AmishBehavin'

(Disclaimer): It wasn't until 1985 when I went to see Harrison Ford & Kelly McGillis in "Witness" that I ever became aware of the Amish.  I was 24 years old then…and since that first impression (portrayed by Hollywood), I confess that I have not delved into deep research to fully educate myself on their culture, beliefs and simplistic ways of life.  What I do know, is that the vast concentration of them remains in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana…(and according to Wikipedia there are 281,675 in all of America).  With 317 million people in the U.S., that means the Amish represent only .008 of 1%.  If those numbers are anywhere close to accurate, then it begs the question;  "what in the name of Jebediah is going on folks"?

As I was driving back from a really nice walk in the park this morning, I spot these establishments touting; Fresh Amish Produce, Amish Pies and Fudge, Amish Furniture.  I'm in MT. JULIET, TN…how can this be?  Three places of business within an Amish slingshot of one another.  


Can Jenkins Nursery and Landscaping really be carrying fresh Amish Produce?  Jenkins doesn't seem like an Amish name to me.  Anderson's Amish Furniture?…located by the AmAsian Restaurant (that's coming soon).  Does it not raise a suspicion that something seems Amissh?

Either the Amish are the most gifted, brilliant, efficient, productive people in the history of mankind, or there is a fly in the butter-log somewhere.  How could this few of a people churn out the volume of "Amish goods" that I see EVERYWHERE these days.  Jams, cookies, fudge, furniture, electric furnaces (what???), grass-fed beef, pickles, buggy's, baskets, bonnets, quilts,…you name it!    Got some old mason jars you want to sell?  Fill them up with some tap water, slap a horse & buggy label on the front, mark it up 40% and call it Amish Springs.   No explanation necessary…people will buy it because it says Amish.  

We as a society are gullible, falling for mis-leading marketing terms like free-range chicken or anything organic.  No one is regulating this stuff…and there ain't no Amish Commissioner authenticating that Ezekiel really whittled that wagon-wheel you're about to purchase.  But who am I to rob you of your consumeristic joy and mis-guided belief that what is promoted is "real"?  

I just make crusty, instinctive observations…and write them down in this blog so that I can release them from my screwed-up mind…and then clippity-clop through life until the next thing gets my rant on.  HEY, somebody pass me that Amish balm…I've got a hitch in my get-along.


Curmudgeon Out!
                                        
                                            "Things are not as bad as they seem....they are worse!".....Bill Press