A shocking incident in Michigan has once again exposed the hypocrisy of Western nations, particularly the United States, which never hesitates to lecture India on religious freedom and minority rights and peace. A Sunday service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township turned into a blood-soaked tragedy when a gunman rammed his vehicle into the church, opened fire on congregants, and set the building ablaze. At least four innocent lives were lost, while eight others sustained severe injuries. Ironically, even a false report of a church attack in India would have sparked global outrage, headlines in Western media, and sermons from Washington. Yet, when such incidents happen in the so-called land of “secularism and liberty,” there is a deafening silence, little accountability, and no global outrage. This tragedy has again raised uncomfortable questions about America’s gun culture, its crumbling moral authority, and its audacity to lecture nations like India while failing to control bloodshed on its own soil.
The Attack That Shook Grand Blanc
On Sunday morning, as families gathered for prayer, chaos struck at around 10:25 am. The assailant, later identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, deliberately rammed his pickup truck through the church’s main entrance, before emerging with an assault rifle. Witnesses described the sound of the crash as an “explosion,” followed by indiscriminate gunfire that tore through the congregation. Sanford, in a calculated act of terror, went a step further by setting the church on fire, turning the sacred space into a battlefield of flames and smoke.
Eyewitnesses were left shattered. Paula, a Sunday school teacher, said with tears in her eyes: “My church is gone. I joined the church 38 years ago in that building and now it’s gone. It’s devastating to know that I’ve lost friends.” The tragedy was compounded by the attacker’s military precision. Analysts noted that Sanford appeared to employ tactics similar to those used in war zones — vehicle ramming, close-quarter assault, and arson all designed to maximize casualties.
Who Was the Attacker?
The gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford, was a 40-year-old veteran of the Iraq War. A local resident from Burton, Michigan, Sanford had served in the U.S. Marines between 2004 and 2008, with a deployment in Iraq. Friends and former classmates described him as a “normal country kid,” who loved hunting and appeared mentally stable. Yet, his transformation into a cold-blooded killer raises questions about the psychological impact of America’s endless wars and the failure of the U.S. system to rehabilitate its veterans.
Sanford’s military background also exposes another dimension of America’s hypocrisy. This is a nation that creates soldiers to invade other countries, destabilize regions, and arm rebel groups in the name of “freedom.” But when its own veterans turn those same violent skills against innocent citizens back home, there is little soul-searching. Instead of addressing its internal rot, America continues to point fingers at countries like India, where social fabric and security mechanisms are far more resilient.
America’s Gun Culture and Deafening Silence
This attack is not an isolated case; it is part of a grim pattern that defines American society. Churches, schools, malls, and even concerts have become hunting grounds for mass shooters in the U.S. The gun culture, deeply entrenched in American society, has repeatedly turned sacred spaces into graveyards. Yet, the very country that fails to protect its own worshippers routinely questions India about minority safety, religious freedom, and communal harmony.
Only last week, an Indian-origin man was brutally beheaded in the U.S., but the story barely registered in mainstream Western media. There were no op-eds, no international debates, and no lectures on “majoritarianism” or “human rights.” Compare this with the hysteria that is unleashed globally if even a fake story about a church attack in India surfaces — suddenly India becomes the villain, “democracy is in danger,” and Western powers line up to issue sermons. This duplicity exposes the deep-rooted bias of the Western media-industrial complex, which thrives on demonizing India while covering up the failures of their own societies.
Preachers Without Practice: Lessons the U.S. Must Learn
The United States loves to present itself as the guardian of human rights and secularism. From its State Department reports to its NGOs and think tanks, it constantly highlights alleged discrimination in other countries, especially India. But Sunday’s church massacre is a brutal reminder that America has no moral high ground left. A country where even places of worship are unsafe, where religious minorities face repeated targeted violence, and where guns outnumber people, has no authority to preach about peace or tolerance.
Instead of addressing its internal crisis, America diverts attention by pointing fingers at others. The Grand Blanc church attack should serve as a wake-up call — not just for U.S. lawmakers, but for the entire Western elite that thrives on hypocrisy. Unless America fixes its gun laws, rehabilitates its war veterans, and truly protects its religious minorities, it will remain a country rotting from within while pretending to be the global policeman.
Time for the West to Look in the Mirror
The horrific attack at the Mormon church in Michigan is not just another episode of gun violence; it is a symbol of the West’s moral bankruptcy. When even sacred places are not spared, how can such a nation claim to lecture others on secularism, tolerance, and human rights? India, despite being one of the most diverse civilizations on Earth, continues to protect its pluralism far better than America manages to do. Yet, global narratives are always twisted against India while incidents like the Grand Blanc massacre are brushed under the carpet.
It is time for the West, especially the United States, to stop sermonizing and start introspecting. A nation drowning in its own gun culture, where Hindus and Christians alike face targeted violence, has no right to preach about democracy or freedom. If America truly cares about peace, it should begin by cleaning up its own backyard before daring to lecture India or the world.