Amish sect wins reflector dispute

The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat ^ | October 22, 2003 | SANDRA K. REABUCK

[3Lean]

"The Old Order Amish say the triangles offend their religious beliefs. They say the garish color violates their simple lifestyle and that displaying it would show they rely on it rather than on God for their safety."

So using gray tape doesn't show that they are relying on it (the tape) rather than God for their safety?????

I don't get it, either you rely on God or you don't. If gray tape is OK then a dayglo orange triangle should be as well...

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Their children's knowledge at 8th Grade would put most college kids to shame.

[Old Professer]

Why don't they just put up big signs in the area that say, "Amish Crossing"?

That's all the warning you'll get for deer or livestock.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

how do they reconcile with even being on state maintained road in the first place?

They'd be happy with dirt roads like in the 1800's. They didn't ask for the state to come in and pave the roads where they live.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The Amish have been exempt from the Social Security welfare state since around 1948.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The Amish have no problem with diesel trucks hauling off their milk production every day, or having trucks cart off sheds and gazebos they have built.

Others can act as they wish. The Amish wish to be as little entangled and as much independent from the world as possible.

It must be working. There's something like 150,000 of them now.

They will take over much of the US farm economy in our lifetimes.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

After you live among them for awhile, you notice that they are not very friendly

Well, certainly not someone who sounds as contemptuous as you.

[Catspaw]

They will take over much of the US farm economy in our lifetimes.

When the Amish started moving into north central Wisconsin and my in-laws were selling their farm, they hoped Amish would buy it because they pay cash (no land contracts). The Amish who looked at the farm didn't buy it--because my in-law's house was too small (it only had three bedrooms).

[Consort]

You can't make them look too fancy or the buggy chop shops will snatch them.

[Twinkie]

That's your opinion. Orange isn't gaudy. God made orange
probably about the same time he decided that red and
yellow were nice and mixed them. A triangle isn't a big
haphazard splash. It has form and you'll probably find it
in nature. Black can be gaudy if one has a self-
righteous attitude toward others because their black is
better than someone else's orange. However, I wouldn't
wear orange around someone who was offended by it if I
could help it.

[LittleRedRooster]

good post, the only time I have ever seen an Amish rig on the road was when I was sent to Hutchinson KS to audit inventory for the Dillard's store there. When I left for the Whitchia airport it was raining cats and dogs and I almost ran over a buggy but just missed it and didn't go over 30mph until I hit the main road.

[AmishDude]

I am not Amish. Seriously. But I grew up in Lancaster, PA.

In order for these Schwartzentruber to maintain their position, they'd have to argue that the triangles are vain. There used to be what was known as "black bumper Mennonites". They'd drive cars, but paint the chrome bumpers black.

The orange triangle isn't vain either in purpose or execution. I think this sect just wants to start a fight. The Amish in Lancaster tend to follow all safety procedures on the road.

[Graybeard58]

I lived in Reading in the late 60s and traveled in and around the Lancaster area, -road side pretzel stands, shoo fly pie. I miss it.

[AmishDude]

I miss it, too.

Mostly, I miss chicken barbecue.

By the way, you wouldn't miss Reading now. It's not what it was.

[ConservativeMan55]

Interesting.

[AdamSelene235]

Their children's knowledge at 8th Grade would put most college kids to shame.

I had two years of calculus before I went to college. I doubt the Amish do.

[AdA$tra]

The Internet is a great place to make fun of Amish people.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

I had two years of calculus before I went to college. I doubt the Amish do.

You are a rarity. Could you speak and read and write in three lanugages?

[AdamSelene235]

You are a rarity. Could you speak and read and write in three lanugages?

Negative. If a person can't cope with calculus by age 16, I see little point in further instruction. It really should be introduced around age 14. Getting back to the Amish, they believe the modern complex world jeopardizes their salvation. They value faith and cooperation over knowledge and competition. If we had schools rather than socialist indoctrination centers, the average college student would be far better educated than the average Amish person.

That said, I think I'd rather have the Amish for neighbors.