On February 14, what should have been a typical Valentine’s Day like so many before for the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High instead became a tragedy as Nikolas Cruz a terrorist entered the school and began murdering students and faculty with his legally obtained AR-15. In all, the gunman’s assault ended the lives of 17 people and wounded more than a dozen more.
When news broke and the shooting became public knowledge, responses to the act of terrorism were swift. Interestingly absent from the conservative dialogue was what became know as the stock response for republicans painfully avoiding the topic of guns: “thoughts and prayers.” The idiom became highly lambasted and eventually fell into disuse.
Not all Republicans got the memo, however. Senators Thom Tillis and Mike Rounds employed the phrase in the tragedy’s immediate wake. President Trump smartly avoided the phrase, but offered the words “thoughts and condolences” in a poorly dressed rephrasing of the original “thoughts and prayers.”
A majority of Republicans are tactfully abstaining from the expression, however, even their dialogue all boils down the same pathetic avoidance of discussing what really needs to be discussed. Whether you use the words “thoughts and prayers,” “thoughts and condolences,” or something else entirely, the feigned piety and half-assed concern aren’t appreciated.
Born of a discussion from fellow Odyssey Online creator Maria Nelson, I joked about invoking magic to effect a change, and it led to the discussion of things more thoughtful than “thoughts and prayers.” I continued the discussion by asking others what they think is more thoughtful or useful than the empty statement.
1. Do nothing at all
Truth be told, this really what’s happening when they a legislator utters the words, “thoughts and prayers,” but by actually doing nothing—by not responding in any way—at least you’re not deliberately pissing on the memories of those lost in the slaughter. You’re not winning any awards or building up karma credit, but at least you’re not offering worthless condolences.
2. Conduct a pagan ritual
Light candles at midnight. Slit the throat of a vestal virgin (extra virgin if possible). Sing ancient Latin hymns. Bathe naked in the moonlight as you dance in celebration of the four elements. Gyrate like lives depend on it. It’s not really accomplishing much more than “thoughts and prayers,” but you get points for style and devotion to the cause. Who knows? Maybe something will come of the ritual.
3. Rebel and replace the government
A beloved friend suggests, “wiping out most of the government and starting over again with people who actually give a shit about other people.” While I don’t typically like responding to bloodshed with more bloodshed, perhaps a culling is necessary. Washington D.C. is swollen with crooked individuals whose primary concern is catering to lobbyists rather than representing the people of America.
4. Become a social media warrior/sympathizer
Not that I need this recent CCN article to tell me that how tired people are of hearing “thoughts and prayers” being too easily thrown around, but what about the people that don’t really do much to improve upon the problem except to instigate fights on social media? Some express their condolences through profile photo filters/frames and others through sharing sorrowful memes. However, this is actively shedding light on the occurrence of the tragedy, so it’s not entirely without merit.
5. Go buy a gun and set up camp around a local school
While you’re at it, mobilize your friends to do likewise. Conduct outreach initiatives and organize Citizen Protectors. Run for office and dictate that school funds be directed to the training and arming of unemployed veterans. Ignore the fact that most school funding is stretched thin enough, but let’s make this a reality. Don’t raise taxes, of course. But start small. Go buy that gun. The bigger it is the better.
Yes, I’m being blatantly facetious, and I apologize. This final suggestion isn’t likely to accomplish anything except a potential increase in violence and loss of life. Trigger-happy heroes are the last thing we need.
What we should really do
Study the problem and engage in constructive discourse. Propose amending the 2nd Amendment. Amendments can be amended as needed, after all. If you’re too conservative to entertain that idea, then at least consider that background checks should be expanded upon. Maybe firearm insurance would help steer people away from buying the death-dealing machines.
Of course, there’s some conservative out there just waiting to spew another point of their exhausted narrative: “do you think criminals obey the laws?” No, they don’t, but such changes might prevent an 18-year-old terrorist from so easily obtaining firearms. They might not, but that’s not a reason to not try.
I’m not alone in thinking something must change. There’s a conservative cry to improve our mental health problem in America. Great idea, or it would be a great idea if funding for mental health wasn’t being threatened and reduced at every opportunity.
So where does the change start? Follow Hannah’s suggestion and discover the names of your representatives. Contact them and give them a piece of your mind. Call, write, and protest them when they fail to represent you. If necessary, vote them out of office in the next elections, which is, in case you haven’t been paying attention, this year.
