I have been a member of this list for about 10 yrs. and don't usually have much to say on the list. However, I feel that I have to speak up on the issue of the vandalism controversy. Make no mistake about it - I am totally against the behavior exhibited by the young people in this case. And I don't feel that any special treatment should be given to anyone, no matter what their status in the community. I am dismayed and disgusted that the vandalism took place - and I definitely feel that the guilty parties should receive their just punishment and should be required to make retribution. I can definitely sympathize with those who are distressed over the vandalism - for one of my family cemeteries, the Ralston Cemetery, was terribly vandalized over a number of years - and to my knowledge, no one was ever held accountable for this atrocity. However, I am equally dismayed that judgment has been passed so readily and that we seem so eager to condemn. I know first-hand how this feels because my husband is a minister and my family has had this kind of thing to deal with throughout the years that our children were growing up. There were always people who talked about everything my children did - and even some things they didn't do. My children were not perfect . as NO children are perfect. Kids (including my own) make mistakes . sometimes they make very stupid mistakes. And I can say - from being on the other side of the fence - that the parents can be quite embarrassed and humiliated by some of the things their children do. I know from experience, that there are many parents who do not spare the rod - but discipline, teach and instruct their children in a responsible manner, raising their children in a loving, Christian home environment - as well as in church - only to have those children rebel and make stupid mistakes in their teenage and young adult years. I think we owe it to the families of all the individuals involved to pray for them . for I'm sure that they are probably heart-broken over what has happened. And take it from someone whose family has been held under a microscope . there is plenty of embarrassment and humiliation to go around. I know if I were in their shoes, I would appreciate your prayers. I hope the court system does the right thing and that these young people are required to take responsibility for their actions. In the meantime, let's pray for the families. Deborah

Thank You Deborah for your advice. I too have been dismayed by the last couple of days. I appreciate this list for its genealogy integrity and the policy of genealogy only, except during Sunday Rocking times. Cris Gatewood Bean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Deborah Johnson" <mynanya@comcast.net> To: <tnweakle@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 9:17 PM Subject: Re: [TNWEAKLE] Vandalism >I have been a member of this list for about 10 yrs. and don't usually have > much to say on the list. However, I feel that I have to speak up on the > issue of the vandalism controversy. > > > Make no mistake about it - I am totally against the behavior exhibited by > the young people in this case. And I don't feel that any special > treatment > should be given to anyone, no matter what their status in the community. > I > am dismayed and disgusted that the vandalism took place - and I definitely > feel that the guilty parties should receive their just punishment and > should > be required to make retribution. I can definitely sympathize with those > who > are distressed over the vandalism - for one of my family cemeteries, the > Ralston Cemetery, was terribly vandalized over a number of years - and to > my > knowledge, no one was ever held accountable for this atrocity. > > > > However, I am equally dismayed that judgment has been passed so readily > and > that we seem so eager to condemn. I know first-hand how this feels > because > my husband is a minister and my family has had this kind of thing to deal > with throughout the years that our children were growing up. There were > always people who talked about everything my children did - and even some > things they didn't do. My children were not perfect . as NO children are > perfect. Kids (including my own) make mistakes . sometimes they make very > stupid mistakes. And I can say - from being on the other side of the > fence - that the parents can be quite embarrassed and humiliated by some > of > the things their children do. I know from experience, that there are many > parents who do not spare the rod - but discipline, teach and instruct > their > children in a responsible manner, raising their children in a loving, > Christian home environment - as well as in church - only to have those > children rebel and make stupid mistakes in their teenage and young adult > years. > > > > I think we owe it to the families of all the individuals involved to pray > for them . for I'm sure that they are probably heart-broken over what has > happened. And take it from someone whose family has been held under a > microscope . there is plenty of embarrassment and humiliation to go > around. > I know if I were in their shoes, I would appreciate your prayers. > > > > I hope the court system does the right thing and that these young people > are > required to take responsibility for their actions. In the meantime, let's > pray for the families. > > > > Deborah > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > TNWEAKLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >