Sins of the Amish

I made the acquaintance of a language professor, whose study of the "Pennsylvania Dutch" language led to his becoming a mediator with the outside world for various Amish communities in Pennsylvania and the mid-west. He portrayed a nuanced, decent, often beautiful way of life that maintains an equilibrium by the Rumspringa, a process of each young adult deciding whether or not to commit to the "plain" life. To the young people who do take it on, mainstream life seems noisy and distasteful. I have come to understand the Amish as fundamentally different from all the genuinely repressive, retrograde cults and sects they superficially resemble. I have no doubt that the individual horror stories in the series are authentic. But I take great exception to any claim that they are typical, representative, or more prevalent than in mainstream society. That is a bum rap!

For the most part, the 'experts' state the most obvious facts- the communities are male-oriented, dominated, ordained. Well duh.

Just because you don't like/understand their way of living doesn't make it wrong; there's many thriving Amish communities with no issues. Most you'll never hear of because they don't seek attention. Most communities are what we'd consider small- a population that of a small farm town barely incorporated.

The mental health issues are sad, and there's bound to be those who suffer with little to no attention other than being deemed possessed. But the rest of the 'civilized' world isn't too far ahead of this. Given time one would guess they'll have strides in this area, but there's no way to know for sure.

The family that for some reason decided to become Amish, then these children were abused? You know better and you're capable of fleeing- there's absolutely no reason for this abuse to occur, much less continue.

The family of mom and two daughters? I have zero sympathy nor empathy towards the mother- there's simply no valid reason for her atrocious behavior and actions towards her daughters. How she isn't completely abandoned by her daughters is a mystery, and I hope that some day they're strong enough to cut ties with her and let her lay in the abomination of a bed she made. She's gross and a disgusting excuse for a mother, and I sincerely hope the girls are getting the help they so desperately need. It's not complicated, and it's not difficult, mom is trying to absolve her reprehensible behavior by claiming her own victim status, and that, in and of itself, is condescending and ignorant.

Mary is the most in need of help, yet seems to be the one who hasn't gotten any. She's angry, she's throwing tantrums like a child, hurling expletives like a 12-year old that has just learned how to swear. I feel badly for her circumstances but it's difficult to muster any sympathy when she doesn't seem the least bit sympathetic. Her anger and vitriol make her seem self righteous and vile- and it leads me to believe she's in need of serious mental health services.

This series seems hellbent on a very specific bent towards portraying all Amish as evil incarnate, and willing to cast their children to the wolves, when in most areas, that's the furthest thing from the truth. Most communities thrive and prosper with little to no issues- and their ability to forgive has been a shining light to the rest of us. As an example, the gunman who opened fire on an entire schoolhouse, at West Nickel Mines Lancaster County, PA., but not before raping numerous little girls. Charles Roberts shot 10 and killed 5 in 2006, then turned the gun on himself, and the community encircled his widow and forgave.

Every single community in the world has evil dwelling among them- the Amish are certainly no exception. But to portray this as 'The Amish' as if their entire grouping is somehow guilty is disingenuous and gross. It's simply no different than castigating the entirety of the Muslim community for one person shooting Fort Hood. Saying everyone who dwells below the Mason-Dixon Line are all backwards racists because one person committed the crime of fire bombing churches. Amish pay taxes the way the rest of America does, and every community has wickedness. Stop behaving as if they're all bad because some are awful people.

This two-part documentary just became available streaming on Peacock, running just under two hours total.

It focuses sequentially on several women in several states with substantial Amish communities. Each of these women are either victims of child sexual abuse growing up, or the mother of children who have suffered sexual abuse within the family. Most are victims of their own older brothers but in some cases their own fathers or church leaders.

The documentary seems to suggest that sexual abuse of children is very common in various Amish communities. Whether it is or not more common than the rest of society, the fact that leaders always want to cover it up is distressing. It is a CRIME, it should never be covered up. Maybe if every offender went to jail then it would stop.

The film explains the church attitude that (1) men and boys past puberty have strong sexual desires and (2) if they act on them but later express remorse then they are forgiven with no need for additional action. Further if victims, or the mother of victims, contact the police with a complaint then they will be expelled from the community, excommunicated from the church, while the abuser gets the benefit of the doubt and support from the community. That is just so messed up.

The documentary does also cover some cases where the abuser was reported and how the legal punishment played out but the Amish attitude needs to be changed. If not voluntarily then forceably.

Those interviewed and the producers of the documentary hope this will serve to begin a movement to expose the sins of the Amish, and they compare it to such movements as the Civil Rights movement. Time will tell if it works out that way.

I found this to be a totally absorbing documentary, a glimpse into a culture with its own unique rules, a culture few of us ever have a glimpse of.

This is not a documentary. This is a disgraceful generalization of the Amish and Mennonite community. As a Mennonite, deeply engrained in my community, I can say that this is an unfair and inaccurate representation of us as a people.

We are pacifists. This "documentary" is an unfortunate exploitation of the experiences of a few individuals. It is apparent that no due diligence was done to ensure that the statements of absolution made by "experts" are fact - and not broad generalizations.

It is disrespectful to both the victims and the Amish/Mennonite communities.

This is inflammatory and should be removed from Peacock. It deserves zero stars.

I wish and hope all the woman will get protection and help they need. I agree it's not the Amish those horrible stories are everywhere, but to just bring awareness to the community and hope that will bring a conviction to many. Such a tragedy, my hears goes for those and all girls/woman who witnessed and experienced those devastating moments.