Thoughts and prayers for all those involved. These children in Minneapolis were trying to do just that when two of them were tragically gunned down on Aug. 27, but thoughts and prayers. They say don’t underestimate the power of prayer. What about the power of change — people coming together to help each other no matter which boxes they check in the voting booth? The train of thought hits the last station once we use a tragedy as a political speech footnote.
Republicans blame the Democrats because the shooter wrote “Kill Donald Trump” on their weapon’s magazine in a now removed video online, which shows the weapons and ammunition used in the shooting as well as a chemical container with “Jew Gas” written on it. Democrats blame the Republicans for letting the people have guns. Republicans blame the Democrats because the shooter was transgender.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said “don’t just say this is about ‘thoughts and prayers’ right now. These kids were literally praying.” How dare he mock praying. How dare he insult Christians and their practices. How dare he push for real change after a tragedy instead of three words and a gesture. Too often we let tragic events like this become political ammunition — although bullets would be too sophisticated a weapon, more akin to rocks we try to bludgeon one another with.
Before the bodies turn cold, we are pointing fingers across the aisle.
It’s a gun issue, it’s a trans issue and it’s a Muslim issue — these are all claims that have been made just hours after the shooting. Everyone is looking for a characteristic of the villain that they don’t like in order to justify their actions. It seems as though people can’t bear the idea that the shooter could have been a troubled young person who didn’t get the help they needed. These actions surely stem from a minute detail about their life: their gender identity, where they are from, their religion or their political affiliation. Whichever one you don’t share with the mass shooter surely must be the root of the problem.
“You must understand that you have strength, and you can achieve anything if you try hard enough,” sounds like something your mom or dad would tell you when you’re young to keep you going, something you tell yourself when the going gets rough. That’s what was on the first page of the shooter’s manifesto. Robin Westman uploaded a video right before the shooting going through their notebook filled with writing, much of it in Russian. Seen in another video, the weapons covered in Westman’s writing include quotes like “Israel must fall,” “where is your God?” and “for the children.” This isn’t a political issue, it’s a humanity issue.
Westman was admittedly depressed and suicidal. In the manifesto, she left a note for her family writing, “I have wanted this for so long. I am not well. I am not right. I am a sad person, haunted by these thoughts that do not go away. I know this is wrong but I can’t seem to stop myself.” She asked her family to make up with each other, change their names if they have to and remember her however they wish. The note also contained apologies to friends and family for the ripple effect it would cause in their lives. She knew how it would not only affect the victims’ lives but the lives of anyone close to Westman. She also wrote to pray for the victims she was about to create. Westman is so tragically unphased by the crimes she will commit. She needs more than political points to blame.
Mass shooters are not meant to be easily understood, especially in regards to mental illness. They are a tragic anomaly of humanity that does not operate within the boundaries of empathetic society. You cannot try and fit them into your idea of what a human can accomplish and why they are doing it.
The shooter’s notebook reads: “in regards to my motivation behind the attack I can’t really put my finger on a specific purpose. It definitely wouldn’t be for racism or white supremacy. I don’t want to do it to spread a message. I do it to please myself. I do it because I am sick.”
Our focus should not be who to blame for events like this, but rather what we all can do to better our society and treatment of others. America is a team sport, not a rivalry.
