Reactions to Tragedy in Minneapolis

Recently, a troubling statement emerged from former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki following a shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. Her comments on prayer were striking. “Prayer doesn’t go crazy enough. Prayer won’t bring these kids back. Thoughts and prayers are enough,” she said.

Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis echoed a similar sentiment, urging that the focus shouldn’t solely be on thoughts and prayers. “We should not say this is about thoughts or prayers now!” he insisted. “These kids were literally praying.”

Later that night, Frey reiterated his point, saying, “Thinking and prayer are highly valued. But they are not enough. It’s important to talk about doing the right thing, but more importantly, we have to act.”

On Thursday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison chimed in, advocating for a national ban on assault rifles. He remarked, “Thoughts and prayers weren’t enough then, and they certainly aren’t now. We must take action to ensure that this tragedy does not happen again and again.”

This mantra, underscoring that prayer is insufficient after a mass shooting, has become somewhat routine among many Democrats. It’s a repeated call to action, focused on gun control.

This perspective reveals a deeper belief. Some view government with a reverence typically reserved for the divine, almost as if it could work miracles in society. Yet the government is not a panacea for all issues. Still, many hope for a progressive society as if waiting for something transformative.

In many ways, the liberal stance resembles a prayer—one that places hope in government actions rather than divine intervention.

Is this starting to sound familiar? For some, it’s not about God. It’s a secular form of prayer directed at government. Perhaps through this, they seek solidarity and a shared sense of purpose, channeling their anxieties toward systemic change.