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Author Topic:   Innocent Children Executed Over A 20 Year Old Grudge
Mirandee
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Posts: 1738
From: South of the Thumb Taurus, Pisces, Cancer
Registered: Sep 2004

posted October 03, 2006 12:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mirandee     Edit/Delete Message
This is what comes of holding grudges and of being either unable or unwilling to forgive, let go and move on.

We see it everywhere in our society, we see it around LL. This is the third school shooting nation wide in the U.S. just this past week and the worse ever, much worse than Columbine. Not just because it happened in a peaceful Amish community, but because these little girls were lined up, bound and shot execution style in the head. Why? Because this man held a 20 year old grudge that these babies had nothing to do with.

Learn to forgive and let go of the past no matter how bad it was. If you can't seek psychiatric help. Because what is not dealt with and worked out and forgiven crowds in on you the older you get.

Prayers and healing light for the parents who lost their children today and for the family of the man who did this horrible thing.


Police: Man Executed Amish Girls At Pa. School
Shooter Allegedly Sought Revenge From Childhood Incident

POSTED: 12:16 pm EDT October 2, 2006
UPDATED: 8:52 pm EDT October 2, 2006


Police said the man who opened fire at an Amish school in Pennsylvania Monday had let the boys and the adult women leave while holding the girls hostage -- and then shot them as police arrived.

Police said they found the bodies of three girls at the scene, along with the body of the gunman, who had turned the gun on himself. They said several other victims were taken to hospitals -- some with very serious injuries. All had gunshot wounds.

The shooter, identified as Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, sent the male students and some adult females out of the West Nickel Mines Amish School, state police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said. He then barricaded himself inside. Miller said Roberts had forced many of the children to line up against the blackboard and that he bound their feet with wire ties and flex cuffs.

"He bound the female students up by the blackboard and apparently executed them," Miller said.

Miller said Roberts was a husband, father of three and milk truck driver from nearby Bart, Pa. His wife said she suspected nothing Monday morning as her husband walked their children to the bus stop about 8:45 a.m. She said she left the house, then came home later to find what appeared to be several suicide notes to her and the children.

When asked about a motive, Miller said Roberts called his wife at 11 a.m., but did not tell her where he was. Roberts said to her during that call that he was acting out to achieve revenge for something that happened 20 years ago. He told her he loved her and he would not be home, but that the notes he left would explain it all. Miller did not elaborate on what the event was that caused him to want revenge 20 years later, but said that it appears he wanted to attack young, female victims -- which is why he chose the school.

"He told her he loved her and that was it," Miller said.

"It's obvious to us that this was a premeditated hostage scenario," Miller said. "I believe, based on what the investigators have so far, he intended not to walk out of there alive, but he also intended to kill innocent victims."

An emergency call came in from a school teacher, saying a man entered the school and had taken hostages, Miller said. He said there were about 15 male children attending school and somewhere from 10 to 12 female students in the school -- along with teacher's aides and a teacher.

Miller said the shooter allowed all the boys and one adult pregnant female to leave. He then allowed three other adult females with infant children to leave, Miller said. The teacher got out at that time and got to a phone and dialed 911.

There were seven injured victims taken to hospitals, all suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the shot females died in the arms of a state trooper, Miller said.

"He apparently told the kids to line up, " Miller said. "He began to tie the female children's feet together."

"These victims were shot execution-style in the head," Miller said.

Police said Roberts entered the school with the intention of taking hostages. He had two guns, Miller said.

Miller said Roberts was apparently preparing for a long siege, arming himself with a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and a rifle, along with a bag of about 600 rounds of ammunition, two cans of smokeless powder, two knives and a stun gun on his belt. He also had rolls of tape, various tools and a change of clothes.

Troopers responded at 10:45 a.m. and began to set up a perimeter around the school house. The gunman could see the police, Miller said. Police immediately tried to get a hold of the man over a speaker system. A short time later, a call was received from the 911 facility. The 911 operator said he'd spoken to the gunman and that if police did not leave in 10 seconds, he would begin shooting people, Miller said.

The negotiator for police immediately tried to call the man's cell phone, police said. The trooper, who was the negotiator, heard multiple shots in quick succession. It appeared that the gunman was using his automatic handgun, although he had an automatic handgun and a shotgun, Miller said.

The troopers immediately stormed the one -room schoolhouse, but all of the doors were blocked. He had taken boards with him to block all the exits to the building. They couldn't get in through the doors, so they had to break into the windows. By the time they were in, Roberts had shot students, someone who appeared to be a teacher's aide and himself.

Miller said he had no immediate evidence that the victims were sexually assaulted.

Killed were two students, and a female teacher's aide who was 15 or 16 years old, authorities said.

Some two hours after the shooting, about three dozen people in traditional Amish clothing, including hats and bonnets, were seen standing near the small school building, talking to one another and to authorities.

"This is a horrendous, horrific incident for the Amish community. They're solid citizens in the community. They're good people. They don't deserve ... no one deserves this," Miller said.

Roberts was not Amish and appeared to have nothing against the Amish community, Miller said. Instead, Miller said, he apparently picked the school because it was close by, there were girls there, and it had little or no security.

Amish families waited at a nearby farm to find out which children survived. People who were at the scene said that Lancaster County, Pa., has never seen a tragedy like this.

"They're all little kids," said a man who lives near the school. "I see the kids come right by my house … they're always friendly, waving, smile. They come to our house sometimes selling different goods … They're sweet kids. It just blows my mind. It's as quiet as can be out here."

The schoolhouse serves about 30 students from first to eighth grade.

The school is among farmlands just outside Nickel Mines, a tiny village about 55 miles west of Philadelphia.


Statement From Wife Of Charles Carl Roberts IV


The following statement is from Marie Roberts, the wife of Charles Carl Roberts IV, the 32-year-old man accused of shooting students at an Amish school. It was read by family spokesman Dwight LeFever:


"The man that did this today was not the Charlie I've been married to for almost 10 years. My husband was loving, supportive and thoughtful - all the things you'd always want and more. He was an exceptional father. He took the kids to soccer practice and games, played ball in the backyard and took our 7-year-old daughter shopping. He never said no when I asked him to change a diaper. Our hearts are broken, our lives shattered and we grieve for the innocent lives that were lost today. Above all, please pray. Pray for the families who lost children today. Please pray for our family and children."

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silverstone
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Posts: 1061
From:
Registered: Mar 2006

posted October 03, 2006 12:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for silverstone     Edit/Delete Message

I don't know about the world anymore

By the way, Mirandee, it is good to see you post more here in Universal Codes

------------------
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.- Robert Frost~

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sue g
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From: former land of the leprechaun
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posted October 03, 2006 03:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for sue g     Edit/Delete Message
Prayers and healing light being sent for all concerned

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geminstone
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From: Golden, CO
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posted October 03, 2006 03:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for geminstone     Edit/Delete Message
No doubt! Here in Colorado, a very similar event has happened....

Article Last Updated: 9/28/2006 11:50 AM

denver & the west | platte canyon high school
Hostage horror

By Carlos Illescas, Karen Rouse and Joey Bunch
Denver Post Staff Writers
DenverPost.com

Bailey - A teenage hostage was fatally shot Wednesday as authorities stormed a Platte Canyon High School classroom to end an armed standoff.

An unidentified man, who had entered the school late Wednesday morning and initially taken six hostages, fired at approaching SWAT officers and then at the female hostage before shooting himself, Park County authorities said. He died at the scene.

The girl was flown to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, where she was pronounced dead at 4:32 p.m. Hospital spokeswoman Bev Lilly said she believed the girl was shot in the head. Authorities did not release the name of the victim, but friends of the family said she was 16-year-old Emily Keyes. Lynn Bigham, a friend of the victim's, described Emily as "sweet and affectionate."

School officials told investigators that some of the hostages said they were sexually assaulted, according to Lance Clem, spokesman for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

But, Clem added, it is unclear whether they were raped or fondled.

"There have been conflicting reports," Clem said.

The gunman entered classroom 206 on the second floor at 11:40 a.m., ordered several students and the teacher to leave, and took six female hostages. All but two of the hostages had been released by the time Jefferson County SWAT officers charged into the room shortly after 3:30 p.m., about 3 1/2 hours after the standoff began.

"We were afraid of the worst, and we had to do what we had to do," Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener said. "I don't know why he wanted to do this."

The man was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and carrying a backpack, and, according to witnesses, seemed to be looking for someone specific, although police would not confirm that. A law enforcement official said investigators have found no connection between the man and the school.

The gunman entered Sandra Smith's honors English class and fired a shot into the ceiling from his handgun, then told all the students to stand facing the chalkboard, said Tom Grigg, whose son, Cassidy, was in the classroom.

Then the man, who said he was carrying explosives in his backpack, approached each boy in the class and told him to get out.

"Some really bad things"

"A guy came up and pointed a gun at (Cassidy) and told him to leave," Grigg said. "He said, 'No, I want to stay with the girls,' and the guy put the gun in his face and said, 'You. Out of here."'

Grigg said his son told him, "There were some really bad things that happened in that classroom."

Once school officials realized the threat, they issued a "code white" alert over the intercom, meaning the school was in lockdown.

Wegener and Park County sheriff's deputies secured the building and tried to negotiate with the gunman, who refused to speak directly with them. The hostages were used to relay messages to authorities, Wegener said.

The man released four of the six girls, one at a time, but kept two inside the room as negotiators intensified their discussions with him, said Wegener, whose son was among the students evacuated during the siege.

The gunman made threats and said "something will happen" at 4 p.m., according to the sheriff's office.

"It was then decided that a tactical solution needed to be done in an effort to save the two hostages in the room," Wegener said.

With Park County officials securing the inner perimeter of the school, the Jefferson County SWAT team entered the classroom shortly after 3:30 p.m., using explosives, Wegener said.

The gunman had shielded himself with one of the two girls and fired at the officers, who pulled one girl to safety. Wegener didn't say whether officers returned fire.

Can't help but second-guess

Late Wednesday, Wegener said he couldn't help but second-guess his decision to send officers into the classroom.

"Yes, of course," Wegener said when asked whether he questioned his strategy. "I have to go and eventually face a family about the fact that their daughter is dead. What would you do?"

When he got the call, Wegener said he was "scared to death. No one wants anything like this to happen in their school."

"I was just praying we'd do the right thing."

As the standoff dragged on, frantic parents searched for information about the status of their children.

Patti Browning's son was on a field trip to Denver when he called her to let her know he was OK. "That was a relief," she said, "but I'm still worried for all the others."

Dawn Mack, whose daughter attends Conifer High School, was at Deer Creek Elementary School, where evacuated students were taken, to check on her friends' children. She had heard all sorts of rumors, including that some children were being molested by the gunman.

"You don't know what's going on," Mack said. "You don't know what to believe. ... In that condition, your mind just goes out there."

About 3 p.m., cheers erupted when buses turned toward Deer Creek Elementary. Parents waved joyfully, many shouting "I love you" when they spotted their children through bus windows.

Sarah Mendoza was overcome with emotion when she spotted her son, who attends Fitzsimmons Middle School, which is adjacent to the high school.

"This is a parent's worst nightmare," she said. "I can't tell you how happy I am."

The standoff was eerily similar to the Columbine High School shooting seven years ago, as televised images showed students lining up and boarding school buses.

At Deer Creek Elementary on Wednesday, Bill Twyford of Bailey said he received a text message about 20 minutes before noon from his 15-year-old son, Billy. The message said, "Hey, there's a gun-hijacking in our school right now. I'm fine. Bad situation, though."

Students told to go into gym

As police negotiated with the gunman, deputies told students to put their hands on their heads and go into the gymnasium.

"People were crying and people were going around looking for their friends and trying to cheer themselves up," said sophomore Randell Callahan. "All the teachers from the high school were in there."

Park County Coroner Sharon Morris said the body of the gunman was still in the classroom as of 6 p.m. Morris said she knew the identity of the gunman but was still in the process of notifying the family and could not release his name.

A 4-mile stretch of U.S. 285 that was closed during the standoff is expected to remain closed until noon today.

School officials have set up a counseling center for students and their families at Platte Canyon Community Church in Bailey. It will open today at 7 a.m. Platte Canyon High School and Fitzsimmons Middle School will be closed today and Friday.

"It's been a difficult day for our community," said Jim Walpole, superintendent of Platte Canyon School District. "Our hearts, our prayers are with our students, staff and their families."

Staff writers John Ingold, Joey Bunch, Ann Schrader, Felisa Cardona, Kieran Nicholson, Manny Gonzales, Katharine Bernuth, Steve Lipsher and Erin Emery contributed to this report.

Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.

... It's such a frustrating and scarey existance...

~ geminstone

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sue g
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From: former land of the leprechaun
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posted October 03, 2006 03:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for sue g     Edit/Delete Message
Oh My...

I thank God the place where my family and I live is very safe....we never have things like this happen....tis a very gentle and safe place to live...

So sorry for anyone having to live in such an unsafe environment...

There for the grace of God go I....

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Mirandee
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Posts: 1738
From: South of the Thumb Taurus, Pisces, Cancer
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posted October 03, 2006 09:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mirandee     Edit/Delete Message
Thank you, silverstone. It is very sweet of you to say that.

All of the school shootings are shocking but what was most shocking about the last two is that they happened in rural areas of the country where on the most part people do feel safe. There were only about 600 or 800 people living in the whole town in Wisconsin where the last school shooting took place and the principal was killed. This shooting took place in a quiet, peaceful Amish community.

There really is no safe place in the world any longer. It can't be taken for granted that because we live in a small town we are safe from violence because it seems that the world is getting crazier all the time. The world is getting more violent for sure and that violence spreads out like tentacles.

Violence to children in schools or any place else is unacceptable rather it is shooting, hitting or verbal and sexual assaults.

Up until now the school shootings have been done by other students. I don't understand how this man, who had children of his own, could do this horrible thing to other children.

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Mirandee
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From: South of the Thumb Taurus, Pisces, Cancer
Registered: Sep 2004

posted October 03, 2006 09:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mirandee     Edit/Delete Message
Geminstone,

I didn't know all the details about the Platte school shooting. Thanks for posting that.

It almost sounds like in someways a copycat style shooting in the Amish school. In both cases the boys were sent out of the classrooms and the targets were girls. They were uncertain if there were sexual assualts in this case too.

The copycat thing is what most worries me as my grand daughters just left for school this morning. It's getting where you are afraid to send your kids to school. It is the one time when we can't be with them and keep a close eye on them.

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Wednesday
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From: The big C... Canada :)
Registered: Jul 2006

posted October 03, 2006 10:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wednesday     Edit/Delete Message
Oh, that is just messed up, man

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Yang
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posted October 03, 2006 10:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Yang     Edit/Delete Message

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Mannu
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posted October 03, 2006 10:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mannu     Edit/Delete Message

Hello Mirandee,
That is horrendous. The sin in the man made him do that. The sin is the mind that creates arrogance.

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Yang
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From: A temporary home
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posted October 03, 2006 12:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Yang     Edit/Delete Message
Just read a report on the Net,that the killer, at the Amish school, said to his wife, on the phone, that he molested some young family members 20 years ago!

It is just so sick and sad!

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lotusheartone
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From: piopolis, quebec canada
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posted October 03, 2006 01:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lotusheartone     Edit/Delete Message
this stuff makes me cry and feel alot of pain..
Sending Lots of Healing LOve Light..to those who were effected by these horrible incidents..
and to ALL. ...

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Heart--Shaped Cross
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Posts: 2944
From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted October 03, 2006 05:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
The news consistently reports tragedies, and we think the world is full of tragedy. We do not hear reports of the billions of people who had nothing horriffic happen to them today. We don't hear about how Sue Something from Generic, Oklahoma, fell in love today with a great guy who loves her back, and is going to make her happy for the next 50 years. We dont hear about how her daughter learned to play the harpsicord (or whatever), and how that provided a release for the stress caused by her speech impediment (for example). We don't hear the millions of stories like that.

"[Mankind only likes to count their troubles,
never their joys.]" - Dostoevski

I know, whether or not I turn on the t.v., somebody was raped today, some little kid was beaten or starved or shot in the face, and the president is more concerned with fanning the flames of war, than educating the citizens and leaders of tomorrow, and providing healthcare for people who are sick and dying in this country (I'm writing from the U.S.). I know all this. I dont need to marinate in this negativity for an hour or two every evening, in order to feel informed.

"[Trying to tell what is going on in the world by reading the newspaper,
is like trying to tell time
by studying the minute hand on a clock.]"
- some dude

We see all these apparent symptoms of the decline of Western Civilization. Maybe things are worse, maybe not. There have always been murders, holocausts, and inquisitions. In any case, we dont help much by focussing on the negative, by getting angry and feeling lost and helpless, fearing for our lives, our children's lives, and our children's children's lives. I think our thoughts have power, and it is destructive to imagine the world "getting worse every day". I think that is a self-fulfilling prophecy, if ever there was one.

Tragedies begin small. The fires of war begin as sparks and embers of fear, anger, bitterness, and distrust in our own hearts. A man on the way to commit an atrocity can pass you on the street, and, maybe, just maybe, if you smile at him, he will give his plan a second thought. Or, maybe, because you just saw something on the news last night that got you full of negativity, you are in no mood to smile, so, instead, you look away from this man, and he reads the pain in your face, and it only confirms his twisted view of the world. And he continues on his way.

This is how responsibility works. All things are connected. You dont have to take the weight of the world on your shoulders, but, try to smile, share your awareness of what is good in the world today, and, without even knowing it, you may be scattering some hopeful seeds for a better tomorrow.

Also, I just want to say that I think it is shameless how the t.v. reporters had their helicopters circling overhead, to bring us live shots of the Amish durring their time of shock and mourning. These people want only to be rid and free of such modern intrusions into the purity of their world. No one should have cameras in their faces and helicopters over their heads durring a time like this, and certainly not people whose religion strictly prohibits the use of such things. Disgraceful.



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Mannu
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posted October 04, 2006 12:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mannu     Edit/Delete Message
I believe the guy had gotten Lubricant (KY Jelly) with him.

I'm so glad he could see the light inspite of all that voices in his head.


Why does my heart bend towards the state of this man, who could have hurt the children but perhaps didn't? Should I feel peace that he is finally free, at the cost of few childrens life? Time would tell about what really happened in there.

Meanwhile heres a quote I found in a book by by Gary Renard:

"The voice of the Holy Spirit does not command, because it is incapable of arrogance. It does not demand, because it does not seek control. It does not overcome, because it does not attack. It merely reminds. It is compelling only because of what it reminds you of."

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Immortal-Advanced-Teachings-Miracles/dp/1591794447/ref=pd_sim_b_2/104-8729695-8664749?ie=UTF8

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Mirandee
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From: South of the Thumb Taurus, Pisces, Cancer
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posted October 04, 2006 12:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mirandee     Edit/Delete Message
Police said Roberts came to the one-room school prepared for a siege. They said he brought a change of clothes and toilet paper, but more disturbing police said were a piece of wood with evenly spaced eye bolts, zip ties and KY jelly. Police said they believe Roberts may have intended to secure the 10 girls to the board and assault them, but police said there is no evidence that there was any type of sexual assault.

Roberts shot each of the 10 girls inside the school house, shot at police and then shot himself in the head, police said. Three girls died at the scene and two more died overnight. Those killed are Naomi Rose Ebersole, 7; Ann Mae Stoltzfus, 12; Marian Fisher, 13; and sisters Mary Liz Miller, 8, and Lina Miller, 7.

The five other girls are hospitalized. Police are not releasing their names, but Jeffrey Miller said the girls are ages 6, 8, 8, 11 and 13.

He did hurt the children, Mannu. And many of them were just babies really.

I hear what you are saying, HSC, we can't live in fear or dwell strictly on the negative. However, we can't just ignore the negative things like this either. We need to work towards making our schools everywhere more secure and safe for our children.

Yes, many positive things happened in the world yesterday. But also 5 little girls, two who were sisters, were shot execution style in their school room and 5 mores little girls are hospitalized and we can only pray they will survive. Even if they do their young lives are altered forever from the truama of what happened to them and what they saw happen to others. We cannot just ignore the lives of these babies as if they never existed just because we only want to dwell on the positives. Just dwelling on the positives in life and filtering out all negative things is not dealing with reality. Reality is both negative and positive. It's not reality to just dwell on the positives in life any more than it is reality to just dwell on the negatives.

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Mannu
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posted October 04, 2006 12:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mannu     Edit/Delete Message
>>>>>He did hurt the children, Mannu. And many of them were just babies really.

Awww.....

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Heart--Shaped Cross
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From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
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posted October 04, 2006 03:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
Mirandee,

5 little girls died relatively quick,
painless deaths the other day...

Do you think that is news?

Here, if you want real issues to worry about:

"The U.N. says nearly 50,000 people,
mostly children, die of starvation every day...

"one in five people around the world
survive on less than one dollar a day...

"Every year, sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region of the world, spends $14.5 billion repaying debts to the world's richest countries and international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Currently the U.S. only spends .39% of its annual budget on efforts to fight global poverty (more than fifty percent, of course, goes to the military, not only to make people poor, but to kill them)." http://www.johndear.org/articles/champion.htm

I agree, the world contains both light and dark, and we need to be aware of the dark, in order to know where to bring the light. But, lets keep things in perspective...

We can beef-up security at schools, so that random shootings like this take place even less than two or three times a year, or, we can put that money and energy into feeding the thousands of children who are starving to death all over the world as we speak.

I'm not saying we should turn a blind eye to the darkness, but, dwelling on the 5 little girls who lost their lives on account of a disturbed man the other day is not going to feed the 25,000+ little girls and boys who will starve to death tomorrow on account of the unchecked greed of ordinary, so-called happy, healthy individuals like ourselves.

http://www.unicef.org/


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Yang
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From: A temporary home
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posted October 04, 2006 09:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Yang     Edit/Delete Message
Some pics:
www.news24.com/News24?Gallery/Home/0,,galleries-1-2940,00.html

There is a picture of the killer!


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Heart--Shaped Cross
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From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
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posted October 06, 2006 03:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
Mirandee,

Did you see that movie "The Secret"?


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Heart--Shaped Cross
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From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
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posted October 11, 2006 12:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
Dear Friend,

I just got back from Quantum Leap (one of my 3-day programs) in Las Vegas, and at the event, I was asked about the tragic shooting at the Amish schoolhouse last week. I'm glad it was asked because I saw a very important principle put into action by the Amish community...

The next day after the shooting, the Amish community of Lancaster County told the killer's family that they forgave him for what he'd done.

That's right. They forgave him...
You may be thinking "But James, how could they?" Well, here's the deal... You don't forgive for the other person. You forgive for yourself. Now I'll ask you, "How could they not forgive him?"

They forgave him... Have you?
You see, lack of forgiveness is an incredibly toxic vibration that harms you, and not the person you neglect to forgive. No one has ever died from a snake bite. When a snake bites, it stings. Death only comes from neglecting to remove the venom that courses through your veins.

Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Snake bites and challenges are a part of life, and to think otherwise is illusion. Don't wish for a problem-free, easier life... that's illusion. Instead, wish for greater capability and greater capacity to ease elegantly through life's challenges.

In challenging situations, we must ask, "How does this serve me?" and "What can I learn?" There is always a lesson to be learned, and in every challenging situation, there's an opportunity for goodness.

I travel all over the world, and people think they want an easier life... but they really don't. There's a law in our universe that states, "If you're not growing, you're dying." Life's challenges are how we grow. Like I mentioned before:

Wish for greater capability and greater capacity to ease elegantly through life's challenges.
Your self-worth, image and confidence depend upon your ability to easy elegantly through the challenges that life throws our way.

With that, I'd like to leave you with a quote from the venerable Martin Luther King, Jr. Although it was written referring to another period in our history, truth is timeless.

"[Violence] is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys a community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."


Your Friend,

James Arthur Ray
President/CEO
James Ray International

P.S. Check out my other free articles and resources at http://jamesray.com/resources

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