PA - Five girls dead, 5 injured in Amish school shooting, 2 Oct 2006

[ljwf22]

I had posted early about the amish tradition of Rumspringa I think people are very surprised to hear some of the things that really go on in the Amish community. Google Rumspringa it is quite interesting.

The Amish in my experience, whom they called ' the young folk', do not rebel in the sense one might think. They just lead a typical teen life, living at home, working and socializing, maybe a little wildness. At some point, they must chose to join the church or go 'English'. Really, they're not that different. They live simply, work hard and follow God. And yes, if someone wanted to join the Amish, they could, although I've never heard of it happening.

I want to know what on earth caused Roberts to terrorize such innocent and peace-loving people. :furious:

 

[sleuthin4fun]

I just can't stop thinking about this whole incident. I lived in a community among many Amish people for about 15 years before moving to Florida. As a nurse I had many Amish patients and made many good friends (they have a lot of babies). No religion or community of people is perfect and I know things that are practiced by some Amish that would curl your hair. I can't help but think though that these very people who were victims of this crime will be the ones to reach out to this perpetrators wife and children. There will be no animosity towards them. The Amish in general a very peaceful group of people with a strong faith in someone much bigger than the tragedy at hand. We could all learn a lesson from them.

 

[sleuthin4fun]

The Amish in my experience, whom they called ' the young folk', do not rebel in the sense one might think. They just lead a typical teen life, living at home, working and socializing, maybe a little wildness. At some point, they must chose to join the church or go 'English'. Really, they're not that different. They live simply, work hard and follow God. And yes, if someone wanted to join the Amish, they could, although I've never heard of it happening.

I want to know what on earth caused Roberts to terrorize such innocent and peace-loving people. :furious:

I would like to know also what makes someone do something like this to such innocent people.
I actually do know of an entire family that "turned amish". I was a very stressful event for the entire extended family.
Also, the term that was always used were I lived for someone who left the Amish faith is called "jerked over". For example someone may say about another "He's jerked over", meaning he used to be Amish.

 

[GlitchWizard]

Someone earlier said their nannies were Amish. I was just remembering a friend of mine at Goshen College who dropped her son off at an Amish lady's house everyday. The Amish lady couldn't have kids and she completely adored caring for this boy. It was healthy for him to run on the farm and play - be loved by a stay at home nanny with full attention given. As great as it was for him, I always thought it was irresponsible of my friend to place her son where there was no phone for emergencies. I guess I'm paranoid, but I've been on farms my whole upbringing, and emergencies can, and do happen.

 

[englishleigh]

Another child has died. That makes 5 deaths among the girls, out of the 10. They also say one other little girl is very, very grave, but they expect the remaining four others to survive. One child was only hit in the shoulder and will make a full recovery. There are some blessings to come out of this horror.

I can guarantee you that the Amish families have already forgiven this animal who did this.

 

[ljwf22]

Someone earlier said their nannies were Amish. I was just remembering a friend of mine at Goshen College who dropped her son off at an Amish lady's house everyday. The Amish lady couldn't have kids and she completely adored caring for this boy. It was healthy for him to run on the farm and play - be loved by a stay at home nanny with full attention given. As great as it was for him, I always thought it was irresponsible of my friend to place her son where there was no phone for emergencies. I guess I'm paranoid, but I've been on farms my whole upbringing, and emergencies can, and do happen.

Getting an Amish sitter is a really good thing. The kids don't sit in front of a TV all day. Growing up, ours were girls(sort of like a nanny) in their late teens. We went and picked them up on Sunday night and took them home Friday night.

You went to Goshen? You were a Leaf? One of the oddest school mascot names! I live north of Shipshewana, in Michigan.

 

[BhamMama]

thank you for your kind words about the amish. Regardless of any criminal activity in their community's we may or may not know about, that school certaintly didn't do anything to bring this on. (i'm not saying those of you pointing out the faults in the amish way of life are saying that either before everyone jumps all over me)
I just kinda feel like our time would be better served picking apart the customs and behaviors of the sick freak who put a bullet in the head of 11 innocent children this morning, rather than picking apart a faith that has existed peacfully in this country since its near inception. For whatever reason, these people choose to live and raise their children in a way that they think is wonderful and perfect for their children.....they're their children. They may have incest issues, but so does every other culture and religion in this country. They may inbreed, as do many other religious and cultural groups in this country. They may shelter their children and shun modern ways of living....so be it. In the end, the amish will still be amish, we'll all still be who we are, and a terrible thing still would have occured.
I have seen three indepth news journals on the "amish way of life" tonight.......why do we feel the need to put these people under a huge microscope and analyze who they are because some nut job decided to pick them to slaughter this morning? Why do the major news networks feel like an explanation needs to be given for "their" way of life? I want to see news journals on the killers family, and the killers life, and why he chose to live and end his life the way he did!!!! What about the killers faith?
He's the odd one. He's the out of place one. He's the antisocial one. He's the one who shunned normal customs. He's the one we should be putting under a microscope to dissect.....not the amish faith.

 

[SieSie]

.... me too, SieSie - have we discussed this before? Where in Lancaster County?

Sent you a PM, Poco!!

 

[Marthatex]

5 little girls dead; if the others are shot in the head they may never be normal. This is a horrific crime, akin to Charles Whitman years ago. They were talking about it being a copycat school shooting on the news last night.

 

[michelle]

I have not read through this whole thread yet but My DH told me about this yesterday and he was in disbelief that some people are this cruel and crazy. I cannot believe how horrific this is. Amish people dont seem to bother anybody. We often go to Lancaster because it is so close to us and they are so nice and friendly. I am off to read the thread now I just wanted to add my :twocents: .

 

[ember]

Amish hunt, fish and have family campouts. Teenagers are quite free, believe it or not. They are allowed to meet with other young people of the opposite sex at gatherings where they flirt just like we do. This is a very liberal time for these children. It's not uncommon for them to be driving cars and perhaps even drinking during this period. When they become of age, they make the decision to wholly commit to the life, or not. Also, Amish men do not grow beards until they marry.

This is from personal experience, asking questions and reading.

Oh, yes...the Amish teens, well at least the boys, like to drink! I remember asking this one teeneage boy how he gets home when he's been out drinking. He said "the horse always knows the way the home." I thought that was too funny.

On another note, they are so peaceful and kind. I'm sure they are so very confused by this. It breaks my heart that the ugliness in our world is spilling over into there serene existence. And it makes me mad as hell. I'm glad this is dead, but I wish he would have spared these little girls. Amish children are so cute...it just tears me up to think of the horror and confusion they were feeling at his hands. People need to leave the past in the past and just get over it. What grudge could have possibly led him to do such a thing? Since he was 12 at the time of this "thing" that happened to him and he targeted little girls...I can only figure that some girl hurt him really bad...but at age 12...and it stuck with him this long....talk about no coping skills...geesh! And this is how he gets "even"? What is wrong with our world? It scares the hell out of me! And why is it always males doing these things? As hormonal as we woman are, I have never heard of a woman doing any such thing as what has happened in these schools. I just don't get it.

 

[Floh]

Pic of the murderer from 1996 with fiance (now wife?):

 

[luthersmama]

This guy was different though Luther. His dad was a corporal in the Lancaster police department, or maybe he still is. They didn't make that part clear. I think he is still there the way they gave the report.



Scandi

I think you misunderstood my post. The prior poster seemed to imply that the Amish chose not to have police in their towns. My point was that the Amish do not get much involved in local government, so long as the local government leaves them alone. The choice of whether or not to have a police force is not necessarily an "Amish issue".

Yes, his dad was/is a corporal in the police department for the city of Lancaster. Not the county. So he has no law enforcement authority in Nickel Mine.

 

[Shadow205]

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Even as they suffer through the first hours of grief, the families of the children murdered Monday at West Nickel Mines School in Bart Township must begin preparing for funerals. Because all of the children live in one Amish church district, funerals will be held at separate times.

They probably will be held two a day — the first Thursday morning, the second Thursday afternoon and so on, according to an Amish source.
<snip>
Friends and neighbors took over the chores of the grieving families this morning.

Extended families began making preparations for the funerals. They are gathering benches from neighboring farms, cleaning house, preparing food and comforting one another.

Everyone is dressed in black today, and the immediate family will continue to wear black, exclusively, for a year.

Long before the hour set aside for a funeral, scores of horse-drawn buggies will pull into each farm. The funeral-goers will file inside the home, filling most first-floor rooms and likely spilling outside to porches.

The deceased will lie in a coffin in a separate room, relatives sitting nearby.
more at the link http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/26355

 

[Cypros]

...And why is it always males doing these things? As hormonal as we woman are, I have never heard of a woman doing any such thing as what has happened in these schools. I just don't get it.

I read years ago about a study that showed that males have similar mood/hormonal swings as women, only theirs is on more of a daily rather than a monthly cycle. I have no idea if this was substantiated, but it makes sense to me. (NOT that that is any excuse to murder, rape, etc.)

 

[luthersmama]

In no way am I trying to justify his actions but if that is true...could his wife possibly have had an Amish midwife for the birth? And if that is true could he have blamed her for the death of the child?

All of the reports I have heard and read this morning emphasize that his supposed grudge had nothing to do with Amish. He picked these girls to kill because he knew he could get into that school without resistance and do what he planned without anyone being able to call for help. He grudge is against girls in general.

:sick:

 

[Sundayrain]

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Even as they suffer through the first hours of grief, the families of the children murdered Monday at West Nickel Mines School in Bart Township must begin preparing for funerals. Because all of the children live in one Amish church district, funerals will be held at separate times.

They probably will be held two a day — the first Thursday morning, the second Thursday afternoon and so on, according to an Amish source.
<snip>
Friends and neighbors took over the chores of the grieving families this morning.

Extended families began making preparations for the funerals. They are gathering benches from neighboring farms, cleaning house, preparing food and comforting one another.

Everyone is dressed in black today, and the immediate family will continue to wear black, exclusively, for a year.

Long before the hour set aside for a funeral, scores of horse-drawn buggies will pull into each farm. The funeral-goers will file inside the home, filling most first-floor rooms and likely spilling outside to porches.

The deceased will lie in a coffin in a separate room, relatives sitting nearby.
more at the link http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/26355

Oh my Shadow........the traditions of these funerals will be very sad.
It is hundreds of years of the bonding of the Amish. This is like reading an
old time book of how things were back when.
It surely will be heartbreaking. I think their faith will carry them........and most certainly their neighborhood of friends and family.
I hope the other little girls make it......all everyone can do now is pray for them.

 

[opme]

I was raised in Lancaster and have family that is still living there today. I no longer live there but live in close proximity.. actually was just there visting the weekend before last. It so troubles me to think how this community has now been victimized .. that our current society and its incredible level of violence has bled over in to communities such as this. I think in this case it becomes even more of an example because of the amish culture and their peaceful, quiet existence. Not only have these families and neighbors lost in a horrific tragedy their children, friends and neighbors but the community has lost their innnocence their insolation against this type of violence. One of the other aspects of this victimization is with the media frenzy now taking place. The hoards of media, cameras, and the microscope of attention that is normally shunned by these individuals. It makes it just that much worse and it makes me cry.. for these children who were so unprepared for a assualt of this kind, the families for their incredible losses, and the community for the loss of innocence and of the peaceful existence.. The one thing we can all learn from is the spirit and love and support that these families, neighbors and community bring to each other in this hour of great loss and need. I think that is something that the rest of society seems to have forgotten or lost somewhere along the way..my most sincere condolences and prayers go to these families.

 

[shdbepaintin]

I believe I heard that CNN and FOX will be showing a live NC at noon et.

 

[ljwf22]

I believe I heard that CNN and FOX will be showing a live NC at noon et.

Anyone watching?????