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MAY 2017
PRABUDDH JEEVAN
35
Practicing Forgiveness in Difficult Situations
By Dilip V. Shah, Philadelphia, USA [ Dilip V. Shah of Philadelphia is a past president of JAINA. He is currently serving as chairman of JAINA's Diaspora Committee and member of the Academic Liaison Committee. He is a frequent contributor to the Jain Digest.]
"Unforgivable" is an adjective used by many in nearby Chester county, rode together, in a procession exasperation, anger or in resignation. We see and hear over 12 miles long. Letters of sympathy for the parents about acts of brutal violence everywhere and wonder of the victims poured from around the world - some how the victim's families must be dealing with such were addressed simply to "Amish families, USA." Over atrocities. The feelings of anger and retaliation seem four million dollars were raised in support of the families like a normal reaction. But many decide to take a of victims. different path; path of love, kindness, forgiveness. In In a country, where gun violence is on an increase, this article we bring you a few true events at a national, what made news in this case was not the reaction of communal and individual level that challenge the need the world at large or the media coverage or the justice of the word "unforgivable" in our psyche.
system, but the response to the tragedy from the United Nations has declared October 2nd, birthday victimized community. Their reaction showed their deep of Mahatma Gandhi, as an international day of adherence to their Christian beliefs, their grace and celebration of Non Violence. But a small Amish farmland collective projection of forgiveness. of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania remembers The Amish community didn't cast blame, point October 2, 2006 for a very different reason. A typical fingers or held press conference with lawyers on their day in autumn everywhere is quiet and peaceful. side. Instead, they reached out with grace and However this town was robbed of the peace with compassion to the killer's family. The afternoon of the sounds of gunfire from inside an Amish one room shooting, before the blood on the school floor had even School. When the police broke in, they discovered the dried, an Amish grandfather of one of the killed airl. bodies of 10 girls between the ages of 6 and 13 who expressed forgiveness towards the killer. The same were shot by a local 36 year old Charles Carl Roberts. day, Amish neighbours visited Roberts family to comfort who had then committed suicide. Five of the girls died them in their pain and sorrow. Robert's family was of gunshot wounds - two of those were sisters. invited to the funeral of one of the girls and Amish
Charles Roberts was himself a father of two. His mourners outnumbered English mourners at the funeral family and his in laws all lived in this community of 3,000 of Charles Roberts. When Roberts family expressed Amish and Englishmen (term Amish use for Non- desire to move out of the community, the Amish Amish). He was a milk truck driver serving the counseled them to stay. They also raised funds for the community. Nine years earlier, his wife delivered their orphaned kids of Charles Roberts. first child that died after living only for 20 minutes. This act of forgiveness was not an act of a few Charles blamed God for the tragedy and resolved to
individuals but of an entire community that followed the avenge the death of his little girl. When he entered the teachings of Jesus who taught his followers to forgive school, some of the children even recognized him. On one another and place the needs of others before the blackboard he noticed a welcoming sign. "Visitors themselves. This noble act was covered by more than Bubble Up our Days". It did not deter him from the
3,000 stories worldwide and more than half a million gruesome act he had planned.
websites. Forgiveness healed the entire community. The unfathomable story was covered extensively There are a few books written about this extraordinary by the local and national pressinforming people all even around the world. The Amish community scrupulously
(http://lancasterpa.com/amish-blog/amishavoids publicity but the tragedy exposed them to the
shooting-forgiveness-books/) shocked and bewildered world. Not only the Amish but the entire Lancaster County came together in their South Africa gained independence in 1910 but it shock and grief. Thousands gathered at various became the government of white minority denying basic churches for prayers. Over 3,000 motorcyclists from human rights to the black majority. Afrikaner National
