MI Woman Has Had Enough Of ‘Thoughts And Prayers’ After Mass Shootings (VIDEO/PHOTO/TWEETS)



One thing has become as certain as death and taxes in the wake of mass shootings. Rather than stand up to the National Rifle Association and the faceless men in the gun industry who write the NRA’s checks, more often than not Republican congressmen offer “thoughts and prayers.”

When it became apparent that the shooting at Marjory Sherman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida was going to be no different, “The Ring of Fire’s” Farron Cousins tore the GOP apart. Watch here.

Well, a woman in northern Michigan has had more than her fill of this GOP hot air. And she let it be known in a very visible way–by sending a check in the amount of “thoughts and prayers” to her Republican congressman.

On Thursday, Fern Malila, a woman from the Upper Peninsula town of Ontonagon, decided to drop a not-so-friendly note to her congressman, Jack Bergman of Michigan’s 1st District. Bergman represents the entire Upper Peninsula, as well as Traverse City and the northernmost portion of the Lower Peninsula. It was a Democratic-leaning swing district for most of the 1990s and early 2000s. However, in a year that saw the more rural areas of the Rust Belt turn into a killing field, Donald Trump won it by a punishing 58-37 margin over Hillary Clinton.


That didn’t dissuade Malila from letting Bergman have it.

(Image courtesy Malila's Facebook)
(Image courtesy Malila’s Facebook)

Malila subsequently told Newsweek that she was fed up with “hearing the same arguments every time this happens.” She noticed that even when we’re told to contact our congressmen, “Congress doesn’t do anything.”

Her letter has gone severely viral. As of Sunday afternoon, it has been shared almost 125,000 times on Facebook. A number of commenters have said they’ll do the same–including at least one resident from Florida.

Twitter was quick to take notice.

Actress Alyssa Milano joined in on the applause.

As did reporter Kurt Eichenwald.

It’s even gained some notice across the pond, as this tweet from Denmark suggests.

Translation: “Brilliant. Hit them where it hurts!”


Predictably, Malila is already in the deplorables’ crosshairs.

Malila doesn’t seem to be backing down any time soon, though. She said that a lot of people believe they can “make some little difference.” When she saw the response, she suspected that her letter “struck a chord.” That’s an understatement.

(featured image courtesy KAYU-TV)

Darrell is a 30-something graduate of the University of North Carolina who considers himself a journalist of the old school. An attempt to turn him into a member of the religious right in college only succeeded in turning him into the religious right's worst nightmare--a charismatic Christian who is an unapologetic liberal. His desire to stand up for those who have been scared into silence only increased when he survived an abusive three-year marriage. You may know him on Daily Kos as Christian Dem in NC. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus or connect with him on Facebook. Click here to buy Darrell a Mello Yello.