[SEL] test...now 33...OT

[Frank DeWitt]

Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine 
High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado

"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, mind, 
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 wreak 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.
"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 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!"



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    Frank DeWitt              |  mailto:frank at lbpinc.com
    Mechanical Design      |  Phone:  585 624 3052
    LBP  INC.                   |  Fax     585 624 1038
    2365 Cox Rd.              |     N 42.9130  W 
77.5164|
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