Dozens of Amish mourn schoolhouse killer

[TomInTib]

I am watching an old special on the Amish on teevee right now and just came across this story.


GEORGETOWN, Pa. - Dozens of Amish neighbors came out Saturday to mourn the quiet milkman who killed five of their young girls and wounded five more in a brief, unfathomable rampage.

Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, was buried in his wife's family plot behind a small Methodist church, a few miles from the one-room schoolhouse he stormed Monday.

His wife, Marie, and their three small children looked on as Roberts was buried beside the pink, heart-shaped grave of the infant daughter whose death nine years ago apparently haunted him, said Bruce Porter, a fire department chaplain from Colorado who attended the service.

About half of perhaps 75 mourners on hand were Amish.

"It's the love, the forgiveness, the heartfelt forgiveness they have toward the family. I broke down and cried seeing it displayed," said Porter, who had come to Pennsylvania to offer what help he could. He said Marie Roberts was also touched.

"She was absolutely deeply moved, by just the love shown," Porter said.


We should all be this good and forgiving (and I, TominTib, who have never forgiven anyone for anything but have always extracted my own kind of revenge and vengeance, will attempt to carry a life lesson away from this horrible thing):
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061008/ap_on_re_us/amish_school_shooting

[pooja]

1. Now, this is the way to be American... This is the way to deal with

insults... Jesus said, if you are hit on one side of the face, give them the other to hit the otherside as well. Love, peace, and patience can win...

Strange we learn lessons from a group of Americans that most think of as odd or strange. Seems like they got the message. Think any of them want diplomatic positions?

[Erika]

5. They should be remembered as candidates for Nobel Peace Prizes

The eldest girl, 13, said "shoot me first".

[pooja]

15. More strength and character in a 13yr old girl than Bush has in his

little toe.

[aquart]

2. I couldn't have done it.

But, in this respect, they do understand Christianity better than most.

And they set an amazing example for the rest of us in this divided nation. We are going to have to forgive some horrible crimes soon. When we gain power, we can't act the way they did, no matter how appealing that might be.

They stole power and killed our people, by war, by neglect, by cruel heartlessness.

He drew a circle that shut me out
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win.
We drew a circle that took him in.

Who wrote that? Because, somehow, that is exactly what we have to do. When I say forgive, btw, I don't mean don't investigate and jail their asses. I don't mean that at all.

[TomInTib]

10. Markham

Edwin

Painfully beautiful, thanks.

I haven't thought of that one in such a long, long time. How apropo.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. Edwin Markham

:)

[pooja]

16. I think they are closer to a Gahndi like spirituality than they are to

these crazy christians today.

[TomInTib]

18. That is precisely why I posted what I did. nt

[Erika]

3. I guess these people didn't believe in the holiness of pre-emptive strikes

They are a good people. War would not exist if we believed as they did.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. Wow. God Bless Them. The Amish Are Amazing In Their Strength And Ability

to forgive. What a beautiful community that is and I agree with you on your sentiments. I'm just in absolute awe of their genuine good will.

[Erika]

7. Kind of makes W warmongering look a touch sick, doesn't it?

I truly hope these people will be considered for Nobel Peace Prizes.

[Bombtrack]

6. yeah, lets emulate illogical primatives

I'll take logic and science over dismissing never judging any different society know matter how fucked up it is thanks.

[Erika]

8. Exactly. The W war machine needs to be done away with

and the Kucinich Department of Peace needs to be established.

[silverweb]

9. True compassion.

Besides their forgiveness of the man who murdered their children, I think they were showing their compassion for the man's family -- who are certainly suffering from shock, loss, and shame, as well. Now that's true loving kindness and compassion.

[Erika]

11. Classy people

May we learn from them.

[TomInTib]

13. I remember when I was first exposed to the Amish.

I had come from small-town Texas where our society was just as closed as theirs, but crazier.

They were so wonderfully peaceful.

At night I would lie awake and try to imagine what life was like in their houses.

[pooja]

20. My grandfather made lifetime friends with one Amish family.

He would stay out there when he would travel to pull his work horses at fairs in the fall. My grandma would make up preserves and canned goods to go with him. They sent letters back and forth. We would visited them once when we were on vacation. My mom wouldn't stay with them because she didn't want to "camp" on vacation (outdoor plumbing is a definate downfall). My mother and grandmother are extremely upset over the shootings. They are even more upset over all the media. They don't live apart from the world to be photographed by the papparazzi.

[silverweb]

19. Amen to that!

:)

[blue sky at night]

14. forgiveness.......

it is the only thing that can make a change. we must change ourselves before we can change the world. try this, forgive the next person who makes you mad...you feel better and they have no power over you. but really, the first person we must forgive is ourselves. if you can forgive yourself, you can move on to that guy who cuts you off on the freeway. this is working for me, i feel so much better than when i was mad, blaming everything on others.

something to think about?

http://www.hayhouseradio.com/index.php

[hlthe2b]

17. Tomin Tib.... I could not agree with you more...

and, like you, I will try my best to follow their lead in my own life.


The parents of the girl murdered in the Bailey,CO shooting have similarly refused to give into anger, but to forgive... She's the one who text message her father, "I love U guys" while being held hostage...The entire community has taken their lead and are trying to pursue a "random acts of kindness" campaign in her honor..

[Quixote1818]

21. Their actions are very powerful and moving!

These are the truest Christians on the planet. Their actions bring tears to my eyes.

[Quixote1818]

22. Recommended for the greatest page! Very inspirational and moving! nt