Here's something to think about.

[Muenkel 0]

Columbine update

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?

On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:



"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers."

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain
slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain
was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the
National Club Association. The true killer was Cain,
and the reason for the murder could only be found in
Cain's heart."

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I
was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent."

"I am here today to declare that Columbine was not
just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be
forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much
of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today":


Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings.
We all consist of body, soul, and spirit.
When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs - politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws.

"Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key..There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was
founded on the principle of simple trust in God!"

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school
library and saw his two friends murdered before his
very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray in school. I
defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I
challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at
Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new
millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation
that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!

My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young
people of this country will not allow that to happen!"


Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[Genn 0]

[jumpergirl 0]

I've read that before, but it still gave me goosbumps and makes me want to say "AMEN!"

• Quote

[Tonto 1]

Saw bowling for Columbine last night.

Respect.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[chuteless 1]

something to think about indeed. Well placed POST Muenkel, and God Bless you for putting it before everyone's eyes. I hope they do think about it.....seriously. Bill Cole

[TheRus 0]

Ok, admittedly I am not the most religious person yer ever likely to meet, but THAT deserves respect...

So AMEN!

Yeah, it's fine, we'll walk down the line. Leave our rain, a cold trade for warm sunshine
You my friend, I will defend... and if we change, well, I love you anyway

[Kris 0]

Don't get me wrong, it's a touching story, it really is.

But, that having been said, there is a reason why separation of church and state is built into the US constitution.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[Andie787 0]

This is a real excerpt from a speech made in 1999. It's typical of the Internet that it's still circulating. But it also points to the fact that people are searching for something, anything, that will help them make sense of the sad state the world is in right now.

Of course everyone knows that guns don't kill people, people kill people... But murder requires motive (however obscure) and
means.

Anyway, church and state must be kept separate. There are really good reasons for this. Not the least of which is the freedom that everyone is going on about.

I still respect what this man has to say and while he is partly right, his grief takes him beyond the reasonable. Simple prayer is not outlawed. You're free to have personal converstaions with god or jesus all you want at school, you just can't make other people do it too.

Andie