Subject: Not in the news. Wonder why?

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 reek 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. 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.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), February 11, 2001

Answers

Response to Congress got a real shock (about Darrell Scott)

Glad you posted this Ken.That is something the politicians needed to hear.

-- JT Sessions (gone2seed@hotmail.com), February 11, 2001.

Response to Congress got a real shock (about Darrell Scott)

They can hear, but will they listen?

-- Eve Lyn (evelynv@ipa.net), February 11, 2001.

Response to Congress got a real shock (about Darrell Scott)

Thank you, AMEN, jean

-- jean (dandrea@duo-county.com), February 11, 2001.

Response to Congress got a real shock (about Darrell Scott)

I'd be proud to shake Mr Scott's hand! Thankyou so much for posting this Kenneth. You are correct....the media would never print this even though it is definately newsworthy! I pray out politicians hear many more such speaches. Ya'll remember that the bible tells us to pray for our leaders. I do so daily.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), February 11, 2001.

Response to Congress got a real shock (about Darrell Scott)

I must be listening to weird radio stations. I heard this read on the radio, back when it was given.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 11, 2001.

Response to Congress got a real shock (about Darrell Scott)

I guess I'm kind of dense but exactly how can the government or anyone stop anyone else from silentley praying to their god. Short of thought police it seems a bit hard to enforce. Now if your talking about verbal prayer, that seems way too controversial to me. How about if the teacher led the room containing your child in a hindu prayer.ooohhhhh now that's a different story. I know the bit about this being a country founded on christtian principles,but thats not my take on it. I would contend that this country was founded by people seeking freedom to practice their religion as they saw fit. Now if they came here to escape bigotry and then turned right around and were intolerant and abused those who didn't see things the way they did, that would make them hypocritical wouldn't it Putting morality back in our schools seems to me a good idea but I may not want anyone elses concept of god or religion forced on my child. The more I explore, the more I find that no one person or religion has an exclusive handle on anything. There is wisdom to be found in many places. Of course that's just my opinion.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), February 11, 2001.

What religion did Cain & Abel belong to?

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), February 12, 2001.

I don't know Hendo. Sure would be nice to talk to God and have him talk out loud back to you like it says happened back then. It would make things a whole lot easier i think. No guessing if you were doing the right thing, just be sure to ask and he would tell? Sounds good to me.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 12, 2001.

Diane, God does talk back to you. But people no longer believe it because religious dogma has taught you have to have an intermediary such as a Priest or Bishop or whatever. That was done so established religions could have control over the people. All you have to do is believe he does talk to you. It is amazing how much he has to say if we would quit doing all the talking (praying) and sit and listen for the answer (meditate). He also gives us answers everyday in the chance encounters or events that occur but so many of us are too busy living our lives to realize what just happened. Like Jesus and the parables, God often answers in parables. We have to learn to recognize these events when they occur and ponder their meaning. The next time something a little out of the ordinary happens to you, take a minute to think about what could be the meaning. Nothing happens by chance in God's plan. When something a little different happens, it is his nudge to you to stop and pay attention. It is absolutely amazing how much he tells each of us if we will only stop and listen.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), February 12, 2001.

Colleen - have you been reading Conversations with God? I was wondering if anyone else had read it.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 14, 2001.

Thanks Colleen, I do listen to God and feel quite certain at times just what he would have me do. It's just there are times when I have not a clue what he would have me do. I can't believe that I am the only one who is left wondering at times???

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 14, 2001.

"After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done..." "...so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." -Judges 2:10; 21:25

The reason that I wrote those two verses (out-of-context I admit) is because I am seeing and hearing more and more about everyone wanting to do or say whatever he/she wants regardless of its impact. Remember that reaping and sowing thing? God's not foolin'.

-- Dave in Fl. (pokeymoo@bellsouth.net), February 17, 2001.

I watched the day unfold like a nightmare with my Mother. She could barely hold her head up or focus because she was dying of lung cancer. She wept, she moaned, she prayed for these children. And at last whispered "What a sick world we live in. These children are dying because of meaness." Oh, how I wished then how I could send my four children with my mom to heaven when she died on May 1, 1999. A safe harbor but then I remembered that Christ said to not be afraid he is with us till the end of time. I was listening to James Dobson lastnight and they were talking about the "Gay Lesbian Straight Alliance" and how it is aggressively getting its agenda into more and more schools and getting younger and younger children--Kindergarden! All on the pretext of teachingtolerance and antihatred. PLEASE PARENTS AND ALL ADULTS LET US PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING. They have already turn the latest school shooting into a platform for the "gay boy was abused" because of hatred taught to students by the parents! GOD BLESS ALL and PRAY!for our children and our schools. (How can we tell our children that life is precious when our government tells us it is a choice of life or death? What is the difference between aborted babies and shooting of those we choose to in the eyes of our children?)

-- Jennifer in Kennesaw (KRZE24@aol.com), March 21, 2001.

This was on television a while ago, national news. I saw and heard him give part of the speech. I wonder why it's being resurrected as new? Not that it isn't important, it is, of course. But it happened quite a while ago and it was publicized.

-- Peg in NW WI (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), March 21, 2001.

Hendo, Cain and Abel got their dad's hand me down version of faith. So did their brother, Seth, but it seems more close adherence to the faith took place along Seth's lineage. (maybe he took it more to heart, like his brother Abel did, before his murder. The writings followed Seth, the miracles, the deliverance from the flood, etc. etc. xxx Colleen, Good stuff, I appreciate that. xxx Diane, Most of us with any degree of honesty, would confess to having those clueless times. Even John the Baptist had moments like you are describing, doubting whether he should be baptizing this Messiah, or perhaps in his prison cell, doubting the vision of the dove/holy spirit, even doubting if he picked the right one. When you feel like you've come to one of those dead-ends, stop...consider... and pick up again doing the LITTLE things, like feeding the poor, visiting the sick, or just picking SOMEONE each day that you are going to bless, or give something to, even if it's just a kind word. Pretty soon problems always start to look smaller when I focus like that. Just try to picture "What is GOD focusing on, today???" The bible says: "He is ever mindful of HIS COVENANT". Okay... gotta find out what THAT involves, and then get MYSELF involved IN it. Pretty soon, I recognize his hand on my shoulder, again. Simple stuff like that. Jesus said: "...preach the gospel to the poor...". (Gospel means good news) So, go find something that would be good news to POOR folks, and get involved in THAT. AS A MATTER OF FACT: Jesus answered John the Baptist's doubts with that exact subject matter: Matthew 11:4-7. Check it out. Pretty cool.

-- The Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.