This morning the New York Daily News printed an extremely controversial cover which read in bold block letters, “God Isn’t Fixing This,” in regard to the horrific mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. 

Interesting that during a time of tragedy when people come together through prayer and offer prayer as a comfort to the victims and families a publication would resort to deeming them as “meaningless platitudes.”

While the Daily News only chose to profile Republicans who offered their thoughts and prayers to the victims of the San Bernardino shooting it would be wise to remember that prayer unites us and doesn’t divide us.  Prayer isn’t a partisan thing, in fact prayer has no denomination and no political affiliation.

Now is the time where it would be important to note that our currency still has printed on it, “In God We Trust.”  Our nation’s history is rich and is deeply rooted in a faith in a higher power, recognizing our human limitations.  Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase instructed the Director of the Mint to prepare a motto for our currency back in 1861 that read:

“Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.

You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.”

Congress passed the Act in 1864 and it was then that the first coins were inscribed with the words “In God We Trust.” In fact, a law passed by the 84^th Congress and approved by the President in 1956, declared “In God We Trust” as the national motto of the United States.

Clearly, our government has no issue putting its trust in a higher power and supreme being so why should we shame policymakers who offer comfort through prayer during a tragedy?  Our nation is rooted in the fact that no nation can be strong except in the strength of God.  Isn’t it only natural that we as humans turn to God, the one whom we trust, during a time of shock and despair?

Think back to the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years after the September 11^th terrorist attacks, the American people turned to prayer in their darkest hours.  Prayer truly comforted and united Americans when there was little hope and so much sadness.

The Daily News isn’t trying to stop prayer, but they’re trying to politicize a terrible tragedy and pointing fingers at Republican lawmakers who they view as a hindrance to a gun control agenda.  For the record, California has some of the strictest gun laws on the books and it still isn’t enough to prevent these horrible and heinous attacks.  The point is, the motive of this crime has yet to be reported by the law enforcement officials who are conducting a full and thorough investigation, yet within minutes this tragedy was highly politicized.

However, calling for stricter gun control laws just doesn’t seem sensible when combating true evil.  Why should we render ourselves defenseless when lives could be saved?  Mass shootings and acts of terrorism are pure evil and the intent is to kill–we need to call it for what it is. Restrictions on everyday law abiding citizens do absolutely nothing to prevent evil people who will stop at nothing to carry out their attacks.  In order to combat evil, we need to as a society believe in the greater good, no matter what your faith.  We need to comfort one another in times of tragedy but remain vigilant, prepared, and ready to not let evil prevail.

It is imperative that our nation doesn’t forget in whom we place our trust, especially in times of great tragedy.  We should never stop praying or offering prayers to those who are in dire need of comfort and strength when it seems as though all is lost.  The last thing our country needs is more division in a time where we should all come together to lift up, love, and protect our fellow man.