The Amish

**Farnan** · May 08, 2006, 09:44 PM

The Amish are followers of a radical brand of Christianity that is opposed to technological advances and connects to the outside world. They are an agrarian sect whose technological level lies somewhere in the 1600s, and their costume the same. They were plain clothes, or at least were plain in the 1600s and dress in all black. For transportation they rely upon the horse and buggy, a hated site on the road (merely because its max speed is about 10 mph). One of their largest communities is in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. They are immigrants from Southern Germany and Switzerland and are strict pacifists. They fled to the Americas to avoid persecution as they were anabaptist, which means they didn't believe in baptising babies. They live in self-sufficent communities, and are known for helping each other out in a time of need. The problem is that they are extremely insular and attempt to avoid contact with people who are not Amish.

The problems arise with neighbors in the form of their buggies. Besides being slow, they are also a safety hazard and damage the road. Because of this, government officials are attempting to force Amish Buggies to place orange reflector triangles on their buggies, which some of their most reactionary groups refuse to do. What is your opinion on this?

**Ahiga** · May 08, 2006, 09:50 PM

It's difficult to say. I think that they should abide by the law's of the road in public area, but that if it is private, they have the right of choosing not too.

**Habelo** · May 09, 2006, 04:16 AM

yea you cant make ure own laws just becuse you belive in a stupid thing...

**Sidus Preclarum** · May 09, 2006, 05:20 AM

Well, Amish are certainly a weird bunch (in my book, at least: "weirdness" is a subjective concept anyway). But I view them as mostly harmless. This road thing is an exemple of the small problems that can arise(what's the problem with the triangles ? I hop it's not the bloody reflectors, they're but mirrors: accepting to use mirrors_ I suppose they do, don't they?_, but refusing to us a bunch of small devices made of three mirrors forming a half-cube would be stupid. Is the problem coming with the utilisation of plastic ? let them make their own triangles: wood, mirrors, coloured stained glass. Hey, this could be stylish and have some success and replace quilt as the main Amish export... :p )
What is their stance on modern medecine btw?

anyway, let's all thank the amish: without them, we wouldn't have had :

Best Weird al song (along with Smells likes Nirvana)

**Sidmen** · May 09, 2006, 12:24 PM

They're using a road! that road was made with devices that are far more advanced than the reflectors that the community is trying to have them place on thier buggies. They should therefore not use the road unless it is on thier land (private dirt roads). Problem solved!!

**RusskiSoldat** · May 09, 2006, 04:14 PM

I am annoyed that such backwards groups are allowed to exist.
Oh well, I won't tell you how to run your country, but back in Russia the nomadic central Asians were domesticized and civilized, and that is the only reason the stans of Central Asia have infrastructure and industry at the moment.
Although we failed to do the same for Gypsies.

**Farnan** · May 09, 2006, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by RusskiSoldat

I am annoyed that such backwards groups are allowed to exist.
Oh well, I won't tell you how to run your country, but back in Russia the nomadic central Asians were domesticized and civilized, and that is the only reason the stans of Central Asia have infrastructure and industry at the moment.
Although we failed to do the same for Gypsies.

Well besides the factor of the reflectors, the Amish don't harm anyone. Also, they don't accept government aid, and don't ask for any handouts. Why bother them more than neccessary?

**Eric** · May 09, 2006, 05:18 PM

I've haven't met a great deal of Amish people but I do have some thoughts. Here in Saskatchewan we have the Hutturites, they're basically like the Amish except they do believe in some technology, only about early 1700s technology though, just slightly less primitive than the Amish. Unlike the Amish they do wear colours, natural of course, not synthetic dyes, but mostly black. Most Hutturites I meet are all friendly people, they mostly sell crops, wheat, barley, they have some very good corn. They always abide to the law completely, even if they disagree with it. I think the Amish should be like their dopplegangers, the Hutturites and put on some sort of reflector, for safety's sake. I once spoke to an Amish man, I asked what he thought about the Hutturites, he basically called them heretics for abiding to the laws of, in his words, 'a wicked country' and using some slightly more advanced technology. How petty.

**Da Skinna** · May 09, 2006, 11:46 PM

Isn't regarding the Amish as mostly harmless the same thing that happened with the Muslim Brotherhood?

Kidding. I read in like a Reader's Digest that there's some religious group of people who's youth are now gangsters and a real plague on their communities, driving to church in Escalades and huge platinum crosses on their chests. I forget the name of the people, but I think it started with an L.... Hurmm.

**MaximiIian** · May 09, 2006, 11:50 PM

Hey here's a joke for ya:

"If you go into Amish country and see a man with his hand up a horse's ass, do not panic. He's just a mechanic."
-Robin Williams.

**lalalax3** · May 10, 2006, 12:01 AM

Amish kids can leave the community, for education and such,
but on the outside his parents and family would just be an embarrasment for that person

i can't imagine why they wanted to be cut off the world and retard their own lifes.
but hey, its a free country, people can be hold true to their believes(aka "wierd")if they want to.

its bring in tourists money, they even try to rip me off lunch when i was there, so i drove out of there to the nearest (quite far)fast food chain to eat

never the less, it is interesting to see different cultures

**MaximiIian** · May 10, 2006, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by lalalax3

I can't imagine why they wanted to be cut off the world and retard their own lifes.
but hey, its a free country, people can be hold true to their believes(aka "wierd")if they want to.

Eh, live and let live. To each his own.

Though it is odd that they still live in the 19th century whilst it is the 21st...

**Da Skinna** · May 10, 2006, 12:08 AM

Reminds me of Winnipeg...

**Neb** · May 10, 2006, 12:12 AM

Here in ontario we have groups of people who fit this description we generally refer to as mennonite's, even though its not technically correct.

They make good maple syrup, sell vegetables and things, I always see reflectors on the back of their wagons, and they usually pull to the shoulder of the road to let people pass them. All together, not much trouble or a bother to anyone.

But that's here.

-Neb

**LiciniusII** · May 10, 2006, 12:31 AM

Look, personally I think its stupid to prevent the advancement of science and progress.. If there were a group like the Amish that lived back in Roman times which everyone followed, we wouldn't have some of the greatest inventions of all time which brings humanity together. I wouldn't be typing this right now, you wouldn't be reading this, the spread of knowledge and intellectualism would come to a complete halt and at times reverting to religious explanations for things that have no supernatural cause. Medicine, transportation, and so many other things we take for granted would not even exist and we would consider things to be the outside world if it were 100+ miles from our homes.

But in the end of all things, isn't the most important thing in life is to be happy and to live a fufilling life? And if that is how they feel and if they are comfortable with it, then by all means let them do whatever they wish. In the words of Wafa Sultan: "Brother you can believe in stones if you want so long as you don't throw them at me." Do what you want, but don't force your beliefs upon me.

If they are in public, they need to abide by the laws, and if it requires them to have relfectors then they must comply.. It not heresy or against god's will to have something on the back of your buggy for the sake of not only your protection but those around you.

**Sidus Preclarum** · May 10, 2006, 10:14 AM

SO nobody knows what's their stance on modern medecine ?

**MaximiIian** · May 10, 2006, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Sidus Preclarum

SO nobody knows what's their stance on modern medecine ?

They'll use it, just they won't go to the city. They'll get at some general store or they'll find a doctor that makes housecalls (or, housetelegraphs, depending on how the Amish the amishman in question is).

Weird thing is, an Amish person will ride in a car, but they won't drive them. Crazy.

**Sidus Preclarum** · May 11, 2006, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by Hapsburg

They'll use it, just they won't go to the city. They'll get at some general store or they'll find a doctor that makes housecalls (or, housetelegraphs, depending on how Amish the amishman in question is).

hmmm.. I see.. this is way better that some other sects' attitude, even more "modern" ones...
How about material-heavy interventions , like surgery ?

**Farnan** · May 10, 2006, 02:34 PM

They believe modern technology unneccesarily complicates life and leads to individualism.

**vizi** · May 10, 2006, 02:44 PM

The Amish don't bother me, what bothers me is when my mom drags me and my dad to Amish country. The last time me and my dad tried to hide in the Chevy dealership....to no avail....she found us. The place is bloody boring and I don't like going, although the Amish/Mennonites do run great restuarants.