A New Hero for Today's Youth

According to reports from ABC News and other outlets, a hero has emerged from the terrible shooting this week in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.

The oldest of the five Amish girls shot dead in a Pennsylvania schoolhouse is said to have stepped forward and asked her killer to "Shoot me first," in an apparent effort to buy time for her schoolmates.

Rita Rhoads, a midwife who delivered two of the victims, told ABC News' Law and Justice Unit that she learned of 13-year-old Marian Fisher's plea from Fisher's family.

What's more, Fisher's 11-year-old sister, Barbie, who survived the shooting, allegedly asked the gunman, Charles Carl Roberts IV, to "Shoot me second," Rhoads said.

"They were amazing," Rhoads said, "absolutely amazing. There was a tremendous amount of calm and courage in that schoolroom."

"Marian, the oldest one, did ask to be shot first," Rhoads said. "The faith of their fathers really was embedded in them. … How many adults are willing to do that? Not many."

Marian Fisher is being buried today, along with Naomi Rose Ebersole, 7, and sisters Mary Liz Miller, 8, and Lena Miller, 7.

Anna Mae Stoltzfus, 12, is to be buried on Friday.

Rhoads' revelations come as the mystery surrounding the alleged motivation behind Roberts' attack deepens.

Roberts entered West Nickel Mines Amish School on Monday and shot a total of 10 girls before turning the gun on himself.

Rhoads said that before killing himself, Roberts uttered three words — "Pray for me."

If the reports are accurate, this is an awesome story. And why wouldn't they be accurate? The Amish do not seek publicity, they do not want their 15 minutes of fame, when their eyes are fixed on eternal life. If anyone fram that Amish community appears on Montel or Oprah or Ellen, there will be a run on ice cubes in Hell.

What courage! Would that today's youth, obsessed with Britney and Gilmore Girls and the latest fashions and bling pause to consider this young Amish girl. Her moral courage astounds me, and shames me, and inspires me.

We can rant all we want about the government, about Iraq, about the price of gasoline, about global warming, about vulgarity on the big screen, about lax sexual morals, about our neighbor. And yet, when the day comes for us to step up and take action, to put ourselves in harm's way so that others may have a chance, what will we do?

Criticism is easy. I know, I do more than my share. But when all is said and done, someone has to do the heavy lifting. May these young sisters leave a profound legacy in this land of freedom and opportunity, and sadly, violence.