Have the tragic shooting events that are becoming an
un-welcome part of our lives and the tattered fabric of our country finally
sucked the meaning out of the fall back phrase “thoughts and prayers.” Our
leaders have uttered it so many times it’s meaning seems hallow and worthless
like saying have a nice day. Does it really provide comfort and ease the pain
to those its being offered to?
When someone says my thoughts are with you, what meaning is there
behind those words, how can we even imagine what that person is going through,
how their life has been changed, what emotions are tearing at their very being.
It’s one thing to offer our thoughts to a relative or friend but when a
political leader utters the same phrase, where does the meaning come from
behind the words?
But when someone also offers prayers it’s even more
personal. For me prayers are private, personal thoughts and concerns between me
and God. How then do the prayers of someone else reach out to those we pray
for? But more so, do we always remember
to say those prayers we offered as sympathy. I know for me I have a hard time
remembering to take that moment to pray a prayer that has great meaning to me.
How does something that is so personal carry meaning when offered by someone
these people have never met.
But more than offering thoughts and prayers it’s time for
those who have been elected to serve our country, defend our constitution and
protect our freedoms, to finally put meaning behind their thoughts for victims
and families. Only they have the power to bring life to their words by finally
realizing why they chose to serve this country.
Too often they are referred to as Politicians instead of the
elected official sworn to uphold the rights and freedoms of American Citizens.
They let politics be their excuse for the inability to create needed change. They
were not elected to deliver their thoughts and prayers, we gave them the power
to enact change that will allow us to go about normal lives and no longer live
in fear of our fellow citizens.
If we can no longer feel safe dropping off our kids at
school, going to a movie or attending an outdoor music festival, what good are
these rights and freedoms? No longer can we hold accountable just the deranged
shooter but it’s time that those who
have the ability to actually make the changes to give back the freedoms we cherish
to take the blame and be held accountable as well.
You Mr President, Justices of the Supreme Court, Senators
and Representatives now have the blood of the innocent victims on your hands
and it cannot be washed away through thoughts and prayers. Only your actions
can bring changes that will allow your constituents to enjoy the freedom to go
about normal lives. Until then fear is the new normal.
We always hold high
the courage of first responders’ and the job they do even though this is what
they are trained to do and the profession they chose. I am grateful for these
brave people, but my thoughts and prayers would be they never have to
experience for real what they are trained to do. We also praise the efforts of
everyday Americans as we open our hearts and wallets searching for ways to help
the victims of events that we wish never happened. My thoughts and prayers
would be that instead of defining ourselves as those who come together when
needed, instead be defined as those who
come together to celebrate the peace and love we have for each other.
I recently was astounded to hear a group of young people in
ages of 25 to 40 discussing what they had in their “bug out bags” and what they
felt they needed to survive should our country be devastated by something other
than natural disasters. These are the people who will be the next to bring
about change and define our country and instead of talking about hope and
dreams, they were discussing fear and selfishness.
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