The Amish Amaze me

[JennyMominRI]

.The Amish amaze me...what we all could learn from them..The Amsh community is planning to reach out to the killers wife and children..Simply amazing.

 

[TiggerPiglet]

I heard about that this morning and it amazed me too. I'm not sure if I would be able to do that, but then as I was thinking about it, his wife and children will be suffering for a long time having to deal with what he did. I'm sure the families going over there and giving them forgiveness will help them a great deal.

 

[poohandwendy]

I know, I have always been fascinated by their way of life, their faith and peaceful nature. I have read several books about them and especially with the recent events, they continue to amaze me.

 

[magicmato]

I heard that yesterday on NPR. It is very touching that in their own time of horror they realize that there are other victims as well. One can only hope that the horrors of that day are eased by the sharing of grief, sorrow and guilt felt by the victims and the killers family. I can only imagine what it is like to have your father do this.

Amazing and heartwarming to see a group of people so able to feel empathy and extend their own hearts toward other innocent victims.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I would think any community, Amish or not, would do the same. The man's wife and children were just as innocent in this whole situation as the children involved.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Not only are they reaching out to the killer's family, but they have also stated that they forgive him and do not hate him. Rather than view the media as the intrusion that they are, this community is using the opportunity to teach us all something about hating the sin or the action, but not hating the sinner. I hope that the family responds to their overtures because they are going to need support.

 

[poohandwendy]

I would think any community, Amish or not, would do the same. The man's wife and children were just as innocent in this whole situation as the children involved.

I dunno, less than a day after it happened, there was already a thread here where some people were questioning whether or not the family should be held responsible for his actions. I imagine that sentiment was not just heard here...

As much as I like to think most of us would reach out, I think some people are just hardened and looking for someone to blame/punish. That really goes against the Amish way of life.

 

[Galahad]

I'm from Northern Indiana Amish country and I agree completely. A truly amazing community! Around here (or up north, since I'm in central Indiana now) we "English" that lived among or very near the Amish communities became very protective. My Father is in his 70's and not in good health. But he knows he needs to do some exercise to stay among the living. His daily routine is going shopping for a couple of Amish families who live about a mile from his house and then walking from his house to theirs to bring them what they need. He gets a lot out of his relationships with the Amish folks around him. I agree, we can really learn a lot from them!

 

[magicmato]

I would like to think that if anyone did something to my child, after some time and space I could meet with and share comfort with the family of that person, but I do not think I could in any way do that immediately after it. THAT is what amazes me. They immediately have forgiven and are extending themselves to that family.

I am not a perfect person. I would like to be, but I am not perfect. I just don't think I could forgive and extend an olive branch that quickly. Maybe in a few weeks/months/years, but not within days.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I dunno, less than a day after it happened, there was already a thread here where some people were questioning whether or not the family should be held responsible for his actions. I imagine that sentiment was not just heard here...

Yes, but the vast majority of people on that thread thought it was ludicrous to hold the family responsible in any way. There's always going to be some dissenting opinions, but those were the slight minority in this case.

This is not to say that the Amish aren't amazing people in their love and caringness and that we all can't learn from them, though.

 

[mom2boys]

They are amazing. The noon news said that some of the Amish had already been to visit the shooter's family.
Rationally I understand that family are collateral victims and I do feel horribly for them - especially the children. However, I can't imagine reaching out to the family of someone who caused me such pain.

 

[LBAK]

They are absolutely amazing! His family doesn't need forgiveness though as they didn't do anything. He however is another story and they are forgiving him too! Don't you think though that some people (not all) are saying they are forgiving to the outside world but inside themselves they're dealing with anger and rage. I would think it's human nature to have these feelings, no matter how gentle the culture is. I would make a horrible Amish person because it would very long time before I could forgive that man.

 

[poohandwendy]

Yes, but the vast majority of people on that thread thought it was ludicrous to hold the family responsible in any way. There's always going to be some dissenting opinions, but those were the slight minority in this case.

This is not to say that the Amish aren't amazing people in their love and caringness and that we all can't learn from them, though.

True. I guess I was also thinking along the lines of not only not holding them responsible in any way, but embracing them AND immediately offering forgiveness to the perpetrator. It really takes special people to have that sort of compassion and forgiveness. I would hope I could behave that way. (I wouldn't have a problem embracing the family, I am talking about the perp)

ok...off on a tangent there, sorry...

 

[Towncrier]

What good would it do to hate the man who did this. He's dead. He can't be hurt by the hatred and anger. I cannot imagine that hating him would make anyone feel any better. The Amish are very wise to forgive (but not forget) this man and his heinous act. I cannot imagine how I would react in their place, but I would hope that, with time, I could forgive this murderous act and cleanse my soul of the hatred.

 

[JennyMominRI]

What amazes me is that this community is in pain..Probably a level of pain I can't even comprehend and yet,in that pain ,they are able to reach out to someone else and try and comfort them..Can some people do that? Of course, But If I'm honest with myself, when I am in pain one of the first things on my mind is not usually to reach out and help someone else. I'm just not that selfless. I wish I was.

 

[Fitswimmer]

What good would it do to hate the man who did this. He's dead. He can't be hurt by the hatred and anger. I cannot imagine that hating him would make anyone feel any better.

There was a thread on this board not long ago about the death penalty and from what was posted there I think there are a great many people who would hate him and feel better about doing it.

 

[Bob Slydell]

There was a thread on this board not long ago about the death penalty and from what was posted there I think there are a great many people who would hate him and feel better about doing it.

Being an advocate for the death penalty does not necessarily translate to hate for the person involved.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Being an advocate for the death penalty does not necessarily translate to hate for the person involved.

Agreed, but some of the comments posted linked hatred of the perpetrator to the desire to have a death sentence carried out. There were some that discussed deterrence and other reasons, but a significant portion were about revenge.

 

[JoyG]

What amazes me is that this community is in pain..Probably a level of pain I can't even comprehend and yet,in that pain ,they are able to reach out to someone else and try and comfort them..Can some people do that? Of course, But If I'm honest with myself, when I am in pain one of the first things on my mind is not usually to reach out and help someone else. I'm just not that selfless. I wish I was.

So true!!

I was listening to their story on the Today show this morning and the compassion these people showed had me in tears.

 

[Charade]

They would probably feel the same if the man hadn't killed himself. Personally, given the way I was raised, I don't think I could ever forgive. I would probably stop hating because that eats at you. And that's bad.

I also believe, even though he saved the taxpayers a lot of money, he cheated justice.