Yes, I know, strictly this not a travel item. However, I am moved to want to say that...many of us from the UK travel extensively throughout the USA and through our travels have been honoured to meet so many US citizens and have been welcomed and received unexpected hospitality: religions/beliefs unimportant. I met some Amish families in Indiana and will never forget their kindness to me when I was in difficulties.

Believe me, this country, and the world, is reeling from the news of the massacre in Pennsylvania and we cannot express how we grieve with you and the families, and wish we could help, if only in messages of sympathy.

Our thoughts too, for the family of the sad man who did this.

MaryJo

Your thoughts are very much appreciated.

Thank you MaryJo. The anguish the families are feeling must be overwhelming. It is a very sad day.

How kind of you, MaryJo.

This just off the wire: "A man who laid siege to a one-room Amish schoolhouse, killing five girls, told his wife by cell phone shortly before opening fire that he had molested two young relatives decades ago and was tormented by "dreams of molesting again," authorities said Tuesday."

Our heart goes out to these good people.

How thoughtful of you to share your feelings maryjo.

Thank you MaryJo.

Let us not just mourn the Amish children who were killed in the school shooting in Lancaster County (less than 40 miles from my home), but for all students and teachers murdered by violent predators in school settings.

Also, it is a stereotype to paint all Amish as good. Just like every other ethnic group, there are some good, some bad. You have to judge people as individuals, not by their ethnicity or religion.

I say this in all honesty because I have a close friend who was raised Amish but left the sect.

Whose good or bad has nothing to do with this very sweet and sincere post. These girls ranged in age from about 6 to 13, so Amish this or that is not relevent to anything. This was a horrible act and how lining young girls up, tying their ankles together and then going down the line, shooting them in the head, will help with anyones guilt over a prior molestation, just is beyond my comprehension. Well, the Lord can deal with him now, and hopefully he can find some way to comfort parents who are grieving.

Wow, someone can't even put out a comforting hand during a horrible situation without someone else lecturing them that they're not looking at it Correctly. That was cold.

Thank you for your kind thoughts MaryJo.

Fidel, I meant no disrespect. I am a former teacher so I am keenly aware of this horrid situation. I have been in school lockdowns myself.

In my above post, I was really addressing the issue of the title of the post, specifically the word "Amish." It doesn't matter if the children were Amish or not; they were just kids.

Here in Philadelphia, with our close proximity to the Amish and Mennonites, we have an insight into this world that you may not. I just find it "wrong" to label the Amish community as quaint, or innocent, or pure, or good.

People are people.

But the children who were killed were all Amish and were in an Amish school. How can you untangle that with political correctness? As a group the Amish certainly are a more peaceful group than the general population.

Very kind words from Mary Jo.

Whatever your feelings about "good" Amish or "bad" Amish, sometimes it's wise just to hold back.

I can't help thinking of those poor terrified little girls, especially the ones who were shot last, seeing what went before them. And his poor wife and children. Nobody, including that man who was suffering all these years, with no one he felt he could turn to, deserves something like this.

The news is now saying "they" (based on what they're learning) think he was going to molest the girls, starting with the youngest, age 6 or 7. Besides watching the shootings until it was their turn, there is no telling what these poor little girls went through. Now is not the time to make any kind of negative comments. We need to support these people, including that poor wife and this man's children!

Mary Jo thank you for your kind remarks.

My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent girls whose lives ended too soon and their families.

While I feel bad for the man's family, I have no sympathy for him. There is no excuse to harm a child and to make him a victim is outrageous.

Thank you Mary Jo for your very kind thoughts. Another tragedy that is so hard to comprehend. And the horror and heartbreak that the victims loved ones will have with them for the rest of their lives is something that most of us cannot even imagine. Losing anyone we love is so difficult but situations like this go beyound heartbreak and mourning. Your thread is most appreciated and again thank you for your loving thoughts.

wtm,
my comment about the man in no way lessens my sorrow for the little girls and their families. But yes, he was a victim of his mental illness. I think anyone who's worked with the mentally ill or has a family member who is mentally ill can, to some extent, understand his wrestling with his demons for the past 20 years. Sadly, he lost the battle and now everyone pays.

I felt physically ill after hearing this story, along with the others this week.

My country has a problem with gun control, but I haven't heard this topic broached on any of the network or cable news shows. Sadly, but predictably, these horrendous episodes will occur as long as guns are available and prevalent. Moreover, sadly, but predictably, the President has said nothing about gun control, nor will he.