Thoughts & Prayers & Snark

Some people offer thoughts and prayers after the mass shootings that seem to happen monthly now. It’s true that thinking and praying can’t bring about the change we need to prevent the next atrocity in America, but I think prayers can be very comforting for some people. It doesn’t work for everyone, of course, but it can make some people feel less alone in a time of tragedy to know people wish you well. I don't think there’s anything wrong with offering a prayer because it can be a reaction to a situation for which you don’t have any answers.

The problem, of course, is that politicians who actually are in a position to get answers to prevent gun violence do nothing more than pray. Many religious people believe that prayers don’t mean much without action and prayer can be a spur to that action.

So it makes some sense to call out “thoughts are prayers” but I think everyone, me included, needs to take a look at what we actually are doing to prevent gun massacres. You know what’s just as useless as “thoughts and prayers” in solving this problem? Snark over thoughts and prayers.

Prayers and posting snarky memes following a tragedy effect the same change: Absolutely none. Here are some other things that do nothing following a massacre: Liking shit on Facebook, watching a tearful Jimmy Kimmel or Seth Meyers monologue about guns and nodding vigorously in agreement, condescension, blogging and complaining about politicians but not bothering to vote.

If that’s all we’re doing, then it’s not much. Many some people are doing actual things to prevent these mass murders but I imagine a lot of the people snarking about prayer haven't exactly worked for decades as community organizers with the Committee to Prevent Gun Violence. Most of us, me included, are armchair commenters on Facebook and elsewhere, doing very little other than bitch. And I don’t know what the average person can really do but it’s got to be more than what we're doing.