Amish boy in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Photo by Robert Tilford 2001.
Behind the mask of religious love, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience of the Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania hides a dispicable evil. One that reflects a very high degree of religious intolerance and hatred towards others. Particularly against those who are non Amish
Some say this harted is subtle, but I have found it to be very open within the Amish community. In fact most Amish make no bones or pretense about it. Nor do they try and hide it.
What surprises me the most however was who it was directed at.
I mean you sort of expect the Amish to hate and despise the “English” ( a degrogitory slang term within the community meant to refer to America citizens and Non Amish who speak predominently the english language), however you don’t expect it being directed toward kindred Christian groups like the Bretheren and Mennonites – who share a comminality of culture, belief and strict adherence to the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the New Testament.
If you talk to Mennonite and Bretheren members who happen to live and work in Lancaster – they will all tell you stories of how the Amish openly discriminate against them. Especially in terms of job and business opportunities within the community.
Of course, like anything else I suppose, there are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking the Amish shun their Mennonite and Bretheren members within their community and look down on them as human beings.
In this regard Amish discrimination runs deep within the community.