With that statement I can totally agree.
I meant that our species has a built in capability for aggression,
for violence, and that often leads to warring.
I would venture to guess that even among a peaceful group like the AmishPossibly. I'm sure it's happened. Not sure about all these 'documentaries' I hear about (maybe I need to start watching TV?) But in any case, the past 30 years or so, since drugs have been ubiquitous, have forever changed many, especially young, populations. I've heard some real horror stories, and since each group (almost no hierarchy in Anabaptist groups, usually 2 preachers, a 'new' and a 'main' preacher, all chosen by lot, and 3 churches to a bishop, who is also 'main' preacher for one of the 3 churches) is it's own 'boss' there are lots of usus\ally small variances in the tolerance levels from one group to another. In the part of the country where I grew up, once you joined church, no more rumschpringge, period, because at the least there were usually musical instruments, or in that day I grew up, battery recordplayers.
that young men might resort to a fistfight over a young lady. The
behavior of those during Rumschpringe is often different than their
behavior at home.
I think the Mennonites/Anabaptists/Amish are an example of aThis is oft-stated as a "fact". However, they do not see it so.
peaceful group that is not wiped out because it exists within an
insulated environment in a country where they have constitutional
protection. Inside of the USA might be the only place in the world
where such a group can survive.
They have moved away from aggressors so many times that they see
themselves as a people on the move. In this country, beginning in
the late sixties, and accelerating through the seventiess and
continuing now is a large migration of Amish and conservative
Mennonites to Central America, particularly Belize, where they are
currently courted by the government (don't have to have photo ids,
their farming methods are advanced, and attainable, compared to local
historical methods, they provide no drain on the educational system,
etc). Here they have been badgered (over schooling, social security,
plenty) in many places until it's actually embarrassing, at least to
me, to think that my country behaves so. They are, from their point
of view, being forced out.
Thanks for making me realize this. I should have thought about that. I
don't think I really meant it as fact, but I see that I implied it.
There are even plenty of Mennonites in GA who came here not only for the
land, but for the schooling freedom.
I would hazard a guess, albeit
only a guess, that it makes the counting a little more difficult,
too, as they often make themselves difficult to quantify: easier to
stay under the radar to be left alone.
Smart move.
From our (world) point of view, all this moving looks like is that
they are going from the frying pan to the fire, but from their point
of view, it's the frying pan until it tips over, then a new frying
pan......all of this is to them simply the way it has been since the
followers of Zwingli were forced to meet in barns and caves in the
1500s: the norm.
You are absolutely right. I stand corrected.
I have clipped the remainder of your post, but I bow to it's truth and
it gives me a lot to think about. I see the point that you and Lynn are
making about "warring species"(I wish I had not said that that way), I
just hope that you can understand my belief that homo sapiens, as
individuals are a violent, aggressive species. People should be able to
play carom(and gosh I haven't heard any mention of that game in 15
years!) without being slaughtered...
Bev
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