Prayer and Religion in School

I recieved this email from a friend and thought it was good. I haven't checked if it really happened, but the message remains the same.

DARRELL SCOTT TESTIMONY.

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm? On Thursday, DarrellScott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High Schoolshootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the HouseJudiciary Committee's subcommittee What he said to our national leaders during thisspecial session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were notprepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard byevery parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, everypsychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spokenby Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is nodoubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. Thefollowing is a portion of the transcript: "Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in thehearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds ofviolence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and thedeaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who diedmust not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brotherAbel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was itthe NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and thereason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at howquickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not amember of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am nothere to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they areresponsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that theyneed to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel'smurder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-itwas a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blamelies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame liesbehind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poemjust four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written waybefore 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, soul,and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, wecreate a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc.Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for mostof our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theologicalseminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as anation?We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors tohatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedyoccurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA.They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erodeaway our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws."Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amountof gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type ofmassacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and sawhis two friends murdered before his very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray inschool. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challengeevery young person in America, and around the world, to realize that onApril 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to ourschools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be invain.Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard forlegislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those ofyou who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincerechallenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of thiscountry will not allow that to happen!"