Amish....interesting reading

[bndranch]

Okay I just have a quick question why did you post all there here AFTER SBL has locked and closed the other thread? Obviously they didn't want this group to get drug down. If people were so concerned, they could have looked this up on their own..........

[lilpondarosamini]

Information is a great thing but as always their are more than one side to any subject. I thank you for your oponion and all the others. Its a great thing that we don't all think alike. Boy that would be boring. And then no one would need to speak. Praise God we can voice our oponions and know the stones we throw always come back to our own glass houses. Isnt it wonderful to know we have the right to feel the way we do? Thank you again everyone.

[sherryb]

Okay....time for me to come out of lurker mode....

It IS interesting reading.....BUT do you not realize that just about every ethnic group has their own genetic disorders? With african americans, it's sickle cell......I knew someone with that and it's BAD. There is a part of our Jewish community that has a genetic disease that is indigenous to them also. I realize you don't consider the Amish an ethnic group........but what IS an ethnic group? Most of our ethnic groups are no longer separate groups because of the mixing of the gene pool, but I can assure you that any small group that keeps totally to themselves will have some problems after several generations.

I have found that in the great USA, there are many many different cultures. An example would be when I talk to my NYC friends. Having lived in TX all of my life, my little mind just can't get around not getting in your pickup and driving to work everyday. The ONLY form of public transportation I've used in my entire life is flying. I can't imagine never having lived in a house with a big yard. Most of all, I can't imagine being around that many people. We don't have Amish around here, but we do have several Indian reservations. We all co-exist in a very amicable way. That said, I know when my husband goes fishing every yr, he runs into another group of people that are totally different from us. They live more on the land and lead very simple lives.

Religion and politics are things that people will always differ over. BUT, as I have explained to my husband, these countries that are at war all the time are fighting for THEIR beliefs. They believe what they have been taught just as strongly as we believe what we believe. Just because we believe something different doesn't make them bad people. In fact, I respect them in a strange way for having the fortitude to stand up and fight for what they believe, I just don't want them to infringe upon my right to my beliefs. You can't change people. You can't force them to conform to what society has set up as the "norm". You can however have an intellegent, openminded conversation from them and learn from them....as they can learn from you. Any day you learn something new is not a wasted day.

Now, my lifestyle is different from others...but that doesn't make their's wrong and mine right. In MY mind, right and they are wrong....in their mind they are right and I'm wrong. It just makes us different. Diversity is a way of life. It's what makes our country our country. It's the freedom that our armies fight for.

Now....can we please respect others for their beliefs and for the fact that they have STRONG beliefs that they aren't afraid of others knowing about? Can we put this Amish thing to rest and let them be for now?

[Brit]

Very well said Sherry. Excellent reading.

Brit

[twnpnds]

I lived among the Amish in Western New York state. The article does not mention them as being a sizable community, which they are. Many had businesses open to outsiders. These were at their homes. I worked at a quarter horse farm there. The owner took a horse blanket and hood to a leather shop owner (Amish) and asked if he could make them. He did and talk about quality workmanship! These were better than any I have seen. And much less expensive too. We also had an Amish farrier. I used to buy pies, bread, and cookies from the Amish ladies. If you needed a barn raised, call the Amish. If you needed one torn down, call the Amish. Yes, I said call. No, they didn't have phones in their homes. A few had phone booths or a phone in their barn, but most had contacts that would take them a message. They would use the phone mostly for business and emergencies. Sometimes they might send a message to an out of town family they wished to visit. It was never used for friendly chat. If they had to travel some distance they would ask us if we could give them a lift and they would pay us to do it. The Amish grocery shopped like we did and bought basically the same things we did. No, they did not make their own soap, they bought it. Some did make it to sell. The women did not have buttons, zippers, or hooks on their clothing. Their clothing was held closed with straight pins. Men were allowed plain buttons and hook type closures on their clothes. Shoes were mostly black. Some wore dark brown shoes. Many went barefoot during warm months. Women did not carry purses but used men's wallets. Most had kerosene generators that powered their refrigerators and washing machines. They used kerosene lamps. By law, those that had dairy farms and sold milk for human consumption had to have something like one 100 watt bulb per so many cows. They also had to have power for their storage tanks. Again, powered by generators. Their buggy horses were mostly Standardbreds that were bought from the race track. Some would be injured and the Amish would heal them and train them for the road. Their work horses were mostly Belgiums and some Percherons. It was not unusual to see a child of about 10 leading/working these big gentle draft horses. One lady in our community had a beautiful Morgan mare for her buggy horse. The children went to a one room schoolhouse near us. Some did go to public schools but they weren't allowed to study certain subjects or partcipate in certain activities. And they only went through the 8th grade. The Amish children played a lot of baseball. I often would see families playing baseball together. Amish children did have chores but nothing they could not handle for their age. They also had plenty of play time too. School work and bible study were very important parts of the day also. One thing that was a concern for us outsiders in our area was disease. We had polio and whooping cough in the Amish communties. One year a few children and I think even an adult died from whooping cough. Something easily prevented by childhood vaccines. Originally vaccines were prohibited by the Amish but the community eventually allowed them. There was talk about making it a state law. Don't know if that ever went through. That is the one thing I wish was a law when it comes to the Amish. The Amish are a kind gentle people. They do not believe in violence of any kind and do not get even. They forgive everyone. Remember the schoolhouse shootings? We respected their beliefs and lived peacefully among them. They were both neighbor and friend.

[darbyponygirl]

Twnponds and Sherry that was very intersesting

[lilpondarosamini]

I agree with darbyponygirl very interesting what you two wrote. I would love the oppertunity to live and be able to interact with the Amish. I do know they can cook and would never be spitefull and as petty as some other people can be and their honesty would truly be refreshing in this day and age. I know I could learn a thing or to from them. And wouldnt it be great to know that they would never back bite you or be desiving to your face as alot of people are to them. I really commend them for their way of life yes it may be simple but but its alot harder to be simple and good than to not.