Amish grandfather: 'We must not think evil of this man'
Abuskedti
Posts: 1,917
Damn Liberal....
Oh, and another "American Suicide Bomber"
Oh, and another "American Suicide Bomber"
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"As we were standing next to the body of this 13-year-old girl, the grandfather was tutoring the young boys, he was making a point, just saying to the family, 'We must not think evil of this man,'" the Rev. Robert Schenck told CNN.
"It was one of the most touching things I have seen in 25 years of Christian ministry."
The girl was one of 10 shot by Charles Carl Roberts IV after he invaded their one-room schoolhouse in rural Pennsylvania on Monday. (Watch how Amish practices affected treating, identifying the victims -- 4:16 )
Three died at the scene and two died early Tuesday at hospitals.
Funerals for four of the victims are scheduled for Thursday, and the fifth will be Friday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Five girls remained hospitalized on Wednesday in critical or serious condition.
At the families' request, the hospital did not provide details on the extent of the girls' injuries.
Schenck met with the families of two of the victims as well as the family of the gunman.
Relatives of Roberts had no hint that he would commit such a violent act, the pastor said.
Others who knew him described him as troubled.
"One person who had had almost daily encounters with him said that she noted that he never looked into anyone's eyes, he never looked into anyone's faces, and she knew that there was something deeply troubling about him," Schenck said.
"Although she did say, she was very careful to say, that Charles Roberts was not an evil person. That he was a deeply troubled man, that he had, in her words -- the sort of modest words of the Amish -- that he had problems of the heart."
Jack Meyer, a member of the Brethren community living near the Amish in Lancaster County, said local people were trying to follow Jesus' teachings in dealing with the "terrible hurt."
"I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts," he told CNN.
Sam Stoltzfus, 63, an Amish woodworker who lives a few miles away from the shooting scene, told The Associated Press that the victims' families will be sustained by their faith.
"We think it was God's plan, and we're going to have to pick up the pieces and keep going," he told AP. "A funeral to us is a much more important thing than the day of birth because we believe in the hereafter. The children are better off than their survivors."
When members of the community die, they are buried in wooden coffins; women in all white and men in all black, according to AP. (Watch how the Amish maintain their simple lifestyle -- 2:40)
Bodies are embalmed, but undertakers do not apply makeup. Funerals are held in the victim's home, and the dead are delivered to the cemetery in a horse-drawn carriage. A hymn is read, but there is no singing, AP reported.
On Tuesday, police said Roberts told his wife he molested young relatives 20 years ago and was dreaming about molesting children again. (Full story)
Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller said Roberts may have targeted the school for its girl students and -- given various items found in the school -- intended to molest the children
Nope ... A Christian who actually follows the doctrines, though.
Indeed ... Part of me thinks "WTF?!", and part of me admires the guy.
I think it's an attempt to protect the people still close to him from future troubles.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
Kind of reminds me of when the asshole townie dude smooshed the ice cream cone in the Amish dude's face in Witness. Of course, Harrison Ford, in his Amish disguise, beat the shit out of the townie, but that's neither here nor there.
hes protecting the young that are still alive.
there is no reason to show hate towards him in front of young hearts...
that is his point i think...this being based on..he said nothing of forgiveness...unless he used those words.
Sorry if we interpret "must not think evil of this man" as a sign of compassion and forgiveness. Is there a need to argue about everything?
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
He doesn't say he forgives him.
He says you must not think evil of this man.
He's showing compassion for the kids alive.
Ever read the Bible? Christians are told to forgive every sin against them. In fact, communion is to be denied if you have not forgiven someone in your heart.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
yea, I got the tongue in check thing, but I didnt get it. o well. once again vedman we agree. whats going on here?
not trying to argue here... i just don't understand.. the article wasn't that long.. how can you interpret one mans sentence.. when it should be taken literally...
and it's literally one of the coolest things ever said. in that circumstance. and place next to a once slain grandaughter
it just sucks people drag religion into something for no reason.
I can assure you,my friend, that I am in no way religious. Yes. They are human, but the lifestlye they live is based on a religion.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
It also sucks when people drag religion OUT of something for no reason.
(and you have no idea about the motivations of anyone other than yourself)
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
did i mention he says nothing of forgiveness
Maybe President Bush will make a speech showing how the Amish are weak on school shooters.
I can't believe Bush's name ended up in this thread....oh wait, yes I can.....
After thinking alot about this statement all that I can conclude is the media sickens me....has anyone questioned how ubelievably sick it is the media was so close to the situation that they could hear what this old man said over the body of his grand daughter, in private, to other children who were personally affected. No reverence at all, this is a private moment and that is why it was a wise statement. If it was said over a microphone to a crowd of 50 media persons then I would think it was someone trying to grandstand and manipulate the media for personal gain. But that wasn't the case, was it?
I am just astounded that such a private thing could be discusse all over the world and political interpretations could be made by millions of yahoo's who don't understand the pain involved by these people, just so they could bash guns and Bush....
Fuck.
maybe YOU can't forgive, but some can.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Just admire him.. give me some hope.
I think im confused, but what do you mean by forgiveness? Telling the killer it is ok, no harm no foul?
please explain this to me.
First of all he is dead. and no, forgiveness doesn't mean the children of the world don't need to be protected from this man.
There is no value in hate.
Compassion, understanding, and helpfullness are not signs of weakness