The First Amendment Needs Your Prayers

The Wall Street Journal ^ | December 4, 2015 | Peggy Noonan

[Clintonfatigued]

We are all free to say what we think, and must be, for without this freedom we will no longer be America. More on that below. But you always hope what is said will be constructive, helpful, maybe even at some point heartening. You have a responsibility as an adult to do your best in this area.

But as soon as the story broke Wednesday afternoon, and while it was still going on, there were accusations and bitter words flung all over the Internet. The weirdest argument came almost immediately. A person named Chris Murphy, who is a U.S. senator representing Connecticut, sent out what struck me as the most manipulative message of recent political history.

The background is that Republican presidential contestants responded online to the shootings with the only helpful thing you can say—or do, frankly, from faraway—when a story like this occurs. “Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders,” said Jeb Bush. Mike Huckabee said he was “praying.” John Kasich: “My thoughts & prayers go out to those impacted.”

This managed to enrage the progressive left. You can take your prayers and stuff ’em. The answer and the only answer to this tragedy is gun control, and if you’re not for it you’re not allowed to be part of the conversation. “Please shut up and slink away,” tweeted a reporter. Another: “Your thoughts and prayers don’t mean a damn thing.” A reporter at the Huffington Post damned public officials’ “useless thoughts and prayers.” Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos: “How many dead people did those thoughts and prayers bring back to the life?”

Mollie Hemingway of the Federalist noted that all these denunciations were literally coming in while victims of the shooting were sending out requests for prayer.

[metmom]

They kick God out of any arena of our life in this country and then wonder why our prayers are ineffective?

God is simply giving them what they want. A world without Him.

And this is the fruit of it.

[Sun]

I’m praying for religious freedom around the world.

[trebb]

I find that when I pray, He doesn’t make the world a better place. He gives me what I need to stay sane and calm in the world that is.

[libstripper]

A good column by one of the main, deliberately, maliciously ignorant enablers who made Obola’s rule possible. Please notice: Peggy has never apologized.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Clintonfatigued.

[Excellence]

The censorship movement is radical. It is starting to make everyone in the country feel harassed and anxious.

The censorship movement sees the Moslems getting away with it.