General Discussion

TrollBuster9090

(5,955 posts) Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:23 PM Feb 2018

What Do The Catchphrases "Thoughts and Prayers" and "This Was An Act of Evil" Have In Common?

(Disclaimer: I say this as a practicing Christian.)

"Thoughts and Prayers" and "this was an act of pure evil" have been said hundreds of times today by different politicians. Both catchphrases invoke supernatural powers that (to some) absolve us of taking any action. LEGISLATIVE action, to be specific. They are also dogwhistle catchphrases targeted at the GOP evangelical base, and subliminal messages.

If it's a matter of good and evil, rather than just simple BAD PUBLIC POLICY, it's out of your hands. You can't do anything to stop it, and once it's happened, all you can do is pray.

I remember being dumbfounded when I saw people in Texas shrugging over the floods, and saying "well, it's God's will, I guess." DON'T BLAME GOD for this! Blame MAN MADE GLOBAL WARMING, and POOR DISASTER PLANNING. How about leaving God out of it, and building some more levees?

This applies double for GUN POLICY. Barack Obama (another practicing Christian, who doesn't renounce the power of reason) said it best when he said "THIS IS A POLITICAL CHOICE THAT WE HAVE MADE. We have made a deliberate political choice to let this happen every few months."

19 replies

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Highlight:

What Do The Catchphrases "Thoughts and Prayers" and "This Was An Act of Evil" Have In Common? (Original Post) TrollBuster9090 Feb 2018 OP

Most people today? "How'd this horrible thing happen?"...GOPNRA today? Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2018 #1

It is the POT. PARTY OF TRUMP now. No more GOP Gabi Hayes Feb 2018 #17

POT - like that GH...but GOPers corrupted before dingbat showed up. Wish you Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2018 #19

Good points! ffr Feb 2018 #2

Great points. My reading of FB posts today shows one clear reason underpants Feb 2018 #3

Lack of Jesus? Best_man23 Feb 2018 #8

Eh eh eh underpants Feb 2018 #9

Yeah, that bullshit comes up after every disaster, natural or otherwise. Mariana Feb 2018 #14

Prayer and evil. How about it's just humans The_Casual_Observer Feb 2018 #4

They're about as useful as MIPs... Wounded Bear Feb 2018 #5

They're pretty much the equivalent of Doris Day singing "Que Sera, Sera". Ken Burch Feb 2018 #6

Well said backtoblue Feb 2018 #7

It's Fundy for... Leith Feb 2018 #10

K&R nt ProudProgressiveNow Feb 2018 #11

I recently asked an Evangelical why on earth they all support Trump Mountain Mule Feb 2018 #12

How about if instead of saying: joshdawg Feb 2018 #13

"Thoughts and prayers" needs to enter the lexicon as a synonym for "Fuck you." Squinch Feb 2018 #15

Surely youve come across this stuff Gabi Hayes Feb 2018 #16

Outside of making small groups feel better. NCTraveler Feb 2018 #18

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)

1. Most people today? "How'd this horrible thing happen?"...GOPNRA today?

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:26 PM

Feb 2018

Evil person. Democrats politicizing.

Gabi Hayes

(28,795 posts)

17. It is the POT. PARTY OF TRUMP now. No more GOP

Reply to Laura PourMeADrink (Reply #1)

Fri Feb 16, 2018, 08:22 AM

Feb 2018

POT party, anyone?

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)

19. POT - like that GH...but GOPers corrupted before dingbat showed up. Wish you

Reply to Gabi Hayes (Reply #17)

Fri Feb 16, 2018, 11:14 AM

Feb 2018

had seen Anderson Cooper last night - he put together the best slam on Rubio - gathered all his tweets after every tragedy - mostly the same - pray for you...Showed brilliantly how they say the same thing every time.

ffr

(22,671 posts)

2. Good points!

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:27 PM

Feb 2018

underpants

(182,883 posts)

3. Great points. My reading of FB posts today shows one clear reason

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:35 PM

Feb 2018

for all the school shootings....the lack of Jesus in society and in schools. Other spin/points were made but JESUS was the clear winner

Best_man23

(4,907 posts)

8. Lack of Jesus?

Reply to underpants (Reply #3)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:55 PM

Feb 2018

Then how do they rationalize the shooting at the Baptist Church in Texas last November? Was Jesus not there?

underpants

(182,883 posts)

9. Eh eh eh

Reply to Best_man23 (Reply #8)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:57 PM

Feb 2018

They've forgotten about that - it was too soon you know so their attention was directed elsewhere

Mariana

(14,861 posts)

14. Yeah, that bullshit comes up after every disaster, natural or otherwise.

Reply to underpants (Reply #3)

Fri Feb 16, 2018, 02:50 AM

Feb 2018

God is punishing the nation because people are allowed to be openly non-Christian, and women have rights, and kids aren't forced to pray in school, etc. etc. etc. on and on and on. Every fucking time these assholes blame the people they don't like for the death and destruction, and stir up hatred against everyone who doesn't believe exactly like they do.

The_Casual_Observer

(27,742 posts)

4. Prayer and evil. How about it's just humans

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:38 PM

Feb 2018

Doing bad shit to each other for perverted twisted purposes mostly related to money, and loneliness and rejection. You can project this on to the supernatural to make you feel better.

Wounded Bear

(58,713 posts)

5. They're about as useful as MIPs...

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:38 PM

Feb 2018

Meaningless Internet Prayers.

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

6. They're pretty much the equivalent of Doris Day singing "Que Sera, Sera".

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:39 PM

Feb 2018

n/t.

backtoblue

(11,345 posts)

7. Well said

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:42 PM

Feb 2018

Methodically pushing that nothing can be changed, that God makes all decisions for the world. Complacency and denial that the free willed individual is responsible for their own actions.

Leith

(7,813 posts)

10. It's Fundy for...

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Fri Feb 16, 2018, 01:26 AM

Feb 2018

Insha Allah

They're the same as ISIS terrorist enablers.

ProudProgressiveNow

(6,129 posts)

11. K&R nt

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Fri Feb 16, 2018, 01:59 AM

Feb 2018

Mountain Mule

(1,002 posts)

12. I recently asked an Evangelical why on earth they all support Trump

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Fri Feb 16, 2018, 02:10 AM

Feb 2018

He couldn't give me a answer. They're all just brainwashed and need an authoritarian to lead them down their primrose path. I was raised in the Christian faith, but I still know how to think. If we make poor choices which have a negative result, that's MAN'S will, not God's. But "everything happens for a reason," and I'll be sure to send along my thoughts and prayers. How about DOING something?

joshdawg

(2,651 posts)

13. How about if instead of saying:

Reply to TrollBuster9090 (Original post)

Fri Feb 16, 2018, 02:24 AM

Feb 2018

"well, it's God's will, I guess." saying it is god's will for us to stop being stupid and take some logical action.
After all, didn't "god" give us free will?
I really don't think this "god" wanted everyone to continue being mindless and not doing anything about these type of tragedies.
But then, I'm not a republican, so..............................