This morning I woke up to the news of the guy who went into the Amish community and killed students. It literally brought tears to my eyes.
Why is that? These things happen all the time, and the number of kids abused in various ways every day dwarfs the direct casualties in this latest incident.
This is different, though. The effect on the community is devastating, and thus it is devastating to me. I have to say thatI respect the Amish a great deal. They, the Quakers, Mennonites, and similar religious sects evoke my deepest respect. These are people who truly follow what they believe, and nothing elsegets more respect in my book. While I may not agree, I support absolutely their lifestyle choice and I consider it part of my duty to help support their ability to believe how they want to believe and live as they would like to live.
So I don't know what to do about this, exactly, though I am well-aware that any measures we may take are probably inadequate. Whatever you can do, please do so. Not because the Amish are more deserving, but because they are less prepared. In one sense, they may be a different community than we, the internet-savvy. In another sense, as a U.S. citizen who believes that we can believe many different things and still be one nation, they are part of my community. And I embrace them as much as I do anyone here--perhaps more than others.
hey- bet you didn't know i read your blog! (actually, i just started a coupla days ago...anyway-) one interesting thing: while it could be true that the amish community is less prepared, as you say, i read one interview with an amish community member who stated that the families had already forgiven the gunman- because forgiveness is an important, integral part of their faith...i wonder how many of the "internet saavy" would be able to say the same...makes ya think, don't it? anyway, good post!