[yK2VgoEI]

Good question. Amish people actually are allowed to use technology (well, not all, but a good chunk) as long as it doesn't give them an advantage over their fellow Amish. Lots of Amish communities we work with will have a communal phone, computer with internet, or even a large van (that they'll hire someone to drive for them). Maybe they just designated the GPS to be put in their communal van.

Doesn't make it much easier to get in touch with them. My typical phone call goes:

"Hello, is Amos Stoltzfus there?"
"Amos S. or Amos F.?"
"Amos S. Stoltzfus."
"Hold on.."
(15 minutes passes)
"This is Amos F. Stoltzfus!"
"Dammit..."




I often wonder how long I'd last in a lifestyle like that. I think I'd probably make it one night, so I have to give them a bit of respect for keeping it up their entire lives.

It would be hard today to not utilize at least a few of the modern conveniences, that's for sure. As to how long I would last...one weekend was enough for me!

[inchaaruutaa]

Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs conflict with the national anthem as well. Not because of the words, I don't believe, but because they oppose standing at attention worshiping an object (The flag). I have Witness relatives and when we go to a ball game together, they will leave the stands during the anthem. I suppose they could just sit there, but going to the concession stand is probably more respectful.

But the only reason I bring it up, as I saw the piece on FOX News about this issue this morning, is that I have never heard criticism of Jehovah's for this. Not sure if they have a college anywhere, but if they did, I certainly would not expect them to play the national anthem.

Another side note: My friend from Colombia always thought it was odd in the US that we play the anthem so often - before all sporting events and other. She made fun of our culture for being obsessed with how great we are. One year I finally went to Bogota to visit her, and what do you know, in Colombia they have a law requiring every radio station to play their national anthem at 6pm and 6am every single day. In the US we would consider such a law a gigantic imposition. Cultures will vary.

[wMceqj7F]

Cut off beneficial Federal and State funds/programs if they want to play that game.

[yK2VgoEI]

Cut off beneficial Federal and State funds/programs if they want to play that game.

Why? Because you don't agree with their religious beliefs?

[Kryfamid]

should disallow any federal money including student loans.

[Stoottnoiciek]

should disallow any federal money including student loans.

Sounds like a First and Fourteenth Amendment violation to me.

Matt

[wmhardware]

It's shit like this that makes me kinda wish there were bands of orcs and goblins ranging across the countryside attacking "peaceful" villages.

Sounds solid to me. I think Liberty University cripples students who go there by insulating them from the real world, so I don't plan to send any children of mine there.

[Licacivelip]

If these goobers think the Star Spangled Banner is too violent maybe they should just never turn on a radio again. Or watch television or movies. Or read the paper. In fact maybe they should keep themselves locked up in a closet so they aren't exposed to the rest of the world.

I'm guessing you've never been around Mennonites. That's pretty much what they do.

[nickayary]

There are quite a few national anthems around the world that were penned during the wars that led to their country's foundation. Thus, they tend to have references to war and death.

Check out the Italian national anthem, for example. They repeatedly declare how they're ready to die.

That's definitely true of the Irish anthem that is an outright rebel song, 'A Soldier's Song.'

We'll sing a song, a soldier's song,
With cheering rousing chorus,
As round our blazing fires we throng,
The starry heavens o'er us;
Impatient for the coming fight,
And as we wait the morning's light,
Here in the silence of the night,
We'll chant a soldier's song.

Chorus:
Soldiers are we
whose lives are pledged to Ireland;
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave.
Sworn to be free,
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
"Mid cannons" roar and rifles peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song.

In valley green, on towering crag,
Our fathers fought before us,
And conquered 'neath the same old flag
That's proudly floating o'er us.
We're children of a fighting race,
That never yet has known disgrace,
And as we march, the foe to face,
We'll chant a soldier's song.

Chorus Amhrán na bhFiann - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

YouTube - Irish National Anthem-Croke Park

[Centurnion]

If you attend Goshen College, a Memmonite college in Indiana, don't bother rising at a sporting even or taking your hat off for the National Anthem. There won't be one.

Apparently the song is a tad too violent and militaristic for their taste.

If these goobers think the Star Spangled Banner is too violent maybe they should just never turn on a radio again. Or watch television or movies. Or read the paper. In fact maybe they should keep themselves locked up in a closet so they aren't exposed to the rest of the world.

National Anthem Banned at Mennonite College's Sporting Events, Sparking Outcry - FoxNews.com

This is nothing new. Mennoties live all over the world--and in places you would never expect. And yes--for centuries they have turned off the real world. They don't watch T.V--They don't go to movies--and they don't read newspapers--and I have never noticed this group participating in politics--and imagine tht they don't vote either. Why do this surprise you? It's the way they have lived for 100's of years.

[AnIInWon]

They don't watch T.V--They don't go to movies--and they don't read newspapers

I think you need to stop getting your information from television and movies and get out in the real world. While some may live this lifestyle it's nowhere near the norm across the board. Depends entirely on the community. Some Mennonites shun technology and the outside world while others have more relaxed views on it. To make that generalization about them shows a lack of knowledge on the topic.

Moderate Mennonites include the largest denominations, the Mennonite Brethren and the Mennonite Church. In most forms of worship and practice they differ very little from other Protestant congregations. There is no special form of dress and no restrictions on use of technology.

The Holdeman mennonites do not believe that the use of modern technology is sin in itself. Old Order Mennonites cover many distinct groups. Some groups use horse and buggies for transportation and speak German while others drive cars and speak English. Although this group (Automobile Old Order Mennonites) began using cars in 1927, the cars were required to be plain and painted black. The largest group of Automobile Old Orders are still known today as "Black Bumper" Mennonites because some members still paint their chrome bumpers black. Mennonite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[wMceqj7F]

Sounds like a First and Fourteenth Amendment violation to me.

Matt

How so? This has nothing to do with religion or property seizure. If you want Federal or State money, you can't ban the National Anthem.

[yK2VgoEI]

How so? This has nothing to do with religion or property seizure. If you want Federal or State money, you can't ban the National Anthem.

Why can't you? There is absolutely no law stating that the anthem must be played or sung before a sporting event and the fact that the school chooses not to has nothing to do with federal or state money.

[qzgCVHex]

I don't see what the problem is. They are a private institution. Let them do what they want. If you don't like what they do, don't go.

Gee, I sound just like what a conservative is supposed to sound like...

[somasideff]

I have worked for the amish personaly. They are good people in general but they are very money minded. They have many small shops around the country and most are not afraid to work young children from 8yrs on up. They give them the learning esperience while at the same time paying cheap wages. Also the jobs young people do make good babysitters.
Don't fool yourself, they have computers, cell phones, and land lines. They use them for business and others they use for self communication to the community.
I was told if I were one of them I could get insurance. I understood that but needed the job anyway. I enjoyed working for them and was easy to make friends. We all cannot live their kind of lives or we would be overun by agressive countries. The heros keep all of us free eventhough many have no reasoning of understanding that. Our current regime is a very good example of using people to gain their agenda. Which is to destory our very way of living. Wild Bill

[Sniliabiz]

I don't have as much experience with the Amish and Mennonites, as I do with Pentecostal groups with similar beliefs.

They are people just like anyone else. Where we part ways are the treatment of women and children, and the heart of this matter. The freedom we enjoy in this country was born of violence. There are few, and arguably no, nations that where created without violence.

The Holy Bible is filled with violence, Old and New Testaments. By the same reasoning, these Books should be banned. Perhaps they should be Buddhist or Jain.

[WrinnaArraple]

All religions will eventually lead to violence. It's just a matter of time. Religion is inherently violent regardless of the message of peace it may have.

[Sniliabiz]

All religions will eventually lead to violence. It's just a matter of time. Religion is inherently violent regardless of the message of peace it may have.

That's ridiculous. Religion is used politically, and usually has nothing to do with the message of the religion.

By the way, atheism (communism) has killed far more people in the past hundred years that all religious violence combined.

[BluewayAllere]

That's ridiculous. Religion is used politically, and usually has nothing to do with the message of the religion.

By the way, atheism (communism) has killed far more people in the past hundred years that all religious violence combined.

well that is a well founded opinion, but it is not founded on truth

[wmhardware]

All religions will eventually lead to violence. It's just a matter of time. Religion is inherently violent regardless of the message of peace it may have.

That's ridiculous. Religion is used politically, and usually has nothing to do with the message of the religion.

By the way, atheism (communism) has killed far more people in the past hundred years that all religious violence combined.

Wow, two extremes of whacked, one after the other no less.