The Synchronicity Organization, a meditation group in Virginia, has announced that Americans Alan Scherr, 58, and daughter Naomi Scherr, 13, were killed in the attacks in Mumbai, India. The U.S. State Department has confirmed the deaths.
The Scherrs were participating with 25 other people in a meditation program with the Synchronicity Foundation. Mr. Scherr is a former college professor and was a Vedic astrologer and meditation teacher. Mr. Scherr’s wife, Kia, and two sons did not travel to India; they are at home in Nelson County, Virginia. The surviving members of the Synchronicity program remain in India. The foundation is seeking help from the government to find a way to bring them home.
The Scherrs were at a café in the Oberoi hotel in Mumbai when they were murdered. Other members of the group saw them as they were shot. Four other people traveling with the Synchronicity Foundation were also injured, including several from Tennessee. The Scherrs were in India to learn more about meditation and were taking classes with their spiritual leader, Master Charles Cannon. The Synchronicity Organization says Alan Scherr “committed his life to meditation and spirituality.” Naomi Scherr is described as “bright, lively, with radiant energy.” Condolences may be offered to the Scherr family online at www.AlanandNaomi.com.
It is a tragic loss for America when any of our citizens are targeted for murder simply because of their nationality. Were the Scherrs gunned down because they looked American? That will always remain a mystery.
Are the attacks on Mumbai a sign that Osama bin Laden is alive and well in Pakistan and continuing his jihad mission against Americans? Ever since the murder of Daniel Pearl, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, in Pakistan it has seemed likely that Osama is there, somewhere, hiding in the remote regions of Pakistan.
How many American children have now lost a parent to terrorism? It is heartbreaking that now, as the religious season begins, that children in America are again mourning the loss of a parent to terrorism. Our country is full of grief over the attacks in India, which bring back very difficult memories of 9/11.
The U.S. State Department has told Americans to avoid travel to Mumbai in the next 72 hours. A travel alert for all travel to India has been issued through December 31, 2008.
Thus far the total number of deaths in the Mubai attacks stands at 151. India’s government has issued statements that the terrorists are presumed to be from out of the country. Pakistan has issued indignant rebuttals that state their country is not responsible for the attacks.
Sources:
http://www.Synchronicity.org
http://www.msnbc.com/id/27955204
