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    Home » Everything Amish » Plain Culture

    Understated Headline....

    Published: Aug 23, 2013 · Updated: Feb 2, 2021 by Kevin Williams | 3 Comments

    I don't talk a lot about "Amish reality" TV on this website because I prefer to deal with non-fiction topics as opposed to fiction.  But I had to guffaw this morning when I saw this headline on MSN.com.  Fake?  Really, you don't say!? The other part of the headline that made me chuckle was the "rumor" part...wait a minute, this might only be a rumor.  So, I'll set the record straight:  it's not just a RUMOR that "Amish Mafia" is fake, it's FACT that it's fake. I've been visiting Amish settlements for over two decades,have been into hundreds of Amish homes, have had scores of conversations with Plain people all over the country. Is it plausible that I missed something, that somewhere under my nose all along was an "Amish mafia?"  Unlikely, but I suppose it could happen...I don't know EVERYTHING that occurs in the Amish church.  But when people like Don Kraybill, one of the nation's premiere researchers of Amish culture also has never run into something like Amish Mafia I take notice.

    Kraybill told the Harrisburg, PA Patriot-Ledger in December: After researching the Amish for more than 20 years, Kraybill said he had never heard of anything like a group that the show depicts.

    “When I’ve spoken about this program with Amish friends they’ve just kind of laughed and said they never heard of this kind of thing,” 

    David Weaver-Kercher, an esteemed researcher on everything Amish, weighed in in the same article with this gem of a quote:

    "My sense is this Amish mafia is about as real as the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in ‘The Office.’”

    The whole idea that the Amish would use some fringe-of-the-church figure as an "enforcer" is just ludicrous.   The reality is much more mundane.  The Amish generally live their lives quietly and gladly follow church rules, someone who doesn't is dealt with in various ways by the clergy and congregation, usually in loving, forgiving ways, not with guns and goons. So, let's change the headline to: "FACT: IT'S FAKE."

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    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

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    Comments

    1. dynnamae

      August 23, 2013 at 10:43 am

      While I don't personally know any Amish, I have shopped from their stores and had contact in person. I have read about them for years also. I read some former Amish blogs. I have read your columns for years also. Just with that amount of knowledge, I would think any sane person would not have to watch this supposed reality Amish Mafia to know how fake it is. The commercials alone tell me it is all nonsense. It is sad that there are people who will give audience to such junk on tv. I think it is also very disrepectful to the Amish to protray them in this manner.

      Reply
    2. Kentuckylady717

      August 23, 2013 at 12:55 pm

      Have never watched this show and don't intend to...
      I am watching the other Amish show, but really it's not worth watching...but since nothing else in on, I intend to watch it.....but I'd rather watch this than HONEY BOO BOO.....don't know how this has stayed on now for the second season !!!! and also the show with the guy that has (4) wives !!!!! I thought it was against the law to have more than one wife.....how are they getting away with this, does anyone know ??

      Reply
    3. Carolyn

      August 26, 2013 at 2:14 pm

      I do not waste my time with any of the reality Amish shows. Actually I watch very little T.V.The reality shows are if anything disgusting.I believe the media is out to discount the Amish as much as they possibly can.

      Reply

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    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

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