11:46 a.m. - 2002-12-10
my people.
I was reading some of my older entries just now and I saw that I had promised more info on the Amish, and the fact that they are filthy rich. Here's a little discursive essay on the matter:
For the most part, the Amish are everything you think them to be. They reject electricity and cars and the like. But they have made allowances for other things in their lives. I tell you, for a people that claim to be simple and plain, they are anything but.
First, let's talk lifestyle. The US government has granted them some super-unique status that I don't think they will ever grant to anyone again. In fact, over the years, they have been slowly chipping away at the Amish legally - to integrate them back into the federal government system. But as it is now, the Amish pay no taxes, are relatively self-governing, are excluded from the draft (except in WWII, where they were forced to serve in "non-essential" capacities in their hometowns and Canada). They are also excluded from serving in other civic capacities (read: jury duty) and are given certain concessions in terms of transporation (horse and buggies on major roads, etc.)
They are traditionally farmers. They wear a "plain" style of dress. For men, this usually means a cute little french-blue dress shirt/black vest number with a straw hat on top. For women, strictly the Little House on the Prairie look. A plain, no patterned dress with apron and bonnet. Boys dress the same as men, but the pants tend to be more of a clam-digger look.
Also for men, growing the no-moustache beard is an important "look at me I'm married" rite. Also when you get married, an Amish man is finally able to put a cover on his buggy. Bachelor's must drive open buggies, especially when they are courting a young femme.
Oh, and the Amish look after their own, which includes their own health care system.
Traditionally, the Amish are subsistance farmers. This means they grow what they need to eat for the year, and then sell off the rest to the outside world for cash.
However, there is a new trend of entrepreneurialism among the Amish. Many have begun wood working shops and manufacturing businesses, making and selling all manner of wood products. The most popular and lucrative are the construction of children's jungle-gyms, stand-alone porch swings, and yard gazeebos. They also then do mailboxes and a number of lawn ornamnets.
But the times they are a-changin'.
Because they have a lot to sell, but no expenses (federal or otherwise) they are stinking rich. When a community member DOES need "English" (that's us) medical attention, they pay cash for surgery wihout batting an eyelash.
But with money comes problems.
Many of these new manufacturing companies they have built need phones to sell their products to the outside world. And electricity to power their manufacturing machines, and to light the facility. For the most part, they have adapted. Kerosene IS allowed, so they use giant Kerosene generators to power their lights, and they take apart and reassemble all their equipment and attach them with self-sufficent kerosene motors.
As for the phones. Some install a line secretly. Others have been granted permission by the elders to install a phone in an outhouse like hut, in a field where the most number of families' land's intersect, and then make the phone communal. Others have even adopted cell phones, and then keep them at an English neighbors house to charge overnight. Crafty and wiley these amish are.
They are a reclusive people, but very nice from a distance. When I drive through their country, they always stop whatever they're doing to smile and wave. And the amish children roller-blading down the road (basic moving-parts, no worries) stop to smile and wave. A pack of amish children "blading" is really a site to see.
But a blackness plagues them. As the elders have made more and more concessions, the youth want more and more. There is even now a time in a young amish person's life, where they are taken aside, and must choose if they want to be amish or not. They are given a brief grace period to do whatever they want. And they go crazy...(not unlike the mormons I've run into in college. Once they get away from home, all hell breaks loose.)These amish kids go on these crazy drinking and drug and electricity using sprees. Then, at the end of the drug and electricity binge, they must choose. Remain in the Amish faith and communtiy, never doing those bad things again, or leave into the English world, never talking with their family again. Some leave. Overwhelmingly though, they stay.
My point for all this was the money. They have it in bundles. So never feel sorry for the amish for looking rustic and impoverished. It's just a fashion and lifestyle choice. I have yet to find out though if they take converts....I need to look into that....
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