Hey America, it’s “thoughts and prayers” time!

Another mass murder.  So once again it’s “thoughts and prayers” time.  Innocent people were killed by a deranged individual and here we go again.

All the politicians and talking heads gravely intone their “thoughts and prayers” go to the families of all the victims.  That has become the obligatory expression to give the impression that they are doing something proactive for the dead peoples’ survivors.  Fat lot of good it does. 

Then the craziness begins.  Once again, we get the absurd argument that if we had more guns in the hands of “law abiding” citizens it would reduce gun violence.  A pastor supports the idea that people in the church—pastors included—should carry guns to protect their parishioners. We need “increased security” in places of worship.  Isn’t God supposed to handle that?

And then we get an asinine discussion over whether this is a “hate crime” or a “terrorist act.”  As if that makes any difference.  Of course, the bigots who hate blacks can use the “terrorist” argument to deflect their inherent prejudice.   

If you think the aftermath of this tragedy could get any more absurd, Fox News expressed the opinion that this is not a racist incident but an attack on Christianity!  This is yet another example of how the ridiculous religious right tries to spin everything as some kind of infringement on their religious freedom.

These “Christians” seem to think that shooting innocent people in a church is somehow more horrendous than shooting kids in an elementary school, or people in a movie theater or shopping mall.  I wonder what God would think of that.  Of course, when these things happen God doesn’t seem to be anywhere around except after the fact to accept all those “thoughts and prayers” for the victims’ families.

And then Jeb Bush, you know the presidential candidate, isn’t really sure this massacre was racially motivated.  This prompted one commentator to question whether Jeb! can read considering the overwhelming evidence that the killer hated blacks.

Naturally when people get killed in an incident like this, especially if they are black, it becomes a political issue.  Fox News and the right wingers immediately slammed Hillary Clinton saying she “blamed” the Charleston shooting on Donald Trump because of his remark about Mexicans in his surreal announcement that he is running for president.

What she actually said was: "Public discourse is sometimes hotter and more negative than it should be, which can, in my opinion, trigger someone who is less than stable.” She added, “I think we have to speak out against it. Like, for example, a recent entry into the Republican presidential campaign said some very inflammatory things about Mexicans. Everybody should stand up and say that’s not acceptable.”

If you read that again, she said basically that public discourse should avoid inflammatory language.  Although she was obviously referring to Trump, specifically about his opinion of Mexicans, she did not “blame” him for the Charleston shooting.

           So the news cycle will evolve and this too shall pass.  Nothing will be done. The NRA will continue to contend that we need more “good guys” with guns, and the politicians will cringe and obey.  African Americans will continue to ask why they are so hated by a sector of the American people.  Right wing politicians and Christians will continue to exploit hatred, bigotry and fear to accomplish their own ends.  And then something atrocious will happen again and, guess what? it will be another “thought and prayers” time.