[Pebbles_Nibbles]

I thought I'd share this with you since some of you are parents.


I guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm? On Thursday last week, 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 subcommittee. 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 & 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!"

Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to everyone you can!!! IF not - why not?


Pebbles

[agose]

pebbles this is a story for long time ago do you think we give a phuk???????go to c-span

[rabondo1]

@Pebbles_Nibbles
Your thread touches on very comtemparary issues and how one can dismiss it as archaic is difficult to fathom. It strikes me as hypocritical that School prayer would be outlawed in a Nation that claims to uphold Judeo-Christian values and that has the audacity to print "in God we trust" on it's currency. I engaged my neighbor who is an elementary teacher and deeply religious in a similar discussion last week and she reiterated that she has to curtail any reference of God in her second grade class or lose her job. The only time that she was given carte blanche to mention God was during the aftermath of September 11. How can one explain the dramatic increase in church attendance during this period? Is God only relevant during periods of great tribulation and uncertainity?

[Pebbles_Nibbles]

@Rabondo,

It is very sad and your sentiments are genuine. The very foundation of everyone's life, especially the children who are growing up without the knowledge of God, has been swept away. We now witness the moral degradation, the wanton killing without a care for human life, just because no one taught them better. Pledging allegiance to a flag is not the answer to the sin sick soul.

It was interesting to see the Prez of US call for a day of prayer. Who are they praying to? Do they know Him? Should they only pray one day or is it clear that it is something that all should do everyday? Do they even know how to pray? I really appreciate the grace of God at such times because He says that he wouldn't cast anyone who turns back to Him, away. I pray that this favoured nation would turn from its wicked ways and seek the Lord sincerely and repent before it's too late. God is love, but He is also a God of judgment!:)

[Pebbles_Nibbles]

@Agose,

Please speak for yourself and refrain from the wholesale use of "we". There are parents who truly care and others as well, who care for human life. Today, it is there's tomorrow it could be yours. Be slow at laughing at other people's misery and grief. Normally, I wouldn't dignify a comment like yours with an answer, but, for the sake of your soul, I ask you to be more compassionate towards your fellow men.:)

[yingo_kho]

> @Pebbles_Nibbles
> Your thread touches on very
>comtemparary issues and how one can
>dismiss it as archaic is difficult to
>fathom. It strikes me as hypocritical
>that School prayer would be outlawed in
>a Nation that claims to uphold
>Judeo-Christian values and that has the
>audacity to print "in God we trust" on
>it's currency.

I think it is also explicit in the same constitution that church and state are to be separate.
Further note that "In God we trust" does offend the atheists.

If you study American History and the patterns of migration, you will see how the has the Judeo-Christian foundation was born. I argue that the move was more politically than religiously motivated.
Nevertheless, times and circumstances have changed, and the nation needs to change (has changed) accordingly to accommodate all Americans.

Every nation has people of different creeds. It will be an infringement on peoples right to have a certain (any) form of religion imposed in PUBLIC schools.

Think, the religion card paved way for the colonialists in Africa!!!

I engaged my neighbor who
>is an elementary teacher and deeply
>religious in a similar discussion last
>week and she reiterated that she has to
>curtail any reference of God in her
>second grade class or lose her job. The
>only time that she was given carte
>blanche to mention God was during the
>aftermath of September 11. How can one
>explain the dramatic increase in church
>attendance during this period? Is God
>only relevant during periods of great
>tribulation and uncertainity?

Attending church means shytt crap!!!
Religion in itself precludes a religious experience. We get all caught up in the exoteric religious practices(attending church every sunday, praying 5 times a day etc.) while ignoring the essence of religion, which I must add is the same across the board for all religions.

Yes it is true that people tend to seek "God" during adversity when they should always be with him.
However, mishaps are inevitable...indeed it is through these occurrences that some people discover true SPIRITUALITY - the essence of EXISTENCE.