I've personally seen an Amish farm where a tractor was setting on blocks using the power take-off only. I've seen them hitch-hike but they won't drive cars.
On the other hand, they're all hard workers and dedicated to their beliefs. Can't find fault with that. Power to them if they want to make that many sacrifices.
Still again, on the other side...would they help defend our country by fighting in a time of need? Just wondering.
Im not sure Oxford I dont know if they have been exempted from the draft in the past due to religous beliefs...the Amish I meet have always inpresed me...takes true conviction to maintain their belfes in this day and age....
I've got a friend who's from a Mennonite family in western Kansas. He tells me that his relatives have been in the military usually serving as medics. I would guess they've been listed as CO's exempt from carrying guns. It's my opinion that medics show a lot of bravery doing their work.
He was in the regular army and, of course, carried a gun. In fact, my friend has a nice gun collection that would impress any gun enthusiast.
My wife is from a rural farming town in the TX panhandle. They have a large pop of Mennonites there. The teenagers I've seen there tend to rebel against the faith. I think to myself, "All teenagers rebel." Heck, that will tear one of their families apart though.
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There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.
Actually, you're reaching the point of diminishing returns. The more posts you get the less yellow stars you get...for a while, then the red stars are supposed to increase. Don't know how the administrtors got five stars, though. Guess they're pushing the right buttons.(ha)
By the way, Oneastrix, congratulations! I've enjoyed your communications on g&g. The best to you as you're recouperating from surgery, too. Hope the stress of work isn't too hard on you.
I guess, since I left eastern PA when I went in the Army, I might not have a right to say this, but....never...never in my wildest dream would I ever make fun of y'all's religion.
All I'm going to say.
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"It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me
Lighten up: If you think the Electric Amish are the work of the devil, rude,
or offensive in any way, we invite you to read the following before
passing judgement on us...
The Electric Amish started out as a "one-hit wonder" comedy bit on The Bob & Tom Show,
a comedy morning radio show heard on stations across the country. Originally meant to fill an
open slot in the annual "Tipton Pork Festival", a sort of outdoor "county-fair-gone-wild", a fake band was created and given the ludicrous name The Electric Amish. "Barn To Be Wild" was produced (obviously a parody of the classic rock song "Born To Be Wild" re-written with Amish-oriented lyrics) and expected to run one or two times before being banished to the bottom of the throw-away comedy bit bin; however, radio listeners began requesting the song - even during non-Bob & Tom Show hours. The song made it into the regular music rotation of WFBQ, and the three faux-Amish decided to produce a second song. Without ever explaining who the Electric Amish were, where they were from, or why a trio of "renegade" Amish men would be on an Indianapolis radio station in the first place, the listeners of WFBQ and the Bob & Tom Show (numbering in the hundred's of thousands at the time) recognized a truly clever and humorous novelty act.
Many listeners, growing up in various parts of Indiana, know of the simple, hard-working
ways of Amish life. They realize the utter silliness in seeing three men with obviously fake beards and part-time pseudo-Amish accents playing and singing songs written to the melodies of Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Queen, and Aerosmith (and many more), all songs for which the Electric Amish take credit for writing.
Obviously, there is no hidden agenda to harm the Amish, nor is there any intent to try to "reform" the Amish by pointing out the error of their ways...after all, most members of the Amish community are probably not listening anyway...
At this point in your life, you have three options regarding the Electric Amish.
1) You can continue believing they are really Amish-gone-bad, and pray for their souls.
or
B) You can continue believing the Electric Amish are working for the devil, and that these three
men are single-handedly out to destroy the entire Amish community worldwide by making jokes
about churning butter and black floor-length dresses.
or
3) Realize what virtually all of the people who have heard the Electric Amish have
realized...these guys just aren't good enough to get in real bands. The live shows they do
get them out of the house, away from their wives, and lots of free beer on a Saturday night.
Oh yeah, if you really listen closely, you'll also find out the songs are pretty funny, too...
__________________ U.S. Army
1976-1979
237th Combat Engineers
Heilbronn, Germany
had me worried 'till I got to page 2!
As stated before, I know quite a few Amish/Menonite folks. They are human, they put their legs in thier pants one at a time. Most have a really good sense of humor. They are excellent to do business with.
I grew up around the Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch.
Although I respect them, their ways of life, their values, their comittment...etc. I don't believe I could live so simply.
They have endured many years of persecution going way back to Germany and yet, they hold no grudges....no annymosity. Quite incredible people when you think of it.
I used to enjoy going around to the various farms buying produce...seems like no other group of people can grow vegetables like them. And boy, do they ever keep their gardens beautiful and weed free.
I still remember having to be very careful on the back winding roads....never knew when a black buggy was about to appear as you break over a knoll. lol And by jeepers...don't ever hit one of them or their horse......at least then they had the right of way. :-)
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"It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me
Always thought it was odd the way that they approve of some technology, like bellows and fairly modern plough blades, and wagons. They also use hurricane type oil lamps, don't they? All other technology seems to be evil. They won't use cars or electronics, but it is OK to get a lift or have a website in their names. Maybe I am looking at this wrong, but it seems totally arbitrary and silly. I do not recall any passages in the Bible specifically restricting to 18th century technology. Can anyone explain this to me? I strongly suspect it is just some nonsense that a cult leader made up.
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"Gee, Wally,
Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!"
Klaus: I've thought some of the same questions you've brought up. Seems very contridictory on some of the decisions they make on what is acceptable and what isn't.
One thing is for sure...they'll get ostracized for life by their families if they don't follow their leader. Isn't that one of the tendencies of a cult, as you suggested? I'm not an expert on the bible but I'm not aware of their practices reflecting some scripture passage dictating them to that style of life.
On the other side of the coin, I think they do a lot of good in this world. A lot of those points have been brought up earlier on previous posts so I won't repeat them.
Top 10 Signs Your Amish Teen is in Trouble 
:nod:
