Amish Shooting: A Lesson to Be Learned

On October 2nd, 2006 Lancaster County and more specifically, the Amish community suffered a tragic loss.

A man entered an Amish, one room school house, took the girls hostage, and shot 10 young girls execution style. He then shot himeself. Several died, and the rest are in critical or serious condition.

Coming from a Mennonite denomination that is closely related to the Amish, I've been asked a lot of questions by others not familiar with the two groups. One question in particular has stuck in my mind. A lot of people asked what my reaction is to the events because I come from a similar religion.

"How do you feel about this? What's your reaction?"

I explained to everyone who's asked me that I feel the same as the general public. Sad. Although all police reports say that the shooter did not specifically target the Amish community, did he attack them? This is the saddest thing about the whole story. I am in no way valuing any life over another, but it boggles my mind that anyone could or would hurt this group of people. If this attacker wanted to hurt a group of young children, why didn't he go into any school in the area? No one really knows. Maybe it was due to the lack of security in a one-room schoolhouse. Maybe it was because it was close to his home?

Amish are the kindest people I know. They treat everyone with respect and only ask for peace. They are self reliant, quiet, and for the most part keep to themselves. They are happy; they love life and all the joys that it brings. The Amish are hard workers who give so much to society, even outside of their community. They are forgiving. Growing up, I've had Amish baby-sitters. Even though their lifestyle differed some from mine, I always had a great time with them. My father also employed several Amish carpenters. They are some of the hardest working people, and they take pride in giving their all to make sure their work is of top quality. Even though they take pride in all they do, they give credit where it's due. They recognize that their talents are given from God and they do not want recognition or any fame for what they do.

As disgusted as I am with the man that caused this, I knew deep down, just knowing what the Amish believe that they would forgive this man. Although I don't like to see a life lost, if he was so distraught, he should have only taken his own life. Maybe I should learn something from the Amish. Maybe I should forgive this man. In all the news reports, family and friends of the gunman say that this "was not like him." He was supposedly a great man, someone who cared for his family. Someone that kept to himself. Maybe he was, but there was obviously more to him. Can we ever truly know someone? I have a hard time believing so. I don't think he "just snapped" because psychology (I have a BA) suggests that there are always events or behaviors that allude to events like this. Maybe we are too busy or too naive to see them, but they exist. He was a sick man, but even being sick, we should forgive him. He will never hurt someone again. All in all, the Amish rose above thoughts like this and they forgave him even though he hurt their loved ones.

To me, this attack is sadder than 9/11 was for me. Even though the events of 9/11 were devastating and many lives were lost and changed, this is more personal to me. How can someone make young Amish girls line up to be shot execution style? This is much more gruesome to me than someone crashing a plane into a building. 9/11 wasn't as personal.

I know some Pennsylvania Dutch, the native language of the Amish and it brings a smile to their face whenever I say "hello," "thank you" or another small phrase when I visit one of their produce stands. Before this event, I felt that the general public did not like the Amish because they "don't pay taxes" and "ruin the roads from their horse and buggies." My response to the people that say these things is that there is always someone in society that is getting something for free: unemployment, food stamps, free medical care, etc. At least the Amish are not causing any harm or creating any major shifts in society. I also thought that the Amish think the "English" (what they refer to us as) are awful heathen people. I was scared that after this, they would dislike us even more.

I was stunned and awed to see all the prayer events, services, memorials and charities that were set up to assist the Amish families through this time with grieving, and medical bills for the surviving (yet critically injured) children. Tonight on the news I heard a miraculous thing: as some of the funerals were taking place for the victims, one of the injured girls was taken off life support and brought back to her home to die peacefully in the company of her family. As the Amish accepted that it was going to be "God's will" for her, she made a remarkable turn for the better. The Amish credits all the prayers that were said for them. It seems that the 1000's that are praying for the girls are truly helping. I believe I heard that the young girl will be taken back to the hospital so that she can be cared for as she recovers!

I hope and pray this little girl survives, as well as the others who are still fighting for their lives. Although the recovery of these girls does not make us forget the sadness the losses have brought, it does help to see that in life, we need to be thankful for what we are given, the second chances we have, and realize that there will always be sadness and joy in life. What matters is that we delight in joys, and learn to all get along.