Such a forgiving response is bewildering to most outsiders. Yet when the larger world expressed surprise at the grace extended after the school shooting, the Amish were surprised in return, wondering why people were making such a fuss over the act of forgiveness. Although Amish people understand that forgiveness is often difficult, they do not view it as unnatural or strange. As a practice of uffgevva, it fits comfortably within the wider pattern of Amish life. It does, however, place the Amish in bold contrast to many outsiders who see giving up any rights, including a justified right to
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