Cultural Violence and Twentieth Century Progress

Abstract

The Amish are a traditional agricultural community perpetuating a distinctive way of life in strong contrast with the surrounding majority culture. This distinctiveness is based on strong religious convictions. The Amish believe in education, but not in that dispensed by the public schools, because it unfits youth for farm life. In a number of communities public school officials have attempted coercion to make Amish children attend, but with no success. Persecution and harassments are also intense in war time because the Amish are pacifists. Rather than yield to the pressures, an increasing number of Amish are emigrating to more hospitable countries.