Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Blog 2: Amish Sex-crime Trial


Samuel Muller Sr., the leader of an Amish cult in eastern Ohio is held custody for sexual abuse to his step-daughter as well as others. Mr. Mullet seceded from the traditional, conservative Amish church to form his own practice. He started isolating his group by making the women wear skimpy scarves, instead of traditional white cap and a chin strap. During the trial Muller’s step daughter, Nancy was seen wearing instead the white cap and chin strap fashion in a way to protest against Mr. Muller cult. In the trial she revealed that she often had to do sexual acts to Muller, she endured verbal abuse if she refused. Other practices his church did were enforce hatred, and hate speaks to whoever disagreed or quit his cult, unusual punishment such as having miscreants ponder their sins in a chicken coop, and shearing of beards. Sometimes, “sinners” had to be held down in their own home by a group of men that would forcibly tear off their beard. One wife of a husband who had is beard torn off stated that her husband was distraught and would sit at the dinner table with a napkin over his chin in humiliation. Mullet’s wife was impassive during the trial while Mullets siblings couldn’t hold in their disgust.

Response
This article was interesting read. I never thought of sexual violence or violence in general in the Amish community. It opened my eyes to no matter lifestyle you live in some sort of violence will come up. I’ve argued in a reply to one of the discussions about how violence is in human nature, and this only proves my point. Although not as dramatic as in average American citizen life, its still act of violence in a very peaceful culture.
            One thing that really got to me was the shearing of beards. When I first read it I didn’t think much of it. I almost found humor in it, in comparison to our lifestyle where stabbings, protests, name calling, etc. are more relevant to show disrespect or how you don’t believe in what someone is doing/believes in, I felt that it was similar to a time out or a slap on the wrist. Although, when I continued reading, in their way of life it’s one of the most humiliating things you can go through. I had a soft spot for the husband that would hide his chin, even around his family in embarrassment. 

Caleb Hanke

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/us/in-amish-hate-crime-trial-a-look-at-reclusive-sect.html?pagewanted=all

1 comment:

  1. Remember, you are supposed to write an analysis of the article, not a reaction to it. Be objective in your analysis. Also, be sure to find an article that is international, or at least link a US-centric article to similar international events.

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