A Batman who doesn't Batman?

Imagine for a moment. You are a resident of Gotham City, existing in a world of superheroes, sidekicks, and diabolical villains. There is a Batman who is fully capable of thwarting the plans of any nemesis who wants to bring harm and chaos to your city.

Now pretend you look at the news headlines and browse through twitter.

First, a robbery at Gotham National Bank. Two-Face and his goons entered the biggest bank in the city, fully armed, holding the staff and patrons captive while emptying the vault. To keep the hostages silent, Two-Face determined the fate of anyone who made a noise with the flip of a coin: heads they live, tails they die. By the end of the heist, two tellers, a security guard, and twelve customers were murdered and Two-Face's crew eluded arrest.

Later that night, Bruce Wayne tweeted the following: "My thoughts and prayers are with those scarred by the horrible events at GNB. It is my hopes that Dent and those who participated in the crime are brought to justice." Then he asked Alfred to pour him another glass of ginger ale and resumed his review of a Wayne Enterprises financial report.

Next, Penguin disrupts a political rally for the mayor's re-election campaign. After distributing explosive plush penguin dolls in Robinson Park, Penguin went on a shooting spree with a modified semi-automatic disguised to look like a harmless umbrella. In total, thirty-three people lost their lives and dozens were hospitalized.

In response, Bruce posted an official message on the Wayne Enterprises Facebook page. "My heart is breaking with the citizens of Gotham after today's horrific tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the city. Regardless of our losses, we are resilient and maintain faith in a better world future. Tomorrow, Wayne Enterprises will be observing a moment of silence as we grieve. Then we will continue to devote our efforts to improving your standard of living. On behalf of myself, our business manager Lucius Fox, and our board of directors, we wish you safety and grace in the days to come." Then Bruce joined Lucius for a game of tennis at Arkham Country Club.

Finally, there was a terrorist attack at Amusement Mile. More than two hundred and fifty tourists were killed or injured. The Joker took credit for the carnage and many survivors reported hearing laughter throughout the carnival park during the melee.

From inside the Batcave, Bruce takes a break from teaching Robin Krav Maga. He posts on Twitter, "Terrible and disturbing reports from Amusement Mile today. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families." Robin asks if there is something they should do but Bruce insists nothing can be done. With or without Batman, criminal masterminds will always find a way to bring mayhem to the city.

This all sounds ridiculous, right? If there was a real-life Batman capable of vanquishing the greatest criminals our cities have to offer, we would not be satisfied by him offering only thoughts and prayers, empty platitudes.

image courtesy of Lazy Batman

Why? Because he's Batman. Of all Gotham's residents, he has the most power to do something. He is better trained, better skilled, and better equipped to stop figures like the Joker, Penguin, and Two-Face. He can stave off their evil plans, so we would expect him to save the day, to protect human lives, and prevent tragedy. Anything less would be disappointing. It would be a shame if Batman stopped protecting Gotham. Even greater shame if he ignored his city in exchange for empty clichés to his prodigious social media following.

Unfortunately, we don't have the same high standards for our elected representatives. After every mass-shooting, government officials offer thoughts and prayers. They blame mental health, they blame violent video games or movies. Regardless of their scapegoat, they make one thing clear: guns are not the problem. They will argue about second amendment rights and mental illness for a couple weeks. Then nothing. They will do nothing.

They say we need better mental health supports while cutting funding those with mental and cognitive disorders need to get treatment. They claim schools should have better security but refuse to provide funding to improve safety measures at our schools. They promise they want to avoid another shooting and prevent further tragedies then turn around and say nothing could have been done to avert the most recent massacre.

If anyone in our nation has the power to affect change, it is our government. It is the people holding elected office that write, debate, and (allegedly) pass laws. To see them do nothing more than bury their head in the sand while offering empty and worthless platitudes is a damn shame.

However, I have faith there will be change. Not because some NRA funded senator is offering thoughts and prayers, but because there is a turning tide in our populace. More and more, I see average citizens who are fed up with this nonsense. I believe that America is still what Abraham Lincoln described as a "government of the people, by the people.” He hoped "that these dead shall not die in vain." While he spoke of soldiers who died in battle, I now hold the same hope for the lives lost in every school from Columbine to Sandy Hook to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. In memory of those killed at my high school and too many kids in more communities across our nation, I hope their deaths are not in vain. If our elected officials refuse to act, then we the people must elect new officials.

The American people, regardless of their religious convictions, are slowly realizing the truth written in a biblical epistle written by James (emphasis added):

"If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person, 'God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,' but you do not give what that person needs your words are worth nothing. In the same way, faith by itself - that does nothing - is dead.

Someone might say, 'You have faith, but I have deeds.' Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do. ...

You foolish person! You must be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing. ... people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only."

When you refuse to act despite having the power to do so? We see you and you're like a Batman who doesn't Batman, alone in a cave shirking your duties. Those of you in government who claim guns have nothing to do with gun violence? We see you and we know how much money you received from the NRA. You senators, representatives, governors, mayors, and president who tweet out thoughts and prayers then say there's nothing you can do? We see you and your faith is dead. If you do nothing, your words are worth nothing. It would be appropriate for your re-election campaigns to produce nothing. Because I hope, from the depths of my soul, I hope our dead did not die in vain.