today just 23 years ago, in another country, violence was erupting in the
classroom.....and in the streets.... and the killers weren't children, they
were the police, who were shooting children.
Yes, I am referring to the South Western Townships (SoWeTo) of Johannesburg,
South Africa.
There they had a system of education called National CHristian Education.,
which along with promoting apartheid, also included daily prayer in school as
part of its philosophy.
My point -it is not where you say the prayer that changes what is in your
heart  - it is what is in your heart that changes you. No prayer, in school ,
or in a house of worship, is going to change anybody, unless he changes within himself.
JMHO
Hilary Blue


Teresa V. Bohuszewicz wrote:
>
> Thank you for posting this.  The news on TV only showed the parents and
> groups who were blaming the NRA.  Interesting...
>
> Teresa, Daughter of Mama (57/43/38)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Parkinson's Information Exchange
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of ERVIN J MCCARTHY
> Sent: Thursday, June 17, 1999 10:24 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Fw: A father speaks....
>
> NON PD --worth reading
>
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > Sent: Thursday, June 17, 1999 1:27 PM
> > Subject: A father speaks....
> >
> >
> > >                             TESTIMONY
> > >                                     OF
> > >                         DARRELL SCOTT
> > >                    FATHER OF TWO VICTIMS
> > >                                      OF
> > >       COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
> > >                   LITTLETION, COLORADO
> > >
> > >                               *********
> > > BEFORE THE  SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME
> > > HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
> > > UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
> > > THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1999
> > > 2:00 P.M.
> > > 2141 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
> > >
> > >
> > > Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil
> > > in the heart 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 11 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 Able 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 that blame lies here in this room.  Much of that
> > > blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers
> > > themselves.
> > >
> > > I wrote a poem just 4 nights ago that express 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 3 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 wreck havoc.
> > > Spiritual influences 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 historic fact.
> > >
> > > What has happened to us as a nation?  We have refused
> > > to honor God, and in doing so, 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  continue 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 acknowledgement
> > > 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 millenium with a sacred disregard for
> > > legislation that violates your conscience and denies 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 you cast
> > > the first stone!  My daughter's death will not be in vain.   The young
> > > people of this country will not allow that to happen.
> >