http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20761374/
Amish aid school gunman’s widow
Unspecified amount given by fund disbursing $4.3 million in contributions
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:21 p.m. ET Sept 13, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - An Amish community that lost five girls in a Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting massacre last year has donated money to the widow of the gunman, the community said Wednesday.
The Nickel Mines Accountability Committee, which was set up to handle more than $4.3 million in donations from around the world after the shootings, said it had given an unspecified "contribution" to Marie Roberts, a mother of three.
Her husband, Charles Carl Roberts, a local milk truck driver who was not Amish, tied up and shot 10 Amish schoolgirls aged 6 to 14 in their classroom last Oct. 2, killing five of them before turning the gun on himself.
2007-09-14 00:09:15 · 6 answers · asked by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
After the shootings, members of the deeply religious Amish community in Lancaster County about 60 miles west of Philadelphia, said they wanted to forgive the gunman.
In a statement released on behalf of the community, the committee said, "Many from Nickel Mines have pointed out that forgiveness is a journey, that you need help from your community of faith and from God ... to make and hold on to a decision not to become a hostage to hostility.
"It is understood that hostility destroys community," it said.
The Amish, descendants of Swiss-German settlers, eschew many aspects of modern life such as cars and telephones, and place particular importance on the principle of forgiveness.
Four of the five wounded girls have been in school since last December, and two have missed some school for rehabilitative therapy, the committee said.
2007-09-14 00:09:54 · update #1
The most seriously wounded survivor, Rosanna King, is confined to a reclining wheelchair, unable to talk or feed herself. But her parents said in the statement she smiled a lot and seemed to have good vision and hearing.
A new school built a short distance from the site of the old one — which was demolished — is expected to be closed on the anniversary of the shootings but no memorial events are planned, the statement said.
"To the casual observer, life goes on in Nickel Mines," the statement said. "But for the families each day brings with it the pain, grief and questions that remind them of their loss."
2007-09-14 00:10:12 · update #2
Absolutely Amazing!!!!!!!!! Shows what great strength that community has. Truly inspirational!! It's not often you see such open honesty and such a willingness to forgive for such a tragedy. I am surprised to see they are helping the widow as so many would forget about her because of what her husband did. He is gone, there's no reason to punish her as well, but to gather up money to donate to the widow? I can't say I've ever seen anything like this... Amazing.
2007-09-14 02:32:23 · answer #1 · answered by River 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
These people are amazing. I do not think I could do the same thing. I know that it is not the widows fault that this happened and I hope that I could see that too if something like this happened to my family, but I do not believe that I would think to help her out like they did.
I wish more people could love and forgive people the way they are! Maybe if we had more people like this these things might not happen in the first place. No matter what this Amish group and probrably many other Amish make the world a better place. I just hope the rest of the world can learn something from thier example.
2007-09-14 07:21:28 · answer #2 · answered by Steven H 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Doing good when someone has done evil, that is the true Jesus' way. People with an Anabaptist background, Amish, Mennonites, German-Baptist etc.. are amazing. They obey God's Word no matter how hard it is for them. They not just preach it, they live it.
2007-09-14 07:29:52 · answer #3 · answered by roselyn m 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Amish way of life has always held an attraction for me; and this is just another reason to like them, learn about them, and continue my interest in them.
The moral? Love is stronger than hate and forgiveness has a great capacity to heal. "Love thy enemy".
What a lovely gesture they made towards his wife. :)
2007-09-14 07:22:15 · answer #4 · answered by Calliope 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Love your enemies!
I have new respect for the Amish.
†
2007-09-14 07:17:30 · answer #5 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They beauty of their love, faith and most of all their ability to forgive is so overwhelming I am at a loss for words!
2007-09-14 07:19:03 · answer #6 · answered by DrMichael 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋