Letter to the Editor
A couple months ago, plans were announced
for a new reality TV show entitled "Amish in the City." The idea was to
place Amish teens in a house in the big city and see what happened as they
"discovered" the modern world. The idea immediately caused controversy and
protests from local Congressmen, the Lancaster Chamber, and the Visitors
Bureau, not to mention the Amish population. Following are the comments of a
local Amishman concerning the proposed show...
This recent plan that CBS-UPN
has to make an Amish-related TV show raises a lot of concern among us Amish
folk in America and Canada. With grieving hearts we wish it wouldn't be.
Many of us say, "What's the world doing now?" If CBS produces this show,
"Amish in the City," it will no doubt lead to more frivolous productions.
We can gather from the recent
news media writings that there are many wrong accounts of us plain folk.
Hopefully, here I can explain that:
1) We are just ordinary American
citizens. Many of us vote.
2) We pay taxes (local, county,
real estate and income taxes) and also finance our own schools.
3) As conscientious objectors,
we are opposed to war and serving in the military. However, in draft times
our youth have served in alternate service, hospitals, national parks, etc.
And our farm products help feed the armies.
Our Amish faith was started in
1693 by Jacob Ammon. Back then our clothing styles were established. Out of
respect for our elders and to be a separate folk, we maintain these clothing
styles. The world's styles change and we try to stay behind. We make these
committments to keep the faith.
Thankfully, the government
allows us to operate our own schools. We feel the 1930 school code is all we
need --- eight grades. Then and now, our youth were needed on farms and at
home. Today over 60% of the nation's plain folk are in manufacturing
pursuits. Learning by doing is still practiced. Remember the Colonial
apprentice system? This still works for us.
The horse and buggy, farming
with horse or mules, and not allowing outside electricity, computers, and
creature comforts also keep us separate. But here some modern technology is
put to use --- engines on horse-drawn equipment to save the horses, modern
hydraulics and air powered motors to replace electricity in our shops. As a
neccessity, to stay competitive in the modern world, this is permitted.
In the past, there have been too
many films and TV series made about the Amish, such as the movie WITNESS,
all of which we didn't appreciate. Of course, we realize CBS is in business
to make a profit, and has done a lot of good work in the past. But this
show, "Amish in the City," is really a serious mockery of the plain folk's
religion. We are grateful for local leaders, politicians, and local
businesses rallying around the plain sect and attempting to stop this TV
show.
If this show goes on the air,
consider the damage and wrong example this could be for our youth. There are
over 2,500 youth in the Lancaster settlement in over 30 groups at various
levels of liberal and conservative. As in all societies, some parents are
more lenient and some youth don't honor their parents' desires and faith.
There are approxoimately 12% that are in this liberal category, and of
course the media exploits that 12%, as CBS plans to do. Thankfully, the
other 88% are left alone and can lead proper plain sect lives.
As we all know, the youth of
today will be tomorrow's churches. By attacking our youth, CBS could
undermine the very foundation of our faith. So please think again, CBS, and
do consider another subject for your shows.
Sam Stoltzfus
Gordonville, PA
Amish Country News
Publisher's Message (2004)
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