyranny. Failure to hold oneself accountable is a hallmark of an authoritarian.

2. We must seek love. My 5yo saw me crying as I thought about the news. I explained that there were people being very mean (She does not need to know more). An inspired thought came as we talked: We counter "meanness" with love.

The anger and sadness and fear we feel may motivate us, but love should direct us. My 5yo said of my sadness "Maybe the feeling will be gone in 3 weeks. If not, then maybe 4." Love can persist longer and and stronger than anger. This will be a long fight.

3. @kenwhite posed the question: what are the best moral arguments against political violence in America? My response: We choose based on the world we want after all is said and done. I want a world full of love. Mutual violence will make it hard to love.

And so, as long as a world of love is reasonably possible from choosing a disruptive but non-violent path, then I should choose that path. If violence is inevitable, then we must not lose love or it will all have been in vain. So I will practice now.