It's no secret I have an anti authoritarian streak - Government is a necessary evil that has got way too big for its boots.It takes itself far too seriously and big Government types think that ever more rules and regulations enforced by fines and penalties will return mankind to some sort of Garden of Eden where nothing bad ever happens and perhaps we all will live happily ever after. (singing kumbayah d'ya suppose?)
Aint going to happen friends - all that will happen, is happening, is that we will get ever more strangled by red tape and ruled over by petty officialdom growing ever more intrusive.
So when I read of Amish standing up to authority, going to jail rather than put Government mandated orange reflectors on the back of their horse drawn buggies I know here my sympathies lie.
Your Sympathies might lie with the Amish but who sympathizes with the driver of the 18 wheeler that collects the BLACK Buggy in the middle of the night on Highway 11/15?
ReplyDeleteHow many buggies were hit because they were black Mark?
ReplyDeleteHow many buggies need to be hit before these people are dragged in to the 19thC?
ReplyDeleteThey are a weird sect that needs to be wiped out.
Say what LRO?
ReplyDeleteYou believe in genocide of religious minorities?
Harmless ones at that.
Shame on you!!!!!!
They are a weird sect that needs to be wiped out.
ReplyDeleteNice turn of phrase. Joking, yes? The Rational Humanist is funny man. Horses obvious threat to civilisation, and horse buggy drivers obviously big threat to modern life.
Must be wiped out like other 17th and 18th century ideas. Like Haka, yes? Like Rationalism, yes?
They are a weird sect that needs to be wiped out.
ReplyDeleteAnd what were you planning? Is it mind wipes, or forcible removal of children, or the fact that only your approved brainwashing is suitable to live in a world of secular tolerance and freedom?
One of my commenters at CR just left this:
ReplyDelete"Having Amish friends I’d say he’s a D–khead,because I know they wouldn’t.
After Hurricane Katrina a bunch of them came south to help us rebuild.The men worked construction sun up to dark and the women cooked and cleaned house.They went from house to house helping ANYONE who needed it.There were quite a few people who I thought would never darken the door of a Church that started going because of their witness .
Some of the ones who came here were from that same community where that sick bastard murdered those Amish school children.FWIR they forgave the man and have taken under their wing is widow and children.Truly an amazing act of kindness in the face of evil."
Some "weird sect", eh?
Red
ReplyDeleteAt least one buggy per year on a 10mile stretch of 11/15 about an hour north of Harrisburg PA. Dark night, no lights, 1hp buggy at 10mph verses 1,000hp truck at 55mph is a no contest and all because the small black buggy was not seen by the truckie. We require all motor vehicles to be seen at night so why should the Amish be exempt?
I have seen the results of such an accident, not pretty.
I actually think this is a valid use of Government power. What is the big deal with reflectors at the very least if the buggy is going to be on public roads? There are definitely other battles that need to be fought with the government - but this isn't one of them.
ReplyDeleteHaving horse drawn traffic mixing it with 16 wheelers is a recipe for some fairly nasty accidents reflectorized or no Mark.
ReplyDeleteBut it is the buggy occupants who will loose so the heavy hand of the law should not be applied.
It's a softly softly catchee monkee approach that should be taken and if it is then it wouldn't take long before all buggies would be appropriately adorned because it is dumb not too actually.
But harden peoples hearts by using the strong arm of the law and some will go down to the wire not to comply - to resist in fact
Mark- I don't think the buggies are driven at night devoid of lighting. I believe they have other lights already affixed.
ReplyDeleteLucia- its not about that. Its about conviction.
I can't help but wonder, Lucia if somebody wrote
ReplyDelete"They are a weird sect that needs to be wiped out."
"They must be prevented from brainwashing any further children in to this idiotic cult."
about the Catholic church, would you also ignore that comment?
I ignore many comments of that nature, KG. They are so regular, I've gotten used to not even reacting to them.
ReplyDeleteRed et al
ReplyDeleteIf you go back to my original comment I was asking who sympathizes with the poor truck driver after he has hit the nearly invisible buggy?
I have driven these roads at night time and there but "for the grace of God go I" They loom up at you from an apparent nowhere and you better hope you have somewhere to go. This was not an Amish bashing just a road safety issue, if it was you in your car then the collateral damage affects more than the Buggy passengers.. Agreed horse drawn transport and 18wheelers are not a good mix but all road users should make themselves visible and hiding behind a religious belief is fine then don't use the road if you think that strongly about it.