Posted on 01/02/2005 12:18:36 PM PST by Mr_Moonlight
BIRD IN HAND, Pa. - Early on a pale blue morning, a horse-drawn buggy clop-clopped along a farmland stretch of Route 340. A lone little Chevy compact came toward it at a Sunday pace.
A black sport utility vehicle barreled up to the buggy's back, passing with a quick jerk that nearly clipped the oncoming car - and the horse's nose.
That's Pennsylvania's Amish country, where the 19th and 21st centuries coexist, commingle and collide regularly. The Amish may hold fast to their plain ways, but contact with the outside world is unavoidable. Malls stand on land where corn used to grow, tourists wander village streets, and even the old unspoken rule - leave the Amish alone - is left in the dust of the presidential campaign, when the Republicans came calling for votes.
Yes, the Republicans, true to their vow to leave no vote unwooed, came to Lancaster County hoping to win over the famously reclusive Old Order Amish along with their slightly less strict Mennonite brethren.
The GOP effort, underscored by President George W. Bush's meeting with Amish families in July, did the trick.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
He thinks they just want left alone, and don't worry about life around them, but they do. They voted didn't they!
Of ocurse it's immoral! They voted Republican. 'Tis far better to go to jails and register felons to vote over and over again.
And I'd bet they had no problem with hanging chads or even touchscreen voting machines :)
Better late than never according to some people. Have to try to keep things stirred up so it looks like they have not lost or they think they might still win????
I believe that our Ohio community is now larger than Pennsylvania's. Next time we visit them, I'll inquire as to whether they voted. Be real surprised if they did.
I recall reading somewhere that they became rather energized by the issue of gay marriage. That might explain it.
Leftists can thank Gavin Newsom.
Seemed upbeat to me. What's interesting is that the press failed to cover this type of activity until after the election. It went under their radar screen.
A toast... TO THE AMISH!
They also became "energised" at the reports of the abortion rate resulting from Roe v. Wade.
Another article I read said that they seldom vote, but it is not unheard of. If the weather is nice on voting day, they are working their fields.
Actually, I read at least 2 articles about this BEFORE election day. I think both of them were posted on FR. A search would probably turn them up.
The first thing I noticed were some pictures taken at a Bush Rally that clearly showed some Amish farmers in the front row. That surprised me. Later I read an article that said that their elders recommended voting this year.
I read of concerted efforts with the Amish in PA and in OH. I don't know if any efforts were made in Wisconsin. I read one article that said that the new Amish voters made the winning difference in a couple of counties in OH.
Here is an article I saved from the election. I didn't receive this until after Nov. 2, but this meeting must have occurred the previous week in PA. I don't have a URL.
SECTION: COMMENTARY, Pg. A-8, THE SCRIBBLER
LENGTH: 657 words
HEADLINE: Bush quietly meets with Amish here; they offer their prayers
BYLINE: Jack Brubaker
BODY:
President Bush met privately with a group of Old Order Amish during his visit to Lancaster County last Friday. He discussed their farms and their hats and his religion.
He asked them to vote for him in November.
The Amish told the president that not all members of the church vote but they would pray for him.
Bush had tears in his eyes when he replied. He said the president needs their prayers. He also said that having a strong belief in God is the only way he can do his job.
This story has not been reported before. You might think an observant press follows the president everywhere, especially during a re-election campaign, but no reporter attended this meeting.
Sam Stoltzfus, an Old Order historian and writer who lives in Gordonville, spoke with a number of people present at the session with the president.
He related what happened to the Scribbler, saying the Amish "caught Bush's heart.''
The 20-minute meeting with Bush occurred immediately after the president addressed a select audience at Lapp Electric Service in Smoketown Friday afternoon.
An Amish woman who lives on a farm across Witmer Road from Lapp Electric that morning had presented a quilt to the president with a card thanking him for his leadership of the country.
Bush said he would like to talk to the quilter and her family.
So the Secret Service invited the family to meet the president. Friends wanted to come along, and the entire assembly eventually numbered about 60. They were evenly divided between adults and children of all ages.
The group walked together across the road to Lapp Electric.
Stoltzfus reports: "It took a while to get them through the metal detectors as these were farmers and shop men, with vice grips, pocket knives, and nuts and bolts in their pockets. Some ladies had baby gear. All pockets had to be emptied.''
When the Amish were "found not to be a serious threat to national security,'' they were allowed inside the office area of Lapp Electric and waited about 30 minutes for the president to appear.
"Babies got restless. Children squirmed,'' Stoltzfus reports. "Suddenly the president and five Secret Service men stepped into the room. One housewife said, 'Are you George Bush?'''
The president replied in the affirmative and shook hands all around, asking the names of all. He especially thanked the "quilt frau,'' who operates her own business selling quilts and crafts.
"He seemed relaxed and just like an old neighbor,'' says Stoltzfus.
Bush said he had never met any Amish before and was curious about why the men were wearing straw hats rather than black wool hats. The Amish explained that they wear cooler straw in summer. Bush tried on a hat.
The president commented on the appearance of Amish farms, and an Amish man spoke apologetically about how he and his friends were not expecting to see the president and were wearing soiled work clothes. Bush said he did not mind that.
Another man remarked that he has twin daughters, as does Bush. The man said one of his twins had dreamed the night before that she was shaking hands with the president and now she actually had done that.
"One of the young girls wanted to give Bush a whoopie pie cookie,'' Stoltzfus says. "Bush declined it. The Secret Service man took it, as presidents aren't supposed to eat untested food.''
At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, "I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job.''
As the president left the room, one Amish man wished him good luck in November.
"The Amish group headed back to their farms and shops,'' reports Stoltzfus.
"Mothers took their children home for a nap and went back to their sewing and gardens.''
Bush moved along to an appearance in York County, leaving behind a group of Old Order admirers who have tales to tell for the rest of their lives.
The Scribbler column runs Tuesdays and Fridays in the New Era.
AMISH PARADISE (to the tune of Gangsta's Paradise)
Wierd Al
As I walk through the valley where I harvest my grain
I take a look at my wife and realize she’s very plain
But that’s just perfect for an amish like me
You know I shun fancy things like electricity
At 4:30 in the morning I’m milkin’ cows
Jebediah feeds the chickens and jacob plows... fool
And I’ve been milkin’ and plowin’ so long that
Even ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone
I’m a man of the land, I’m into discipline
Got a Bible in my hand and a beard on my chin
But if I finish all of my chores and you finish thine
Then tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1699
We been spending most our lives
Living in an amish paradise
I’ve churned butter once or twice
Living in an amish paradise
It’s hard work and sacrifice
Living in an amish paradise
We sell quilts at a discount price
Living in an amish paradise
A local boy kicked me in the butt last week
I just smiled at him and I turned the other cheek
I really don’t care, in fact I wish him well
’cause I’ll be laughing my head off when he’s burning in hell
But I ain’t never punched a tourist even if he deserved it
An amish with a ’tude?
You know that’s unheard of
I never wear buttons but I got a cool hat
And my homies agree
I really look good in black... fool
If you come to visit, you’ll be bored to tears
We haven’t even paid the phone bill in 300 years
But we ain’t really quaint, so please don’t point and stare
We’re just technologically impaired
There’s no phone, no lights, no motorcar
Not a single luxury
Like robinson caruso
It’s as primitive as can be
We been spending most our lives
Living in an amish paradise
We’re just plain and simple guys
Living in an amish paradise
There’s no time for sin and vice
Living in an amish paradise
We don’t fight, we all play nice
Living in an amish paradise
Hitchin’ up the buggy, churnin’ lots of butter
Raised a barn on monday, soon I’ll raise anutter
Think you’re really righteous?
Think you’re pure in heart?
Well, I know I’m a million time as humble as thou art
I’m the pious guy the little amlettes wanna be like
On my knees day and night scorin’ points for the afterlife
So don’t be vain and don’t be whiny
Or else, my brother, I might have to get medieval on your heinie
We been spending most our lives
Living in an amish paradise
We’re all crazy mennonites
Living in an amish paradise
There’s no cops or traffic lights
Living in an amish paradise
But you’d probably think it bites
Living in an amish paradise
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-yecch!
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