Americans have apparently decided that events like (the DC shooting) are acts of God

[phantom power]

Americans have apparently decided that events like those happening today in DC are acts of God like the Colorado floods or hurricanes in the Atlantic. There's nothing we can do to prevent it. Mass shootings are the American Way.

So, governments are now producing instructions on what to do when it happens to you:

...

When I was a kid, we used to have drills to practice our response in case of nuclear war. Now they do drills in schools in case a shooter decides to fight the tyranny of Big Government (or whatever other insane motivation) by killing little kids.

This is America today. We produce videos to instruct people how to evacuate a building in case of fire and how to respond to mass shootings.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-psa-for-days-like-today.html

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. So God carries a gun and shoots up buildings.

Who knew?

[Duer 157099]

2. Just imagine if the Old Testament took place when guns existed

Then yeah, you'd see God packing heat A LOT.

[Agnosticsherbet]

5. He did send all angels equipped with swords...

though why a being that is reputed to be omnipotent and omniscient would need a weapon isn't addressed.

[MindPilot]

3. If you read his book...

He is rather enamored with death and destruction.

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. Read it several times as a kid.

in the King James version. (One of the great works of English Literature.) I prefer modern authors now.

[KansDem]

4. Well, God did send His only Son...

edited for capitalization

[1-Old-Man]

6. And many people think they are acts of Smith & Wesson, but both are dead wrong.

They are acts of the deranged minds of individuals. The gun nuts are right about one thing, it is people who shoot people and the guns are just the tools. Just as it is carpenters who build houses, not hammers.

So the problem is actually two fold. No matter which comes first, the people or the tools, both have to be address if the rampant killing and wounding is to cease. We have to control guns in our society but we also have to effect some sort of mental change in our population. This old west attitude really has to change - and it can. Take a look at Canada; lots of guns, few shootings.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. The old west attitude is not even accurate

But a Hollywood creation

[1-Old-Man]

13. I agree to a limited extent, its also the John Wayne false bravado of WW-II as well.

Turn on a TV and watch one of the classic movie channels (pure Hollywood creations) and watch how the second world war is portrayed by the likes of John Wayne movies. Its more building of the old myth. And then there is the current day tripe, the ones that put our intelligence industry in the limelight as the saviors of mankind and the American Way. Three enduring myths, the old west, the good and honorable military, and the worst of all, admiration for the security state.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. If you look at John Wayne in particular

And I love the cavalry trilogies, I am a sucker for Ford's photography, he played a single archetype throughout the movies, whether he wore a cavalry uniform or a marine uniform.

That said, Sands of Iwo Jima was a heart stopper, the main character died, *gasp*.

Trivia, Wayne only died in one other movie.

But it is that archetype that became the symbol of the west, the rugged honorable all American, individual. It's done a lot of damage to the US.

[former9thward]

8. Homeland Security apparently thinks it is an act of God.

They have already declared it is not terrorism even though nothing is known about the shooters. http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/16/dhs-internal-report-navy-yard-shooting-has-no-known-connection-to-terrorism/

[Duer 157099]

9. I think they might have to rethink what terrorism is n/t

[gopiscrap]

10. That's fucked up

[Katashi_itto]

11. The Tennet "I Believe In A Cruel And Sadistic God" seems to be the undercurrent.

Perhaps they think this is a modern form of sacrifice...