Paul Ryan Criticized over "Thoughts and Prayers" Comment

[Catholic_Lady]

In my view, there isn't anything wrong with it, except when thoughts and prayers are offered in lieu of doing anything else.

How do you know that's all they're offering? There are scores of Catholic and other Christian charities in addition to individual Christians who not only pray but also help with money and aid. How many athiest charities are there?

I don't think he's saying that's all they're offering. He's just saying if they are, that's the only time he'd take issue with it.

[Minimalist]

Dear, this thread is about Paul Ryan.  He is the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  He actually could do something useful if he wanted to.

He doesn't.

[Jackalope]

In my view, there isn't anything wrong with it, except when thoughts and prayers are offered in lieu of doing anything else.

How do you know that's all they're offering? There are scores of Catholic and other Christian charities in addition to individual Christians who not only pray but also help with money and aid. How many athiest charities are there?

Because at the moment we're discussing Paul Ryan, specifically as it relates to steering legislation intended to do something about this, which he certainly has the power to do.

Charity is entirely out of scope of this discussion, and there certainly are plenty of secular charities.

Nice attempt at deflection, though.

[Brian37]

How do you know that's all they're offering? There are scores of Catholic and other Christian charities in addition to individual Christians who not only pray but also help with money and aid. How many athiest charities are there?

I don't think he's saying that's all they're offering. He's just saying if they are, that's the only time he'd take issue with it.

The LONG TERM problem with GOP offerings is the same. It seems you can shoot President Reagan, and his cabinet member Brady, and that is the only time the GOP gave a shit.

I could give a shit less about thoughts and prayers. This is happening far too much to give one fuck about platitudes.

CL I am not against mourning, and of course you cant stop anyone from believing. But I am fucking tired of the right offering all the same shit that does not do squat to reduce firearm deaths.

Point being, if you, and you have agreed with me that you are for better gun laws then after decades of the same shit happening, year after year, multiple times per year, then "thoughts and prayers" are NOT ENOUGH.

I've said it before, and I will say it again. What is really extremely disturbing to me, is that even when they blame liberals, and GOP congressmen get shot by a liberal, THEY STILL don't want to do shit.

Don't defend Ryan, he is a corporate shill, for not only guns, but Walmart and Exxon and any big business willing to line his pockets.

[Jackalope]

How do you know that's all they're offering? There are scores of Catholic and other Christian charities in addition to individual Christians who not only pray but also help with money and aid. How many athiest charities are there?

I don't think he's saying that's all they're offering. He's just saying if they are, that's the only time he'd take issue with it.

No. That is what I'm saying.

Perhaps one of you would care to list all of the legislation that Ryan has authored or supported which would actually have an impact on this particular problem - which is, after all, what we're talking about here.

[brewer]

In my view, there isn't anything wrong with it, except when thoughts and prayers are offered in lieu of doing anything else.

How do you know that's all they're offering? There are scores of Catholic and other Christian charities in addition to individual Christians who not only pray but also help with money and aid. How many athiest charities are there?

Because if they are doing anything else we hear about it. Christians love to brag about their good works. 

Start giving atheists the fantasy tax break, then we'll talk. 

You really think individual atheists do not perform charitable works? Well how supremacist of you, bless your little heart. I'll tell the shelters a christian said they no longer need my support.

[Minimalist]

[Brian37]

What's wrong with offering thoughts and prayers?

The people who died were all Christian, obviously. If it brings any sense of peace or comfort to their families to be offered prayers, then why would anyone have a problem with it?

OF COURSE their social norms bring them comfort, just like a Muslim finds comfort in Allah when a loved one dies. Just like a Jew finds comfort in claims of Yahweh when a Jewish person has a family member murdered.

I have a problem with BAD LOGIC, not human behavior. I watched my own mother die, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, as you know. Why do you think it should require Jesus, or Yahweh or Allah, to accept I felt as much pain as an theist who suffers a loss?

Yes this time they were all Christian, but a SIKH temple ended up in death as well a few years back? So because they were not Christian they didn't feel the same level of pain?

My mom did not die in a mass shooting, no, but from what I have seen in your "kudos" in my memorial thread, it seems to me you ALREADY have empathy for your fellow humans. 

Nobody is questioning their right to mourn, WE ARE questioning the lack of getting anything done to reduce firearm death.

It should matter more to EVERYONE no matter the religious label, that less of this happens, not the platitudes.

[Catholic_Lady]

I don't think he's saying that's all they're offering. He's just saying if they are, that's the only time he'd take issue with it.

No. That is what I'm saying.

Perhaps one of you would care to list all of the legislation that Ryan has authored or supported which would actually have an impact on this particular problem - which is, after all, what we're talking about here.

Ok, my bad.

In his case, I don't think it's an either/or thing. He's a Republican politician, so he's going to be for gun ownership rights. In other words, he's not substituting prayer for doing something politically. He wouldnt have done anything anyway.

[FFaith]

What's wrong with offering thoughts and prayers?

The people who died were all Christian, obviously. If it brings any sense of peace or comfort to their families to be offered prayers, then why would anyone have a problem with it?

I agree with this for the most part. Being an atheist, of course I don't think the actual prayers are doing anything or even being heard, but the victim's families in cases like this say they are thankful for the thoughts and prayers, so who am I to tell them that they're wrong? I don't think the point of praying for victim's families is to prevent future events from happening. When Jeb Bush or someone says they're going to pray for rain or something like that, that's when I say WTF. Prayers for victims families don't bother me though. I think there's already too much gun control as is though, so you can probably chalk this up to me just being a heartless bastard