Food for thought !

[bearbvd@domain.elided (Greg Hermann)]

Columbine - Darrell Scott's speech
>
>Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?

>On Thursday, 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!!!
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