Only in America

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Platapus

While I can appreciate the good aspects of their culture, I also recognize the bad and ugly aspects too.

Totally understandable. I think there is this sort of "noble farmer" romance around them that is unfair and overlooks the real problems they have strictly because they're so wildly different from how we're used to living.

[AVGWarhawk]

Volunteering in animal rescue, I have a slightly different viewpoint of the Amish and Mennonites. Some of the worst puppy mills are operated by the Amish and Mennonites.

This is not surprising as both cultures tend to treat animals as commodities.

There are other puppy mills in other cultures/societies as well. We sing their praises yet these folks also breed dogs for profit. Breed the female to exhaustion. Mix breeds such as pugs/beagle for puggles for profit. On it goes. The Amish have not cornered the market on such practices. But, by and large, I believe the Amish do regard animals as nothing but property. When the property does not produce the work it is the end of the line for the animal.

Originally Posted by CCIP

Totally understandable. I think there is this sort of "noble farmer" romance around them that is unfair and overlooks the real problems they have strictly because they're so wildly different from how we're used to living.

Interesting, I suppose I look at the way the UK has changed since the 60s and how it's being led into a Euro pot of politicaly correct "every tomatoe must be the same size" normality. Then I see this Amish way of life that simply challenges all around me, it can only happen in America.

I recon I see, not a way out, but an alternative and somewhere between the madness and insanity of religeous cults and the madness of not having TVs in every room and driveways full of cars, but a normal life led at a pace that even a horse and a buggy can manage.

[AVGWarhawk]

TVs in every room and driveways full of cars, but a normal life led at a pace that even a horse and a buggy can manage.

In some Amish households this is changing. There are some that have gotten a phone or a car. Others still go strictly by the book. I remember reading years ago about a cocaine ring in Lancaster PA ran by the Amish.

http://www.rickross.com/reference/amish/amish2.html

Sometimes the outside world provides a strong magnet to breaking the ideals they set out to live by.