Very Interesting Article on the Amish and puppymills

[mugsy]

While I think the reference to the tragedy that befell the Amish community the other day is in extemely poor taste and should never have been used (an honestly cut into the credibility of an otherwise mostly correct essay).

The Amish are a very closed community who most often times are critical of the "English" and are also very hypocritical. My friend who used to be the ACO in LaGrange County, IN has walked into Amish houses with central air conditioning and were cooking on electric stoves. They almost all carry cell phones and when Mike had his computer business, 3 of his best clients were Amish. So, please do not tell me that they are "simple" people...they just want you to believe that they are.

Amish men have to be chased off of their wives in hospital beds hours after they have just given birth because it's supposed to be "the best time". I know this having spoken with nurses in our local hospitals.

There is also a problem with inbreeding. They are now resorting to shipping women around to other communities to bring in "new blood."

Then, of course, you have the puppy millers. Not all Amish are puppy millers, but, they refuse to police their own when it comes to animals. Having worked in LaGrange County, IN (which has the largest per capita population of Amish in the country) and having seen the animals that have come in from the mills and from their farms...it disgusts me. Totally unsocializied animals with no names who get dumped saying they are of no use to them anymore because they can't breed anymore... It disgusts me....

I absolutely detest pious, holier than thou attitudes and they, as a community, truly are that. I know that I am over generalizing, as I have met some genuinely nice Amish, but, on the whole, I avoid them. I absolutely refuse to buy any Amish made goods and will no longer go to Shipshewana, IN to shop. They have, as a part of, the flea market, a ring where they sell horses that are of no use and in horrible shape, to be killed and sold to glue factories....

So, in general, other than the tacky reference to the horrible scene earlier this week, the article is pretty true to form.

[sasvermont]

P. S.

(After reading the messages after mine, I felt I must comment.

Yes, the Amish are all of these things.

I still respect their wishes and beliefs, however different they are from mine. They are simple people, using the least amount of modern conveniences..... and some of the appliances are gas run.

I suspect that they have generators to run most of their equipment, but not electricity. If you are Amish, you do not have electric or phone lines. Cellphones, yes. They use them at certain hours during the day and week, as far as I know. Yes, they have computers. You don't have to have electricity to run a computer.

There may be different levels of attendance and beliefs within the Amish community, but I don't think you can be a little Amish, and survive the wrath. You are Amish or you are not. You are not Amish just because you have dark green shades on your windows.....

I agree with so much about them being harsh and not caring about the "English". They are still very interesting people. Would I be able to survive being Amish. No!

[Edwina's Secretary]

Amish men have to be chased off of their wives in hospital beds hours after they have just given birth because it's supposed to be "the best time". I know this having spoken with nurses in our local hospitals.

Um....they give birth at home.....

[sirrahbed]

Um....they give birth at home.....

my thought, too

[mugsy]

Not here they don't. They go to the hospital. Which I don't really get because supposedly they shun traditional medicine, but, trust me when I say they DO go to the hospital...they are there everytime I set foot in there.