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With our leaders, it’s always ‘too soon’ to take action against gun violence
“When tragedy strikes, our first instinct should be to remember what we have in common, not to rally support for any political program. Our initial response should be seeking to build bridges,” writes Brandon Ambrosino in his Sept. 7 Ideas piece, “In defense of ‘thoughts and prayers.’ ” So, when can we try to rally support for political programs that can bring actual change? Should we wait a week or a month after the next tragedy?
I think that Ambrosino’s argument is disingenuous. Yes, those of us who feel helpless to change the problem of mass shootings can offer thoughts and prayers, and we can try to take some comfort from the outpouring of support. However, our leaders, including politicians, clergy, and academics, hide behind thoughts and prayers, again and again. It’s always “too soon” to discuss what we as a society could do to end these preventable school shootings.
Dana Buske
Arlington
Not everybody prays, but everybody feels the impact of a bullet
When the response of “thoughts and prayers” is disparaged, it is not because thoughts and prayers are unnecessary but, rather, because of how the phrase is a cop-out for the right and for Second Amendment zealots. Of course pray, but then act — “do something” is what people are saying.
What’s more, Brandon Ambrosino writes as if everyone in this country prays like he does. Of course we don’t. That’s the whole point of this country’s First Amendment. We are different. Our beliefs are different. What isn’t different is that we all bleed. We all can die when bullets smash into our bodies.
Brenda Sheridan
Swampscott
‘Thoughts and prayers’ are offered as a distraction
Brandon Ambrosino complains that people who deride expressions of “thoughts and prayers” after mass shootings miss something crucial. But it’s Ambrosino who appears to be oblivious to the fact that many people offer these comments to intentionally prevent others from taking meaningful action to address gun violence.
He writes that prayers should be followed by action and that there is “no place in Christianity” for “those who pray while twiddling their thumbs.” Yet for many public figures who give thoughts and prayers, the goal is to stymie legislation, not to “remind us of our shared humanity.” Politicians send their thoughts and prayers while receiving significant contributions from the National Rifle Association, which fights to stop laws that could prevent future shootings.
Ambrosino maddeningly echoes their empty rhetoric, writing, “Even if we end mass shootings tomorrow, we’ll still have to grapple with unexpected tragedy.” This is true, but irrelevant. That there will be tragedies is no reason not to work to decrease the number of mass shootings.
People sending their thoughts and prayers after shootings are really saying, “I don’t care.”
Bret Seferian
Salem
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