(rant is not directed at you BTW, just chose here to reply)
Also, in the case of the Amish, they were here before cars and have 'in writing' (if you will) a very ancient document that they have followed for a very long time which has become a part of their inherent culture and everyday way of life (and for the record, pot and other things should be legal as well and in some cases things like peyote are).
Centuries old cultures built around certain religious ideals and practices that have barely changed have a bit more of a leg to stand on than someone who creates a new 'religion' today.
Of course, some will ask 'Why?' in an attempt to make some sort of a point or to be cute. History and culture matter and when folks have been living a certain way for centuries and you want to make them change their culture (when there are, as in this case, alternatives) does not seem at all progressive to me.
They wanted to comply with the law AND their beliefs and a middle ground that accomplished both was found.
Not sure why this should be upsetting to big tent people who want all of our brethren to be able to have their beliefs and culture remain and also keep things working for us all (ie, the roads and keeping people safe).
Preserving culture, a way of life that is different than ours - that is something I would think we could all get behind; unlike the Europeans who decided to 'save' the Indians and destroy their culture as savage - something I think some folks on DU would love to do to some folks who don't believe as they do. On here we get to bash all those barbaric idiots who believe in sky fairies, ridicule them (whether they be jew, christian, indian, etc) and see people who hope that someday all of that is wiped out so that we can save those savages from being different than us.
The big tent seems to have shrunk a lot from when I first came here and the word tolerance seems to have eroded to the point that it means "tolerant only for people who think and act like me".
= new reply since forum marked as read
