Well, school shooting season is open. I hate how numb I am to it. I hate that we recite the same words, the same accusations, the same prayers over and over. It’s only different for the new community that has to deal with the loss and trauma. We grieve for them, knowing how easily it could be us.
I can’t imagine the terror of seeing that alert from my
children’s school, or of hiding under office furniture texting last messages,
or of rushing to a gathering point praying for good news, knowing someone is
getting bad.
Those of us removed from the incident offer our prayers,
because what else can we do? The problem comes when no one does anything except
offers prayers.
Offering thoughts, prayers, consolation is good. Empathy is good. However, those who have power also have a responsibility to respond. The police investigate the crime scene. The medics and hospitals care for the injured. The funeral homes arrange funerals. Because it has to be done, and that’s their job. But when we look to politicians to react with policy changes, we’re told to not make it political, to just pray. But their job isn’t to pray; it’s to set policy, to create laws to make the community safe.