I'm not a "religious" man, but got this and had to share it, because I do agree with it. From the father of a slain Columbine student.


<<<<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.


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, mind, 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 system s 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.

"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.
GOD BLESS! >>>>

god does not = morals

godless people are not bad people

And who said they were?? NOBODY ! So don't be getting defensive about it.

Even if you do NOT believe in "God", having children raised to a moral value system of things like you should not kill, you should love your brother/sister, you should not commit adultry, etc, etc. Like these are bad values to instill in the younger generations?

It's a win situation whether or not you believe in "God", don't you think just from a "values" and "morals" standpoint? As I said, I am NOT a "religious" man, but will argue from even a logical or common sense standpoint.

What you seem to be getting defensive about, is part of the whole reason why the USA is in the moral, self centered, self consumed, no values state it has become. And you sure as hell can;t say it hasn't because the evidence is staring you and me right in the face. It's called REALITY.

Its completely false to say that kids could not pray silently to themselves. This guy is lying. He is not taking back anything. It always has existed and always will exist.

How can you try and talk about common sense and at the same time not be for some reasonable control on Guns


IN 2004, GUNS MURDERED


5 PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND
37 IN SWEDEN
56 IN AUSTRALIA
73 IN ENGLAND AND WALES
184 IN CANADA
AND 11, 344 IN THE UNITED STATES
GOD BLESS AMERICA.


From the NRA Blacklist

Central Conference of American Rabbis
Episcopal Church-Washington Office
Interfaith Neighbors
Congress of National Black Churches
Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Mennonite Central Committee-Washington Office
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
National Council of Jewish Women
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Unitarian Universalist Association
United States Catholic Conference
United Methodist Church, General Board & Church Society
United Church of Christ, Office for Church in Society*

http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=15



You may be doing the for work for the NRA but it doesn't look like they even like you guys a little bit. Is there a name for that when you bend over backwards to help someone while they just say nasty things about you?

i'd have no problem with what you posted if it didn't insist that god is part of a good moral fiber. i simply do not agree with that point, so i posted what i did.

i do agree that better morals should be taught, but not with the father's heavy belief in god. that is all

i'm not disagreeing that parents need to take a more active role in their children's lives and their upbringing, nor that it is the killer's responsibility. just that a belief in god isn't required to be a good person

AMEN
thank you for sharing.
yet this may be violating the civil rights of some people around this forum.

Mandatory prayer in schools is unconstitutional.

Not a problem, I agree with you there, A person does not have to believe in "God" to be a good and decent person.

the constitution is ambiguous in too many issues.

OK, prayer was NEVER MANDATORY. Even as an "OPTIONAL" time, a few pig-heads got thier widdle feelings hurt because other students around would take that time and pray. (note heavy sarcasm to the few widdle whiny ones) because its amazing when the "majority" does not rule!

As I did back in school, there was a few minutes before the first class of the day. No one was ever forced or made to do anything they did not want to. Some of us took that time to pray, others to reflect, other to sleep other to do absolutely nothing. It was simply because it made a few "uncomfortable".

Politically correct I am not, and I don;t care to be. I take my rights and my freedom seriously and I'll do as I damn well please, because I EARNED every bit of it! So I don't take it for granted, nor will I let another trample on mine.

I will certainly respect most other views, to each thier own, I'm not about to try to force my view or opinion on anyone. But I'm also not going to sit around complaining about something someone else did...I'm going to say it to thier face without hesitation.

I was in a Wal-Mart here a couple of months ago. I was looking at some cleaning products and there were two young WalMart associates stocking close-by. There was a Latino woman and her son, she was pushing the cart and her son, who was probably about 12 or 13 was sitting there CUSSING at her, telling her what to do, F'ing this and F'ing that. I waited for about 15 or 20 seconds just staring at them, watching this boy do this to his mother. And she sad NOTHING! Even the two Wal Mart associated (prolly around 18-20 range) was just staring at them by this time. So I clearly spoke up. I said "Young man, your mother may tolerate such language by I for one am not going to sit here and listen to your foul mouth like you own this place. So you better keep your mouth shut from ANY more foul words, otherwise you and I are going to have a big problem that I WILL fix". He shut up. Then I looked at his mother and said "Mam, I can't believe you would allow such disresspect from your own son at any time, especially in a public place. And to let him run his foul mouth for all to hear and to put up with, you are a disgrace as a mother." She said nothing and they walked on.

Then the two WalMart associates looked at me. I said "Don't worry, I know you all felt like I did, I could see it in your expressions, but as employees you are not allowed to say anything. " They just looked and knodded. one said "well you handled that good".

But it just goes to show simple common sense. What's right is right, whats wrong is wrong..and they gray stuff I leave alone and to each thier own (which is a big part in life). I'm not looking to impede on ANYONE's rights. But I'm not going to have mine trampled on either and you can bet I'll be standing, speaking and whatever I need to to make sure I will keep my rights...period.

You seem to be the only one crying about how they took away your little quite time. Poor baby! The rest of us want are kids to learn something important at school. If you need quite time go home and cry there. You think everyone should bow down to you and make sure they don't upset your tummy. Too bad. Life is tuff. We can't all have it the way we want, quit looking to the past and move on.

I wanted to make sure my kids got the best of the beginnings of an eduacation as well. I sent them to a private school for about two years. I do not trust schools anymore. The teachers the students nor that laws to protect ALL. Because it seems that the ones being protected are the 1 in 10,000 that make a big noise. "remove that cross, take Christ out of Christmas,no prayer,no saluting the flag," or "you can believe in God, but don't let me see it, or hear it, for it may upset me". Bullying,teachers passing students that can't even count change for heavens sake!

It is true that ever since this ammendant this and that came about our country and lives have fallen to the wayside.

I guess it is true....we get what we ask for. So be careful. Only....I didn't ask for this...so I pay the price as well.

Kat

LOL, no, you just can't comprehend well is all, because I never lost a thing. Get a brain.

Good post Kat. I agree, it at one time use to be "majority" rules. What happened? many reasons I know. And the biggest underlying factor is economics unfortunately.

This kind of emotional propaganda is misleading a lot of people.

A private prayer in school is not illegal.

Public conducted prayer is disallowed because it is done with a captive audience at assembly or in a class, some would even end with "in Jesus name" amen.

This is not really appropriate or respectful to other faiths, but most importantly it is an open practice of government sponsored religion.

If you think nothing is wrong with government sponsoring a religion, think how you would feel if they were sponsoring one that worshiped Satan or some other deity that you knew nothing about.

To say that a student does not have to participate if he does not want to, is to expect him to publicly attract attention to himself by objecting to the process and this could open himself up to judgment and ridicule etc. from others.

People need to be more aware of the reason for this ruling and stop giving other people the wrong idea about what it means.

The government is not trying to take away your God. They are trying to maintain your freedom of religion. Be grateful for that.

JB

I fully agree with the seperation of church and state. But as was my personal experience in school, there were no prayers said outload in the classroom. It was a simple 5 min of "silence" for the students to have before class. Some, including myself, prayed, others slept, some did nothing at all. never once did I see, nor hear of, any person being uncomfortable with this time. No one was ever looked differently upon.

Just because someone "feels" uncomfortable because everyone else is doing something is no reason to force others to stop. "The need of the many outweigh the need of the few". If that person has a problem going to a high school football game and the wish to say a prayer before the game, one to ask that no players get hurt, etc, etc, then why not? You don;t have to participate. And if you feel uncomfortable, then leave, or wait to enter until that time is over.

What you refer to is called "peer pressure" and that in many cases is self imflicted. That's also a part of life, so people need to learn to deal with thier problems and insecurities.

I am of the Christian faith, but have been to Jewish ceremonies, native American ceremonies and also some of the eastern cultures. I never once partook in the events, also nor did i feel uncomfortable or obligated to do so. I simply respect other's beliefs and if that is thier thing then its ok with me. If I was to ever feel uncomfortable, then i would simply leave and not return. It's that simple.

The United States of America was founded as a Christian land. Just as in other areas of the world, specific religions dominate. In the middle east, they are so strict, you could be killed for even bringing a Christian Bible into thier land. So the United States foundation was set on the Christian faith and values. So you can expect that to be the majority, thats just common sense. And to expect anyone just to drop thier religion or faith is just ludacris. We are all entitle to practice any faith here in the USA, it just so happens that Christianity is the domonant one.

But now, people go on crusades to rid this country of all religious identity. Like removing the word "God" from all government facilties. Well suess what, thats basically IMPOSSIBLE, unless you make sure all money is not on the premises. because on all the money it says "In God We Trust"!

So what does this hurt? People are simply too sensitive and its all about the "me" generation. More specifically, i would rather spend my time on much more important things, like bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our educational system, fixing our social security, fixing our industry, getting everyone over the poverty line, working on things that can help this country become great again.

i'm not going to waste my time because one person "get's thier feelings hurt" on something so pathetic and minute as they see a Biblical scriture posted someplace in a goverment building and they get thier panties in a wad. There are so many more IMPORTANT things that should take priority and that energy to use to fix more meaningful problems. Like I'm going to get upset if a Jewish person wants to pt some Jewish text on a pillar of a courthouse, giving it a Jewish blessing or something? Hell no! I'm not Jewish, but I would even consider that a good thing, because the intension is GOOD, no matter what the faith/religion! And that goes for even satanism..if they want to give Satan's blassing to guard, watch over and protect a courthouse of government building..go for it! I may not believe in thier religion, but hey, they are posting something good and positive..and thats all cool with me.