Kensei

Being someone who no longer drives thats not somethign I have to worry about. Though I live in china now and most walks or rides bikes. however since their are zero emission cnotrols the air hwere is much worse then in america, since more and more ppeople drive or ride motorbikes. The Amish are lucky here. Horse and buggy might be slow, but only by product there is good old fashioned manure, and they can even use that to grow more food. All and all, I wouldn't mind tryig that lifestyle out for a while, though I don't think it would suite me in the long term.

Consequently, the Amnish encourage their young people to go out into the world for a year when they come of age, if they choose to, and they are welcome to return. They want them to understand both the outside world, and see why they live as they do. A good practice of illuminating your beliefs by studynig their opposite, in a sense. While most young adults return, some do not, and this is fine and good by them, weeds out the believers from those who are not truly suited to live as Amnish. Some don't go on this little journey until they are into their mid, even late 20's, some never do. Good practice.

I don't know how much longer the Amnish will hold on, hopefully a good long time, they act as a reminder to us of the past, simpler times, and perhaps teach some people that happiness can be found without all of the fancy doo dads we have now, or the constant striving for more.

Oh and folks the Amnish use money just like us, but in ther own community they will just as often barter. Interesting people, misguided in many ways, but certainly interesting.