Amish donate cash to school gunman's widow

MSNBC.Com ^ | September 134 2007 | AP

[RDTF]

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.

-snip-

[bmwcyle]

God Bless them.

[Redleg Duke]

Then, I think you need to revisit your premise.

[Bogtrotter52]

“Those wacky Amish...”

Naw. not wacky, just very together people. though I couild never live the lifestyle. I especially like the way they can keep their traditions, be good citizens in the community, and most important, do not try to convert people or throw their religion and beliefs in peoples faces. Much to be admired. While they may seem clannis and cultish to some they are unlikely to end up hold up in some compound with guns awaiting the end times.

[SueRae]

The Amish have tought me more about the meaning of Christianity than any preacher. I have never witnessed such selflessness and charitability ever. They are truly remarkable people. It will be 1 year since that awful day on October 4th, about 20 miles from where I live. I am grateful to have them as distant neighbors and I hope the media and onlookers stay away from them as that date approaches.

[VirginiaMom]

A suicide bombers family endorses what he/she does and glorifies it. This murderer’s family did no such thing. To compare the two makes no sense.

[indcons]

BTTT

However, I’ll be honest - I am incapable of such good feelings and charity though I understand that the family had nothing to do with that murderer’s horrible crimes.

[najida]

Yeah,
lets just kill his kids too, they’ll probably grow up just like him.../sarcasm.

You need a hug, doncha?

[najida]

What info?
Maybe he was a little more quiet or short tempered than usual. Maybe he was paranoid about some things. Maybe he was acting just a little bit odd and not like himself..

Surely you don’t thing that she would have been able from whatever changes in his character to think “A HA! He’s going to go to a school and kill a bunch of kids!”

Sorry, but even when someone gives clues about going ‘off’ they’re only clues in hindsite.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This is the kind of thing the Americans did in Japan and Germany for the families left behind from a decade of killing and war.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

You jump from rewarding a murder’s family to killing his kids, a great leap of logic.

[grellis]

From all of the "exposes" on how one becomes a homicide bomber, the family members usually seem to encourage their sons, brothers and nephews into the act--not force them, but give them the big thumbs up.

I have yet to see any evidence that the widow Roberts or her children encouraged their spouse/father into the massacre which he alone perpetrated.

Have you ever sinned? Done something stupid? C'mon, share with the class. Then we can go after your family.

[BraveMan]

I wish I could learn to forgive like this. I would be a much better man for it . . .

I still have a long way to go in my walk.

[Little Ray]

I have to admire the Amish, for their Christian charity and forgiveness, but not necessarily for their common sense.

[Pablo64]

Yeah, because I'm sure that before he went out that morning his kids all begged him to take hostages, kill people, then kill himself and leave them without a father.

Do I really need the sarcasm tag, or can you figure this one out for yourself?

[svcw]

The family is Innocent of the crime. What the Amish are doing is in Christian love.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

All of my sympathy goes to the victims and their families and none to his family!

[svcw]

Why?

[zencat]

All of my sympathy goes to the victims and their families and none to his family!

The Amish community in which it happened disagrees with you. And it must be incredibly difficult to be a family member of someone that committed such an atrocity.

They Amish are an amazing bunch, and exemplify Christ's message.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> All of my sympathy goes to the victims and their families and none to his family!

With respect, that is a perfectly stupid thing to say. His family are victims of this tragedy, too. Or do you think they enjoy being widowed and fatherless and despised by people like you?

[FreeManWhoCan]

Sometimes it’s hard to forgive people but we must do it or the hate burns you up from inside. Christians can never be Christ but just a bit of faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. I have always believed that people who go on a rampage like this are either really, really sick or the devil has screwed up their heads. I see nothing wrong in what they did. I have a feeling that they are not blaming the man per se but the devil or some evil entity in the world that can influence people so. Yes there is evil in this world but there is also more love and compassion. My condolences to all those people who lost their lives a year ago. I hope the daughters of the killer do not let his actions affect their lives too much. I wish them all the best.