I saw this cartoon last month on the editorial page.
It's funny because right after that awful Maine mass shooting tragedy, I heard another politician say he was offering "thoughts and prayers" to everyone.
I wince every time I hear that phrase "thoughts and prayers." It's become so trite and for me almost uncaring. I know that's weird, but it's used so often that it feels meaningless.
I guess it's easier to offer thoughts and prayers instead of working on gun control.
And then there's that Maine U.S. representative, Jared Golden (Democrat, no less) who now seeks "forgiveness" for his past opposition to gun control.
What?!?
You were opposing gun control despite all those other mass shootings going on around our country? BUT when it's in your own hometown, THEN you change your mind?
I don't know what else to say. I'm so %^&** off.
When they say "thoughts and prayers" I know they don't mean either of them.
ReplyDeleteNothing good is to be expected of politicians. I sometimes wonder how seriously people take elections and voting.
ReplyDeleteAs am I (%^&**)!
ReplyDeleteI agree. It means nothing to them. And we are talking about innocent lives being lost here.
ReplyDeleteAs usual I agree with everything you say!!!
ReplyDeleteCeci
I am reminded of the old anecdotal story. A flash flood occurred forcing a man to crawl up on his roof. An uprooted tree with some other people clinging to it floated by and told the man on the roof to jump in and hang on. The man on the roof said he would rather pray for God. Soon a man in a canoe paddled by offering help but the man on the roof said he would rather pray for God. At last a helicopter flew over and lowered a line but the man on the roof declined and yelled back he was praying for God. Finally the floods rose up and drowned the man on the roof and as he came up to Peter at the pearly gates, he asked why God hadn't saved him. Peter was incredulous and said God had tried to save him by sending him a floating tree, a canoe and a helicopter.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, gun control is a very solvable thing for there is a lot of middle ground. However most of us want it 100% our own way and 0% the other person's way and so we remain at a stalemate after all these years.
Can't we just get rid of assault rifles?
DeleteOh, I agree. Such a trite statement from people we expect to stand up for us.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, the words 'thoughts and prayers' are too easy and I'm guilty of using the phrase myself for what of what else to say. There are no words. But when it comes to gun control, voting is the only action that may work... and these days, I'm not sure how much that works.
ReplyDeleteJamie here: Do people really mean it when they say "thoughts and prayers"?
ReplyDeleteI read something about Maine not having any gun purchase or control laws, so any politician reversing their stance is supposed to amaze us. Don't think Maine will change it's gun rules though. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteKay: That’s pathetic, don’t you think? Sigh….
DeleteMore is needed agreed
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful cartoon, and hits right where it should. The phrase should be retired, along with things like 'Highway of Heros' and 'I feel your pain'. The gun control issue though is one that I think about with some confusion. Up here in rural Ontario, everyone around where we live has a stash of guns for hunting. We do, in fact. Locked in a gun safe. With the ammunition in another locked container, in another part of the building. And it isn't an issue. Our gov't fusses on about banning and collecting 'assault weapons', but nobody much pays attention. Because whether you have a gun or not is not a big deal. It seems to be, though, in the USA. A strange difference in ways of thinking between two countries that are, in so many ways, the same.
ReplyDeleteThat should have read 'can have a gun'. Sorry.
DeleteThe problem is the proliferation of assault style AR-15 or machine gun type weapons with multiple rounds which are not used for hunting are they? So many mass murders here are caused by people using them. And although most states, I think, have rules against someone with mental/emotional handicaps purchasing them, it hasn't worked.
DeleteHere's something I found:
"With 120.5 civilian-owned firearms per 100 people, the United States has the highest rate of civilian gun ownership in the world—nearly double that of the second-place country, in fact. Civilians owned an estimated 393,347,000 total firearms in the United States in 2017 (measured against a 2017 population of 326,474,000). While many U.S. residents own no guns at all, many others own multiple guns—the end result of which is that the U.S. is home to more guns than people."
It's madness. (In my opinion)
stole your cartoon - loved it - and put it on Facebook!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked it.
DeleteI don't know if the gun crisis will ever be resolved.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about "thoughts and prayers." I wince every time I hear it and automatically lose respect for the person who says it. So trite and meaningless without action to back it up!
ReplyDeleteAgree 1,000%!
ReplyDeleteI think a lot. I don't pray. I think we need better gun control, but those statistics tell me the horses are already out of the barn and running amuck. My brain doesn't know how it fix it.
ReplyDeleteNo gun in this house. Never has been, never will be. When there was an assault weapon ban it worked. Why it was not a law forever is beyond my comprehension. I had not read about the Maine rep asking for forgiveness. None of those who have oppose gun control laws should be forgiven.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy. The world is changing for the worse in my opinion. How to fix it if the younger generations don't care?
ReplyDeleteYou know what...every single time some sees the light, I feel as if we are a step closer to a resolution. I don't care why they have changed their minds. I just celebrate that they have.
ReplyDeleteIt is a tragedy and I keep hoping it will change!!!!
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me who you are.
DeleteI like this post, Kay. It’s an interesting and seriously thought-provoking read. Thank you for sharing this. Wishing you a blessed Tuesday Night.
ReplyDelete"Thoughts and prayers" is trite and uncaring.
ReplyDelete