Friends, these two photographs show a rural communal lifestyle, that of the Amish in America.
Now while the glue that holds this community together is one of strict religious belief and a rejection of modern society, it does not detract from the benefits that accrue when a self-sufficient community work together as a team to support each other, to share the load.
The above photograph shows an Amish women working in the fields using good, honest, non-polluting horsepower! The beauty of the quiet environment, the honesty and satisfaction of doing physical work, is evident. No obesity or high blood pressure or traffic noise or police sirens or drunken parties here!
The next photograph shows the building of a new Amish house. As you can see the whole community appears to be involved in the 'barn raising' almost to the stage of there being standing room only!
Imagine how you'd feel if your community came around and helped you build your home in a matter of days! No builders ripping you off, just a bunch of kindly neighbors, the smell of baking bread, the laughter of happy people who feel a sense of belonging. Of course, no community is perfect. I'm sure the Amish have their share of problems as all humans do. But the concept of cooperative communal living obviously has real benefits.
Utopians would not have the religious glue but surely people of intelligence can see the benefits that the Amish have by building and maintaining a strong community. No one is left out, no one is alone (unless they want to be) and everyone enjoys the quiet simplicity of the country life while providing for their needs in a sustainable way that is kind to the environment!
What do you think? Could it be made to work?
Photo Image Link.
5 comments:
There are of course many parallels in nature. Ants, termites,bees etc etc. Of course this type of cooperation can and does work!The Amish being glued by faith in the Holy spirit. But Faith in the spirit of cooperation, and absorbing it, is all that is really needed. That's why it's important to keep the ball rolling. More and more of these type of small communities are springing up. I remember many years ago a work colleague of mine who was a 'mad' Jehovah s Witness telling me he was taking part in a 'quick build' at the weekend and I was to watch the old patch of land behind the Library. Sure enough in one day these fanatical Christians had built from bare ground to finished tarmac car park, a new church. Roof, Plumbing, Electrics, the lot. Now I know that these fanatics are scared witless by fire and brimstone but it was a great demonstration of what can be achieved. I might be worth noting however that fire and brimstone is quite a good analogy for what we are seeing in Iraq at the moment and It's not rocket science to see how it could quite easily spread world wide. Wait a minute is that four horses I can hear being saddled up?
We do live in perilous times, Monica. Perhaps we'd be better to dig a very deep bomb shelter rather than build a barn!
Boom-boom!
What the Amish and, to a lesser degree the Mennonites, here still have and what we've lost is a sense of community.
Interestingly, the gangs here have it too which is what makes them so attractive. I don't have to agree with their behavior to understand that. Rechanneled, those kids could move mountains.
I'm a little above the poverty level in this country, but not a lot. I live in a depressed neighborhood. Those of us who know each other on the block stick together. We watch each other,s houses, we tattle on each other's kids, we borrow and lend back and forth.
When I made my recent emergency move, my neighbors rallied. I'd do the same for them.
It's a community of sorts.
By the way, Hillary was scorned for saying "it takes a village". Hillary was right.
On a very small scale, we're a community.
Daniel, don't be fooled,some of these types, at least in our rural area, have trucks, cellphones and I'd imagine a few other things. Met a few and was surprised.
But, the sticking together and helping within their community, still going on.....
Granny, your wise comments always demonstrate the importance of bringing older people back into the equation, of elevating them once again into the position of reverence that they once had. Younger people, too often, are full of sound and fury signifying nothing!
Coffee, I know that anything to do with humans is fraught. Hopefully we can concentrate on analyzing our few successes and build upon them.
Cheers and peace to you both!
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