<p>I just finished a book about 2 sisters , The Thorn ,by Beverly Lewis . Apparently this genre is really growing since about 10 years ago . There is something appealing to me about a culture this de- emphasises material possessions and spends a lot of time with family . I have visited Lancaster County in PA several times and found the way of life there very peaceful . Any thought about the Amish ?</p>
<p>Well I live surrounded by several Amish families (not Lancaster, much more rural than Lancaster). We have gotten to know one family quite well, and have been friends for 23 years now; have seen their children grow up, and now their grandchildren! They have given me great gardening tips over the years, and have a great sense of humor as well. And, they may not be typical , but they are very interested and curious in learning about “our” ways of living, never seemed to try to shelter their children from outside life, but rather encouraged them to learn about it, while at the same time very confident that their chosen ways were just fine for them. But we differed in attitudes towards education, as they only send their children to school up till 8th grade :(</p>
<p>Yes, there are a few things I don’t like and that is one ,along with very traditional views about men and women .</p>
<p>There is an award winning book about the Amish and their quilts, which I enjoyed very much. Their is also a documentary Rumspringa… about the Amish adolescent passage into adulthood.</p>
<p>Both will give you good insight into their culture. I’ve been visiting the Lancaster and Iowa communities since I was a little girl.</p>
<p>“Plain and Simple” by Sue Bender is the book.</p>
<p>I was just in Lancaster County in the fall. We went for a buggy ride with a man and his young son. He told us all kinds of interesting information about Amish life. I tried to engage the shy little boy in conversation, asking him what his favorite meal was that his mother made for dinner. “Fried chicken and mashed potatoes”. </p>
<p>Seems like we are not as different as we think!</p>
<p>I live in Lancaster County. We reap many benefits from the Amish culture. The tourist industry brings lots of money to our county, we have some of the best fresh produce in the country, and we can take advantage of their many talents such as quilt making and wood working.</p>
<p>On the flip side, some of our roads take a beating from the horse hooves. We repair. They don’t pay taxes. In last week’s paper was an article about two separate accidents on the same day where a car ran into a buggy. There are no laws requiring them to have lights on their black buggies. The vehicles probably didn’t see them until it was too late. They don’t vaccinate their children, so periodically we read about an outbreak of polio, or measles, that puts others at risk. </p>
<p>In just the past year or so, the paper has started reporting on the drug use among the Amish. Alcohol use has always been an issue with the Amish, so that is no longer news. Friends of ours who worked at the local Mennonite mental health facility have told stories about Amish who used the center for issues such as incest and other sexual abuse.</p>
<p>They don’t value safety on the farm. Every six months or so an Amish child is killed by what we would consider neglect. But they don’t view it that way. Then the county gets into an uproar about how the Amish need to do more to protect their children. It dies down and everyone forgets about it, until the next incident occurs. </p>
<p>It’s more fun to romanticise the Amish. Their lifestyle sounds so idyllic. For the most part that’s what I focus on also. We need them. They are a major reason our county is so great. But there is a down side.</p>
<p>“Devil’s Playground,” is a documentary about Amish youth. “Amish Grace,” by Donald Kraybill is a good book about the Amish school shootings a few years ago. Although not Amish, “Mennonite in a Little Black Dress,” by Rhoda Janzen is a memoir of growing up Mennonite, transitioning to a secular adulthood and going back home to her Mennonite family after a car wreck. That last book has “salty” topics (as my 66 year old mother said) but it is a good book.</p>
<p>Amish literature appears to be mostly books about the Amish written by others. Just curious - do the Amish write and publish any literature of their own? Their culture has never struck me as a particularly literary one, but who knows? Literary talent or even genius could lurk anywhere.</p>
<p>I live in northern Indiana, home to many Amish. Two of the best authors and researchers on Amish, Donald Kraybill and Stevel Nolt, are from Goshen College. I highly recommend their books if one wants to study the way of life. The romantic genre is currently popular, and as noted above, is usually written by non-Amish.</p>
<p>Amish do pay taxes. They pay federal income taxes. In Indiana they pay state income taxes and property taxes and plenty of them, as our system charges a premium based on size and date of construction. Their houses are large and often newer construction. They are exempt from self-employment tax, as they never draw on the Social Security system.</p>
<p>Different states have different laws regarding buggies, whether they must have lights, SMV symbols, reflectors etc. Kentucky Amish are currently having some struggles with gov’t over these laws.</p>
<p>Northeastern Amish are different than some other parts of the country since many no longer farm and are employed in our RV industry, although this has taken a huge hit over the last several years. Otherwise, if not farming, they are often small-business owners, especially involved in woodworking and construction. They do not transact business on Sundays.</p>
<p>There are Amish publishing companies–The Budget, a regular newspaper distributed across the country, is one. I have read repeatedly that reading is encouraged in the home.</p>
<p>Church services are in German and German is spoken in the home. The children learn English in school. Many of them attend in Amish schools, but in Indiana (Michigan too, don’t know about other states) many also attend public schools. In northeastern Indiana, private school children are transported via public school bus (so are Catholic school children).</p>
<p>There are different groups of Amish and they range from less conservative (closer to Mennonite) to much more conservative. They are organized by church “district”. Districts can be aligned with other districts if they follow the same Ordnung. It is a very close community which highly values family.</p>
<p>My husband grew up in an Amish/Old Order Mennonite family in Lancaster County. Amish in the County DO pay property tax, as well as federal and state income tax, sales tax, etc. syrsstress is right – they are exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax on self employment, but when they work for some else they do pay Social Security and Medicare, although they do not draw down from SS even in those circumstances. They also pay social security for anyone that they employ. </p>
<p>There is much to like about the Amish life style, but it can also be very restrictive. My husband broke with his family over the issue of education – he went to college and on to grad school. His father, who was Old Order Mennonite, felt that this was a betrayal of his religion and upbringing. He and his father did not speak for almost five years and even then it was a very strained relationship right up to the time of his father’s death.</p>
<p>On the fiction side, not written by an Amish author but rather set in Amish country are the mysteries by Paul Gaus. I just happened to pick one up and found it enjoyable and well-written. He has both ‘English’ and Amish characters and clearly has done a lot of research on lifestyles in Amish country near where he lives in Ohio.</p>
<p>The movie " Witness " was on the other night ,which got me thinking about the Amish way of life . I just love Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis !</p>