The Amish set example for total forgiveness
I know this is obvious and has occurred to almost everyone with a conscience, but I have to write anyway. I hope all people in the world, religious or not, will learn from the recent example of the Amish.
Instead of seeking retribution (in the form of violence or other means) for the murders of their children, they preach forgiveness for the murderer and his family. They attend his funeral and say that if a foundation is set up for their children, one needs to be set up for the murderer's family.
What if all the people in the world (Christians, Jews, Muslims and others, religious or not) were to lay down their weapons and forgive their enemies, whether they had been harmed by them or not? What a different world it would be.
Perhaps this horrible event will have some beneficial effect on others. Let us hope that we, like the Amish, can forgive those who have, or who we perceive have, harmed us for offenses that are not as grievous as murdering our children.
Nancy Walkowiak
Greensboro
Comments (3)
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As Carol Dunn said yesterday:
"I don't know if I could behave that way had it been my child."
Exactly. Although I both admire and respect their capacity for forgiveness I could never emulate it under similar circumstances, and wouldn't even pretend to try.
That's not hypocrisy, just reality.
I admire Jessica Alba's legs, but mine will never emulate them either.
Posted on October 16, 2006 6:30 AM
This is a great letter. What a lovely thought, indeed. Of course, for that world to be idea, it would also need to be free of nutcases that decide to just go off and rape and kill people for no reason.
I hope I'll never have to face the decision that those Amish folks faced.
I too grieve for the children of the murderer. What an awful cross to bear.
The only good thing about this case is that the killer went ahead and saved us the trouble of a trial. He probably would have gotten off from temporary insanity had he lived.
Posted on October 16, 2006 11:04 AM
'idea' should have had an l at the end.
Posted on October 16, 2006 11:05 AM