Posted on 10/15/2006 10:04:40 PM PDT by MadIvan
Marie Roberts, the widow of the killer of five Amish girls in a schoolroom massacre in rural Pennsylvania, has written to the families of his victims thanking them for their forgiveness.
The hamlets of Nickel Mines, where the children lived, and Georgetown, the home of Charles Roberts, a milkman who killed himself after shooting dead the girls and injuring a further five, are slowly recovering. At the weekend, Mrs Roberts remained too distressed to give an interview but she issued a letter to her neighbours.
Mrs Roberts, now a lone parent to three children, said her family was overwhelmed by the forgiveness, grace and mercy shown by the Amish community after the tragedy. The Amish are a largely self-sufficient group of ethnic Germans who live according to 16th century values.
The open letter said: "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you."
It is the latest in a series of acts of forgiveness extended by the Amish to Mrs Roberts's family. Mrs Roberts was one of the few outsiders invited to the funeral of one of the victims.
The home that Mrs Roberts shared with her 32-year-old husband has a sign on the door appealing for privacy. Amish families who suffered bereavement have posted signs warning off trespassers.
There is a palpable feeling in the area that the victims' families and survivors must be left alone to come to terms with their grief. Before he committed suicide, Roberts said he was angry at God for the death of his infant daughter in November 1997. He also said he was driven by memories of molesting two young relatives 20 years ago, a claim that investigators have not substantiated.
"Please know that our hearts have been broken by all that has happened. We are filled with sorrow for all of our Amish neighbours whom we have loved and continue to love," Mrs Roberts's letter said. "We know there are many hard days ahead for all the families who lost loved ones, and so we will continue to put our hope and trust in the God of all comfort, as we all seek to rebuild our lives."
One of the injured girls, Barbie Fisher, 11, whose 13-year-old sister Marian was killed, woke up at home yesterday, a day after she was released from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, her grandfather told the Lancaster New Era newspaper.
Contractors tore down the bloodstained schoolhouse on Thursday, a step that community members hope will help them move on.
Funds have been set up for the families of the Amish children, as well as the Roberts family.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
I have no words for this, Ivan. I'm not sure I believe quite as the Amish do that one shouldn't fight evil, but the outpouring of love and compassion in this community has been incredible.
What a witness for the MSM....... to ignore.....
Except for Fox. Greta was blown away by the forgiveness and compassion.
Thanks for the ping!
Greta is pretty good for a lib and she's fair.
What, no FATWAH???
This is pretty amazing.
This is a very strange incident if you ask me. I'd like to know more about the shooter and his background and full employment history. Something about it does not add up, even in a world filled with violence.
It would be interesting to know more about him. Was he part of the Amish community at one point, or did he just live nearby?
I read an article that said this incident looked like it was "scripted", as if this man thought he was on some kind of military operation (my interpretation.) In the articles that I scanned I noticed a lack of detail about his background. All they said was that he was now a milk truck driver.
I'm not sure if he was Amish, but IIRC one article said he grew up in that area.
Sounds pretty odd. I didn't follow it in too much depth. Personally, I think that giving these kooks a lot of time simply encourages others to commit 'copycat crimes'.
"I'm not sure if he was Amish, but IIRC one article said he grew up in that area."
This article gives a few more details about him. According to his close family, his behavior was totally inexplicable.
http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/26342
ping
Ivan, the article fails to mention that among the funds set up for the family of the killer was one set up by the Amish on their behalf. Yes, these people are incredible. They are true Christians.
...to clarify, the Amish actually set up a fund for the Roberts family. These are model Americans and model Christians in so many ways.
But they are fighting evil. God commands us to pray for those who hate us and to repay evil with good.
I am truly humbled.
I thought you'd want to see this, dirtboy.
That is exactly the reason it annoys me so much that the urban sophisticates see so much to mock in the Amish lifestyle.
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