Musings —03.18.2019 07:29 AM
—Thoughts and prayers
On the one hand, I oppose politicians’ condolence social media messages, because they too often become a substitute for action. On the other hand, I support them, because if they make even one person feel better, they’re worth it.
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) March 18, 2019
Even better is action, and showing up in person.
Full credit to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who immediately undertook to change gun laws, and showed up to comfort mourners *in person*. That’s what it should look like. If a politician is just tweeting thoughts and prayers, and not offering any substance, no, it’s not sufficient, and better that they say nothing.
Dan,
I haven’t had much very nice to say about my own party’s government lately…but we in Quebec City did appreciate it very much when the Prime Minister came to Quebec after the attack on the Islamic Center. For that, thank you.
“Full credit to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who immediately undertook to change gun laws,”
Knee-jerk reactions aren’t anything to be proud of, especially the ones made strictly for political gain.
(they’ve already been forced to ‘walk it back’, and rightly so…)
On gun laws, a lot different than the US who almost always does nothing. However changing them dramatically and quickly is not unlike with other English speaking countries have done. UK and Australia used to have gun laws similar to what New Zealand has now, but both dramatically tightened theirs after mass shootings so not surprised if New Zealand goes down that path. We did too after Ecole Polytechnique although we didn’t ban all semi-automatics like New Zealand is proposing but we did ban high capacity magazines bringing in a 5 round limit. Also under the Chretien government, 58% of handguns were banned as before Chretien any handgun could be legally owned, whereas now only ones appropriate for sports shooting can be, Saturday night specials are thankfully banned.
As for Canada doing nothing after the Quebec City mosque shooting, I hate to say this, but I think the Liberals in the 90s bungling of the gun registry has made them quite skittish about touching gun control. Had they not messed that up so badly, I think there would be less reluctance to take action. Mind you maybe recent pressure will get them to take action even if belated.
I also agree comforting mourners is important, but almost all leaders do this. Donald Trump is not what leaders are supposed to be, but many of us have started to think being an asshole and racist like him is the new norm when it is not nor should be.
.. good point, kind thought .. but
It always seems (to us) the condolences are almost universally expressed in a certain, shall we say.. ‘christian’ styled or biblical mantra. There’s ‘thoughts & prayers’ which are mainly from the masses.. most of whom do not actually ‘pray’.. the political animals are more generous in the volume of words dispensed.. ‘we share your sorrows, may gawd welcome them unto..’.. some a la Andrew Scheer, a confirmed evangelical prairie boy from Ottawa (?) try out new phrases.. like ugh ”may their memories be blessings’ – this after all your children burned to death ? Your mother mutilated by an AR-15 fusillade? A hit and run drunk kills your brother?
How about a private gracious personal card..? Plus a real offer to help? Is that so difficult? But some go for the photo op at the nearest mosque? With a solemn look stuck on their overfed face? Do these politicos think an Imam or three really appreciates a photog, an apparatchik and the politician exploiting or servicing the situation for votes & driving away in a limo?
Color me cynical. No I don’t send thoughts and prayers via some all knowing gawd up there in the sky.. I think to myself, wonder what I could do.. if I could or can do something. Far more fortunate and lucky than most on spaceship earth, I wonder daily at the misfortune, tragedy, pain of so many others. I also have deep respect for privacy, the dignity, the ability to go on, to bear shattering experience and unfair even unbearable pain.
If jesus is of aid to these people, well amen. If they have family, friends, neighbors, culture, countrymen who will assist in truly dark times, it may be the best we can hope for. If not then some of us or others may be able to step with compassion, respect and be of aid
Sending thoughts and prayers can be very gracious and potentially comforting if they are personally directed and sincere, or sent by a high official who has a mandate to speak in the name of a collective. A stranger or everyday politician tweeting them out to the whole world is self-indulgent, cost-free virtue-signalling. So is pronouncing on the cause of the tragedy or demanding political action before the victims are even buried. If, god forbid, I lost my children in such an atrocity, I think I would be quite angry and resentful at the rituals on all sides we have come to expect. But I think I might be comforted knowing that many were marking my loss with a respectful, solemn silence.