Forgiveness is the only antidote to violence. Mimetic theorists understand this in the light of Jesus' death. The power of forgiveness is stronger than any bomb, it even conquers death itself. Imagine how America, a "Christian" nation might have responded after 9/11 if we had the faith of the Amish....Imagine how different the world would be today...
LETTER FROM AMISH COMMUNITY
The following letter was sent to the Lancaster Sunday News as a letter to the editor. It also was sent to the Philadelphia Inquirer by Donald B. Kraybill, senior fellow at the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, who assisted Benuel S. Riehl in composing the letter.
October 6, 2006
As a member of the Amish community, I wish to say thank you for the overwhelming support so many people have shown to us this week.
While the events in Nickel Mines this past week have been tragic, the generous response of the larger community and the world has been overwhelming. Our perceptions of “worldly” and “outsiders” have been challenged and changed. It has been reaffirmed to us that there is much good in the rest of the world. It is reassuring that in spite of our different identities, we can still reach out to each other as human brothers and sisters with the same hopes, fears, desires and feelings in difficult times.
I know I speak for the rest of the Amish community when I say that we wish to show our appreciation and express our gratitude for all the bountiful support and prayers we have received. Thanks to all the police officials and emergency teams for their efforts and bravery. And thanks to everyone for their acts of kindness, prayers, and goodwill.
We also wish to extend our condolences and prayers to the Roberts and Welk families. I wish yet to say that with God all things are possible and that in heaven the Lion and the Lamb shall lie down together.
Benuel S. Riehl
Narvon, Pa.
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