"the most important thing we can do is pray for that family..."

[IdaBriggs]

http://news.yahoo.com/florida-man-admits-killings-911-tape-133630931.html

Florida man admits to killing family in 911 call

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — With an edgy yet calm voice, Donald Spirit told a 911 dispatcher he had just killed his six grandchildren, including a baby, and would wait until authorities arrived before going to his back porch and killing himself.

"Yes, ma'am. I just shot my daughter and shot all my grandkids. And I'll be sitting on my steps and when you get here I'm going to shoot myself," Spirit, 51, said in the 911 call released Tuesday.

(snip)

Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he is asking for an investigation of DCF actions before the slayings.

"I've asked the (DCF) secretary to do a thorough investigation of all interactions to know what happened there, but right now the most important thing we can do is pray for that family because you just can't imagine it happening to your family."

You might have already seen this story on DU last week, or maybe you already saw it on Yahoo, or one of the other news websites.

"the most important thing we can do is pray for that family..."

You've definitely heard that "the most important thing we can do is pray for that family..."

I am a woman of faith. Like millions of other people, I pray regularly. But let me tell you a secret:

When a politician suggests "prayer" as an answer, it is because the politician is saying there is nothing else to do except implore the Almighty to fix an unfixable situation.

It is the politician's way of AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

Oh, there are times when such things are appropriate -- "pray for rain" during a drought, for example, or "pray for the safety of people in the path of bad weather" -- but while most people are busy praying, sensible ones are also busy DOING something. That "something" may be investigating ways to save water, or filling sandbags if there is a flood, or making sure that people have the information they need to get themselves to safety with tornados or hurricanes, or whatever is necessary under the circumstances.

This "American Can Do" attitude is pretty ingrained in our culture, so when it comes to preventable gun violence if a politicians says - whether that be from someone who *shouldn't* have a gun, or even from frightened police officers - "the most important thing we can do is pray for that family..." it rings hollow.

As this story unfolds, just like all of the other stories, it will turn out that multiple decision points were missed which resulted in these absolutely unnecessary deaths.

Yes, I said it: Absolutely Unnecessary PREVENTABLE Deaths -- and accomplishable (not "easily" but with actual effort) by Real Human Beings.

Spend 15 minutes brainstorming with five random people, and at least twenty ideas for solving these types of problems will come up - and some of those ideas will actually be (what is that crazy word?) USEFUL.

Right now there is zero accountability for these murders. "It was THAT MAN who did it - NO ONE ELSE is responsible."

Except for the questions, like "why did he have a gun?" and "who provided it to him?" and "if there were reports of drugs in the house, and he was a felon, why weren't the guns removed BEFORE he killed everyone with them?" and "if he was having mental problems, why wasn't he in treatment for it?" and "how can we fix it so that people who aren't supposed to have access to guns can't actually *get* guns?" and "how can we provide support systems for families who are on the verge of crisis, BEFORE they actually end up IN crisis?" and "who dropped the ball / did not make sure these children were protected?"

Oh, I have questions. I'm willing to pray, too.

But I don't think "the most important thing we can do is pray for that family..."

I think the most important thing we can do is put people who can actually SOLVE PROBLEMS in political office.

The current crop seems (what is that word?) ... oh, yes!

Useless.

[postulater]

1. And he's from the party of 'Responsibility'.

[IdaBriggs]

4. Well, that is their tag line anyway!

Since truth in advertising isn't really a big deal.

[Kalidurga]

2. Thank you that was very good

I was taught years ago, that prayer without action was like telling a man without a coat in the winter to keep warm and not offering him a coat. Something like that anyway. It stuck with me that if an action could help a situation then that should be done first before asking for help.

[IdaBriggs]

5. Very wise words.

[get the red out]

3. Great post

You are absolutely right! I have thought for years that we need better mental health safety nets in this country, it would be well work spending money on. There have been so many horrible situations like this in the news in recent years. Why can't we, as a nation, just address this glaring problem?

Maybe we can't do much for this family, but we could certainly try to do things to prevent other families from suffering this kind of murderous rampage.

[IdaBriggs]

6. Statistically, there will be another one within days.

It is infuriating - and tragic.

And in my mind, unnecessary.

[Orsino]

7. +1 for prayer becoming just another way...

...for the pigs to pretend to be doing something.