On the Utopian west coast, the Amish are a distant, exotic, unfamiliar novelty. They’re so far removed from us, little is known about them. But overall, they’re mostly viewed in a generally positive, noble way.
In Indiana, they’re everywhere. Living here is a great way to lose your respect for them in general. I don’t mean to offend all the Amish hanging out here at ITF, but there’s a lot of strange reasoning going on in that sect. Sure, there are many decent and good individuals in their ranks, I’m not discounting them.
The first time I saw an Amish dude smoking, I stared and stared with morbid fascination. I couldn’t believe it!
You get over that reaction.
It boggles the mind that people who completely devote their lives to shunning the world in every way they can imagine will:
- Smoke like chimneys
- Basically give their kids license to party down and do whatever they want (to my understanding)
- Dive in the linguistic gutter at work
- Etc.
Not impressed.
Buggies are a real annoyance too. Constantly a road hazard, and exhaust everywhere. Today I saw a buggy being pulled by a car! It looked hilarious. Maybe the horse went lame or something, I don’t know. At any rate, they must’ve needed a buggy tow.
Another thing I can’t figure out is why the boys and men are constantly wearing stocking caps. “Sipplekopps,” they’re called. (Don’t correct me on the spelling, I like it spelled that way. Not that I know the correct way.) But even when it is warm out, always a sipplekopp.
Anyway, no offense to the Amish. I don’t have any Amish buds yet, but I hope to sometime.
5 Responses
June 3rd, 2005 at 11:12 pm
I’ll never forget the first time I saw an Amish man smoking. I was shocked speechless. The Amish here are as Amish as you can get and you would NEVER see them smoking, drinking, etc.
It’s a sad thing you know. I have concluded the the only way to reach the Amish as a whole is to become one of them. I have found two people now that have such a burden for the Amish that they would do that in a heartbeat. That’s vision. That would be difficult. I respect them.
Makes me wonder what I’ve got in me. How much am I willing to do, to give up, to change to reach people. Change isn’t always required, but in some cases it is.
There are times when I sit and analyze myself and I realize that I’m not made up of very much! Sure I’ve got the passion, but what is passion if you just sit on it?
Ag
June 5th, 2005 at 10:46 am
So why is it that we look favorably on someone who would go “more conservative” in or to reach a group of people, but heap condemnation on someone who even mentions going “more liberal” to do the same? Just a thought.
Another thing, a lot of people who smoke would like to quit, but they’re addicted and can’t. I would venture to say that the majority of Amish who smoke are in this situation. I don’t know, maybe I’m way off base.
The Baritone
June 5th, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Most people that go “more liberal” don’t have ministry in mind but rather personal interest. Not always like that though.
Ag
June 6th, 2005 at 5:28 pm
I stare at them just driving down the road. We don’t have any of them out here and I like to watch their peculiar ways of doing things.
Oh, and I have to tell you. The other day a friend was letting me listen to songs that they like and they turned on Duke Of Earl. I couldn’t believe it. I’m impressed how well you did matching the real thing. I still have your AP cd you gave me. I need to get it out and let this friend hear your version. They asked!
June 7th, 2005 at 1:47 am
Tom,
I can see your point with the Amish if you are living in the midst of Amishville, but here in Cali it would be refreshing to see a horse and buggy for a change.
Welcoming the Amish to CA.
klinsfamdad