On Aug 7, 4:19 am, David R Brooks wrote:
clare at snyder.on.ca wrote:
On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:20:16 -0700, Too_Many_Tools
wrote:

I too greatly admire someone who can "Walk the Talk".

It is too bad that there are so few that actually do so.

I agree that their carbon footprint is the envy of the Greens.

Their control over the fellow members is also the envy of the
Conservative Right..

Over the years I have known a number of members/exmembers from a
number of religious sects. Their insights into the inner workings of
these groups is an eyeopener....the term "Mennonite Mafia" is accurate
when applied to sects (Mennonite and otherwise) that actively control
their member's lives.

TMT
It's actually surprising how little "control" is exerted i the case
of these groups. Among the Amish, in particular, in the mid teans the
youn-uns are aften allowed to go "free" to decide if they want to stay
in the group permanently (as baptised members) or leave the community.
A VERY substantial majority choose to stay.

I live in a large Mennonite populated area -Amish, "old order" Amish
(Nafzinger etc), Old Order mennonite, Conservative
Mennonite,Waterloo-Markham Mennonite, Conference Mennonite, Mennonite
Brethren, and Old Colony Mennonite(Mexican) as well as the Reborn
(Dave Martin).
The Dave Martin group are the most involved (of the "conservative"
groups) in industry, and have tended to rationalise the most. They are
the ones known locally as the "Mennonite Mafia" or "Wallenstein Mafia"
because of their business practices etc.
Hesr the Old Order, Amish, OldOrder Amish, and the like are largely
farmers, and also include some excellent craftsmen building furniture
etc in the traditional way. Most are VERY devout, and do not interact
a whole lot with the "outside" world. No involvement with government,
insurance,education(secondary, or public) etc. Many still use the
Ausbund as their "hymnal" and work in low german (dialect) while
worshipping in "high german".

Conference Mennonites are outwardly not a whole lot different than
their Baptist, Lutheran, or Catholic neighbours but have a pacifist
viewpoint, a (generally) well developed social conscience, and believe
in "believer's baptism" and separation of church and state. Mennonite
Brethren are very similar (but generally came through Russia rather
than Holland/Pensylvania) and are more likely to be involved in higher
education and government/politics than their conference(swiss)
brethren.

All have a reputation for being a bit on the shrewd side (knowing the
value of a buck) but also being trustworthy.
Somewhat tongue-in-cheek Definition of a Mennonite? "One who can buy
from a Jew and sell to a Scottsman and make a profit"

I can say that - 6th generation ex-pensylvania Mennonite (family 150
years in Waterloo County this year) - "square head with most of the
corners knocked off in the school of hard knocks"

And a view from afar (about 12000 miles!). I (like many others) was
bowled over by the Amish's response to that shooting last year. To turn
round & forgive the perp. & invite his family to share with them -
that's walking the walk, with a vengeance! G*d bless them, I say!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I too was very impressed.

The real "walking the talk" is if it continued....it is easy to put on
the show for the cameras.

With that shooting....everyone lost.

Like VT, it is yet another case where requiring a psych test for a gun
purchase and continued gun ownership would have likely saved lives....


TMT