The Amish Culture

America is a "melting pot" of many different people, ideas and beliefs; that is why it is called the "Land of the Free", it is as unique as each citizen that lives here. The American population is made up of many different ethnic groups; some coming over from Europe, Africa etc. When the country first started, people came over to experience the "new" world. Today, people come over to escape their lives in hope for a better one. Whatever the reason, people come here to mix into the melting pot by bringing their own beliefs and value systems with them. Our country's laws are based on the Constitution, which gives it's citizens the freedom to live their lives as they wish, with lots of opportunities. There are many different sub-cultures or countercultures
The Amish movement started in Europe by Jacob Amman, it was considered an attempt to revive Mennonite practices. The Amish left Europe and migrated to the United States in search of fulfillment within a new society. They Amish believe in the simple things that our country use to stand for before industrialization took over making the pace of out lives faster and less complicated. The Amish religion still exist today, partially because of Rum Springer, Amish teenagers get to experience the fast-paced American lifestyle for themselves. After that year of experimenting, most decide to join the church and get married. Americans are more accepting of them because they share a lot of the same beliefs that we do, as well as being our window to what are ancestors lives were like without modern technology. As American's we want an escaped from the fast paced, hair on fire lifestyle were use to in favor for the slower, appreciate the sunset lifestyle that they live. Amish are also very close knit and family oriented, the churches actually meet in their homes and the services last about four hours. They also home school their children and spend their leisurely time with family and friends from the
The first sub-culture group that formed for a "rebellious" reason is the Hog Farm Commune. The members of this commune were not necessarily hateful or violent, they just did not agree with American's everyday lifestyle. The Hog Farm commune was started by a man nicknamed "Wavy Gravy", he wanted to live among people to peacefully protest the Vietnam war and to live "healthier" lives. The commune's "healthier" lifestyle consisted of belonging to a brother/sister hood. They also grew organically pure food, did not cook with sugar and did drugs. These people were categorized as hippies and were considered a little out their. The Hog Farm commune became a traveling commune not long after it's founding. Fellow Americans might have seen this commune as useless and a waste of time but they did do some useful things. For example they helped out abroad by aiding Pakistani flood victims. Had this group stayed away from drugs and had more conventional ways they might have been taken more seriously by their fellow Americans. They are poster children for the 1960's and helped define what American's know and understand as hippies. This shows that American culture is easily influenced by people and actions. Also Americans love to belong to a group, they need acceptance, and in this sub-culture hippies could