Ann, Where have you gone off to? I watch you every day on the Today Show and they say you are off on assignment. What are you covering, so I can anticipate your report. Oh yeah, I loved to piece with your Dad.

Ann, thank you for educating us. You not only brought us the "news" but gave us an insight into the Amish way of life. I have certainly learned the true meaning of "forgiveness" from these people.
Please continue this kind of coverage. It was refreshing to see true Christianity covered for a change!

Ann, you are to be commended for your coverage of the Amish Massacre. I live within walking distance of the school and have heard that a news woman from a rival channel actually dressed up as an amish woman and snuck into the 'invitation only' funeral. Of course, she was spotted right away and asked to leave. What gall! She was putting her own career before the plight and sorrow of the greiving families. This is what our world has come to. The only way to change this sad state of the world is to change it in our own lives.
The Amish have a God given right to their privacy, as we all do. Pray that we may be of some help to someone who needs our help and understanding. Ask God to put that person in our path and to guide us as we minister to them. It's not just about forgiveness, it's about our way of life and how we live it.

Ann, Brian, and NBC news,
Thanks for your respectful coverage of this situation. To those who question why it's been covered for a number of days, I can only say that it's because you sense it goes to the heart of one of the most important problems in America--lack of a moral and ethical belief system that demands self-control, communal discipline, and sacrifice. That used to be the consensus among most communities in America, and seeing this situation unfold reminds us in some vague way of how far we have become separated from that. I teach in an Mennonite school and want to let you know that many are grateful for your gracious coverage of the tragedy and for your willingness to allow the community to speak of their faith and deep beliefs. Let's not forget to pray for all the world's children who suffer because of wrong priorities that adults and governments hold. Bless you.

So sorry about this tragedy. We are praying for them, also for the Robert"s family as we have great grandchildren those ages.We need to forgive even as it may be hard to do, but God will help as He had promised.

at this sad time i want to say my heart goes out to the familys that have lost the children. having lost my own son this year the saddness is very heart breaking. i have cried over the amish familys lose. my prayers are with the familys of the children. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.....

Randall, from Yuma Arizona,
I don't know you and you do not know me, but very quickly I can see that you are a very bitter man and I'm sorry that you've been wounded to the point of even hating the very God Who created you and loves you so much. I want you to know that God understands your pain and even your hatred. And just as the Amish people forgave the man who killed their daughters, God forgives you. They learned to forgive from Him, because He first forgave us.
Randall, what is it about God that you fear? What is it about His love that turns you to hatred? Just because you say that God does not exist does not mean that He is is going to disappear and be gone. Think about it, what if God really does exist, do you really want to burn that bridge? Believe me when I tell you that God loves you and is waiting for you with open arms, no matter what you say about Him or what you may have done. I hope you will give Him a try. I rpomise, you will not regret it. If I can help, contact me.

THIS HORRIFC EVENT HAS TOUCH ME IN A WAY I CANNOT EVEN
EXPLAIN. HAVING TWO DAUGHTERS OF MY OWN AGES 6 AND 8,MY HEART BREAKS WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE TERROR THESE CHILDREN FELT IN THEIR FINAL MOMENTS,IT BREAKS MY HEART AND FILLS ME WITH ANGER.
IAM TRULY HUMBLED BY THE AMISH TEACHINGS OF FORGIVNESS

It may be giving too much diginity to Floyd Jacobs norman, ok. to answer his comment. I am a conservative Mennonite akin to the Amish only accepting more technology. I grew up minutes from the shooting site and were surrounded by Amish. The "shunning" aspect of teh Amish is NOT hate in sense. Instead, it is a response in an effort to keep themselves committed to our Lord. How would it work for the soliders of the USA to mingle and fellowship with those who have left the army and have linked arms with the enemies forces? The Amish and us welcome back with open arms any who are willing to return an remain true to their commitment.

May the convicting power of God be upon Randal Farrar, of Yuma AZ. Repent before it is too late!

May God bless all those who hearts are turned toward him in this event.

The big story is not the senseless destruction and death one person caused. But the love and forgiving nature of the people involved. I personally have been in a state of rage about this event. Seeing the love of these gentle people has brought to tears more than once. Their faith is a remarkable thing and has helped boost my own.

Thanks Ann, for your sensitivity in reporting a very sad story, but not only did the Amish lose children, this shooter destroyed his own family. Why is it becoming easier for adults to abuse the children we as adults swore to protect under all circumstances. What have we become when the children of the world have become the victims of anyone who chooses to abuse. Teachers, clergy, parents, grandparents, and strangers. Thanks again Ann for an outstanding report. I will pray a little harder tonight for all our little ones.

This whole situation has nothing to do with politics or even religion. It's about the free will of one man to do something incredibly horrific. Anyone who considers the execution of five little girls to not be worth more than one short story at the back of a newscast is possibly more inhumane than the person who actually did the shooting. It doesn't matter that the little girls were Amish....they could have very well been any religion or ethnicity....their deaths and the families that they left behind are worth reporting on. I was shocked to read that someone actually thought that the Amish would think that their children were better off dead. How depraved. The Amish are not rebelling against the modern world, they simply choose to live in a manner separate from it. Their beliefs and way of life are not only part of their religion, it's who they are. They grieve just like the rest of us would over the loss of a child. Their belief that their children have moved onto a better life is, mostly likely, what is getting them through this. I feel that Ann and most of the other news sources have handled the reporting of this tragedy with respect for the Amish community.

I agree wholeheartedly with forgiving and showing the world that as christianswe live by what we preach, but on the other hand,this gunman isno hero so lets not makehim out to be one. I amnot saying anyone is I am just saying I do not want to see it get blown up to that proportion

Ann..Thank you. I needed to hear this today. And as for Mr.randal farrar yuma, of Arizona...you don't evidently don't know our Lord Jesus Christ...who is a loving God. When people like you are full of Satan, you can't comprehend God's Love!!! We need to send you back where you came from...HELL!

Thanks for such a compelling post. I'm with Chris and Judy--and I'll add that it's sad that there are those who consider coverage of this senseless crime and its aftermath "sensationalized" or "tabloid" and don't consider the follow-up stories to be "real news." (Shades of those so-called human beings who don't feel post-Katrina coverage is "real news" even though people are still suffering and a lot of other things are still going on in the storm zone.)

I find NBC Nightly's coverage to be very sensitive and compassionate, as well as necessary. This story speaks to the concerns many people have about such things as school safety nowadays--since it happened in a week when other school killings such as the one in Colorado have been going on.

It's time to let the Amish people bury their loved ones in peace. We need not intrude on them anymore.

I watch the news to learn things and to grow in the person that I am. I am surprised by so many people that always have such a negative outlook in life. People that alway critize others and their opinions. News should be something that we watch an learn or hey turn it off. No one is forcing you to watch the new. If you don't like what is on change the channel or turn it off. But to critize someone for what they believe or what is on the new is a personal attack for a personal reason. Don't watch it if you don't like it. Or watch it and deal with it. The world is a huge place of people with different opinions and ideas. To each his own. I watch Ann Curry because I like her stories if I don't I turn the channel. Free will.

Truly a sad, sad, news. Although, the children and their families are strangers to me, I feel the anger and deep grieving for the victims in this horrendous crime like it happened to my own. The Amish people are truly forgiving given the nature. I cannot comprehend the feeling. I guess, they are forgiving for me.

I pray for the victims and their families. This really touched me in a way that I cannot forgive this man nor any murderers who use innocence for their warped, twisted urge.

The facts of this story are horrendous..... in all respects. From the man who committed the crime, to the children who witnessed this horror to those who died. What I find so touching in this, is that in the "real" world as we know it, there is always someone to blame, there is anger vented, the scene of horror becomes worse by the violence it generates and the seethng cycle continues unabated.

Here we see the commitment to peace, to forgiveness, to community, to loving and simple values, shine in the face of horror. And the breathtaking beauty of that holds with it the promise of something far transcending our normal "human" values. These people have been more than gracious in allowing the world at their doorstep in their time of greatest tragedy... and in this vulnerablility I see we walk on hallowed ground. May we treat this encounter with sacredness, with humility, with tender generosity of spirit. Their example of God in their lives, truly lived, expresses itself far differently than what we normally see. I for one am touched; profoundly. May we honor these dear people for the example they give of true humility and love, and may we take away the precious gift we see of true compassion and forgiveness.

In the 80's I had the unique opportunity to be a supplier to the Amish community in Lancaster County. I am gravely saddened by this horrible loss to their family. I am also appalled at the fact that CBS would choose to run a piece on their national news segment which touts the Amish children "sowing their wild oats" where they experiment with alcohol and tobacco.

We need to take a lesson from the people who renounce the commercial world and take heed of family life and religion as the center of their lives.

After two years living amonst them I have (a long time ago) come to the realization that they, indeed, have life figured out.
My heart goes out to them.

Anne, Forgiveness is one of the most powerful aggressions we can have against evil. Think of the many things that happen to one's self when we forgive. Spiritual healing for illnesses of the mind and body, for carrying unrelenting unforgiven acts in the mind certainly make the body sick, and can destroy the mind, forgiveness allows God to do His work, not only in you, but in the perpetrator as well. Truly it is a powerful act. But we must also know that forgiving does not mean we have to allow the ones who have done evil to us to return for a similar round, and must not give over to their depravities. It also does not mean that we forget as well what has transpired. But do not put ourselves in the position to be harmed again. God's grace is sufficient for the day, but what about the night when a mother's heart is crying out for her baby. Grace will still be there, but may be harder to find. Forgiving makes it easier.

As a teacher locked-down during the Dawson College shooting on Sept. 13 (seems ages ago, eh?) I cried out that this can't happen in Canada and certainly not at my college!
I was wrong.

No one should have to live through this, least of all young people on the verge of exploring life on their own. I think that the Dawson Community is fairly close and we are, even now, pulling through this.

I have visited the Amish community around Lancaster some years ago and cannot imagine the emotional shock waves this caused.

I wish it in my heart to forgive Kimveer Gill half as much as the Amish have apparently done Charles Carl Roberts.

Bob

Thanks for the great story Ann. I'm from Lancaster County (PA), so I have a pretty good idea of how innocent and sincere the Amish people really are. We can all learn some valuable lessons from them. I was pleased to discover that many other people who posted comments here are Christians. But regardless of one's faith, let's at least learn some moral values. As the amish lady was quoted in the article, "You know you have to live it. You can't just say it. " I have a message to anyone who had anything negative to say about this article...Get rid of your pride and start forgiving people who have wronged you. You'll not only become happier yourself, but you'll also make others around you less miserable.

I'm sure as most of us sit in our living rooms and watch the coverage and read the blogs we do not understand how quickly the Amish have forgiven such an aweful event. Several Amish families live in my community, some of the families here are from Lancaster County, and these girls are their relatives. The Amish are wonderful people who are genuine. Their faith is very strong, they rely on God in everything they do. This has been not only hard on their community, our community but on the entire nation. This violence has to stop somewhere. I understand having to make the general public aware of what happened but I am sure that the families would rather it not be broadcasted, they are very private, they move thier churches every week so that they are not disturbed. I am sure this is quite overwhelming to them and I hope we can move on quickly, while we understand how horrific this has been, we should be looking to prevent this further and not dwell on what has been done, we will never fully understand it, I hope we do not over analyze it.

Our sympathies go out to all the Amish people at such a sad time - Ann thank you for being there and reporting -in a respectable way - your reporting might help others realize that we need to forgive as these people are being so forgiving at such a terrible time for them. Yes we ask WHY? to such a loving community? such beautiful young lives? Let us all Pray for one another and maybe change the world by turning to prayer more often. God Bless all the vicitims and their families.