Still waiting for our new camper
Camper (2014 Star Craft Autumn Ridge 278BH) was ordered from the dealership on Oct 3rd 2013 and still has not arrived. Dealership said that they are built by Amish in Indiana and they take a lot of ti...
Forum Discussion
Being of Mennonite descent, it irritates me when I see manufacturers tout their products as "Amish built" as if this imbues their wares with some kind of high order quality.
First, the Mennonites (and later Amish offshoots) early established a reputation throughout Europe as industrious workers that were able to take land that didn't produce well and turning it into profitable enterprise. They also had a reputation for honest dealings with all people during a time when Catholics were burning Protestants and the Protestants were, in turn, burning the Mennonites. When they emigrated from Russia to the US and Canada their business sense and community cooperation once again enabled them to provide financial support to those who had stayed behind as well as provide support to fledgling communities in South America. It wasn't until World War II that their strict pacifist beliefs led to distrust on the part of the American government. The same problem they had generations before overseas.
Teenagers are allowed to live among the "English" for a time before confirmation and admission in the Church as full members. It is this group, and some that decide not to return to the fold, that you find employed in general construction and manufacturing industries. Keep in mind that these kids have no more than an 8th grade education, so are extremely limited in their career choices.
So yes, while the Amish (as a people, not a religion) have a well deserved reputation for honesty, hard work, and production of quality goods, the people, whose presence is being exploited in the manufacturing companies advertisements, are no different than any other undereducated, unskilled assembly line worker.
First, the Mennonites (and later Amish offshoots) early established a reputation throughout Europe as industrious workers that were able to take land that didn't produce well and turning it into profitable enterprise. They also had a reputation for honest dealings with all people during a time when Catholics were burning Protestants and the Protestants were, in turn, burning the Mennonites. When they emigrated from Russia to the US and Canada their business sense and community cooperation once again enabled them to provide financial support to those who had stayed behind as well as provide support to fledgling communities in South America. It wasn't until World War II that their strict pacifist beliefs led to distrust on the part of the American government. The same problem they had generations before overseas.
Teenagers are allowed to live among the "English" for a time before confirmation and admission in the Church as full members. It is this group, and some that decide not to return to the fold, that you find employed in general construction and manufacturing industries. Keep in mind that these kids have no more than an 8th grade education, so are extremely limited in their career choices.
So yes, while the Amish (as a people, not a religion) have a well deserved reputation for honesty, hard work, and production of quality goods, the people, whose presence is being exploited in the manufacturing companies advertisements, are no different than any other undereducated, unskilled assembly line worker.
