FAO Naomi - re the Amish people

[boxtops]

Hi Naomi, just checking Sunday's TV listings. There is a programme on BBC4 - 8pm - about a group of Amish teenagers who come to the UK on a cultural exchange, It's entitled "Amish - the word's squarest teenagers". Might make interesting viewing, I've marked it to watch if I can.
Good to see you on CB tonight!

[ummmm]

My daughter, 18, is still with her first 'real' boyfriend. She has two jobs and I'm very proud of her....

[123everton]

I don't possess a recorder, I'm not that fussed on technology or T.V for that matter.
Which brings me to Ratter, I work on the buses, I deal with more teens than I can shake a stick at (often tempted), I never lay claim to be an expert in any field, but I do lay claim to experience, and plenty of it.....
Not all teens are bad, it's true, but a lot kids and a lot of adults could learn a lot from the Amish for the codifiers for a happy life, something I think our society has lost sight of.
I may watch it on +1 if I have time.

[Whickerman]

Most Amish kids, although brought up in that community, aren't in fact Amish... They have to 'become' Amish when they reach adulthood.

[Whickerman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumspringa

[pastafreak]

I have not looked at Whickermans link yet...but if I am not mistaken-all Amish children spend some time with a bit of freedom in 'our' world. They then make a choice as to whether to stay in the Amish community. This is their decision for life.

[tamborine]

123everton....would be helpful if blokes took precautions & didn't spread their sperm indiscriminately. 1 second's check before penetration.....is that too much for a masculine brain ?

[123everton]

No not at all Tambo, takes two to tango though.

[Clanad]

The Amish here in the U.S. are actually a branch of the Anabaptists... "The Old Order Amish Mennonite Church" are usually the ones reffered to when discussing ancient ways and an aversion to modern machinery and devices.

However, other branches of the Anabaptist group are prevalent in certain areas of the western U.S., including Hutterites and Mennonites. They are almost all German speaking, exceptionally hard working and frugal, however their communal farms are mechanized and highly efficient.

Having spoken to a lot of the leaders of the Hutterites (they have enormous chicken and turkey farms in the area) and seeing them shop at WalMart on Saturdays, it appears they have been able to retain the larger majority of their young people. Exceptionally devout, they're a part of a truly American religious experience that's probably not found in Europe...

[boxtops]

Clannad, the Bruderhof people seem very similar to the Amish in some respects. There is a community a few miles from here in Kent - I believe it's the only one in the UK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruderhof

[boxtops]

^ sp - sorry, Clanad.