Children of the Tomato

Reader Rex Stetson points to an article with the unlikely headline "Man Killed in Amish Tomato-Tossing Prank."

Comments

[chthus]

I like these two lines:

"Amish, who do not believe in modern conveniences such as electricity and automobiles"

"Keim was with about 10 other members of the Amish community, ages 15 to 23. The group told the sheriff's office they had been throwing tomatoes and firing paintball guns at passing vehicles."

I guess paintball guns don't count as a modern convenience.

Little vandals want to not pay taxes and violate the law? Wouldn't it be nice. That said, hopefully the nab the guy that shot him, definitely a little high strung.

[quaker120]

RTFA, chthus

"Keim was born into an Amish family, but his family left the Amish church and became Mennonites, said Yoder."

[quaker120]

RTFA, chthus...

"Keim was born into an Amish family, but his family left the Amish church and became Mennonites, said Yoder."

[Citizen]

Later in the article it says specifically that Keim's family used to be Amish, but then left to become mennonites - who do use some modern conveniences ... like paintball guns. I guess you can be a part of the Amish community without being amish?

[Citizen]

Bastard quaker.

[Ray]

Ah yes, the decadent Mennonites. . .

[Dave Straub]

I live in Pennsylvania Amish country (Lancaster County). Please be aware that the Amish *do* pay local and federal taxes of all sorts, though I believe there is a provision by which they can opt out of Social Security taxes. No Amish child attends public school, but their parents pay the same public school property taxes as the rest of us.

What is and isn't permissible among different Amish sects and clans is an interesting subject. Around here, firearms are strictly verboten among the Amish, presumably carrying over to paintball guns, but I wouldn't be surprised if other sects in different parts of the country felt differently. I recall that not long after I moved here in 1996, I was walking through a farmer's market in a rural area, and was flabbergasted to see Amish kids carrying cell phones. That alludes to an important distinction to keep in mind: like other Anabaptists, Amish only are baptized, and therefore enter into the church, upon reaching an age of ostensible maturity (typically about 17 or 18). Prior to that, there is a period called "rumspringa" during which Amish kids can partake of the worldly life. They have parties that sometimes involve drinking (and drugs). They check out the youth culture of their time. Some even get cars. Obviously, the majority of them get through rumspringa with their faith and values intact, and enter the church. But some do stray into "English" life, and are subsequently shunned.

My rambling point is that perhaps this young Amishman was using a paintball gun because it's not frowned upon in his sect, or because he had not yet been baptized (though that's unlikely). Regardless, as poor an idea as this ritualized vandalism is, no one should be shooting indiscriminately into cornfields because their car was splattered.

[Anonymous]

Amish and Mennonites, living together... MASS HYSTERIA!

[Dave Straub]

And of course, I didn't read the whole thing either. But non-Amish Mennonites (Amish are Mennonites but Mennonites are not all Amish) are at least as famous for their aversion to weapons as the Amish. Oh well.

[chthus]

I see "guns," plural, and no mention of only the Mennonite folks firing the guns. But it's a moot point really. Amish teens are usually allowed to do whatever the fuck they want in hopes that they will eventually choose the Amish way. This can lead to some rather odd situations (like the Amish/Pagan motorcycle gang drug ring in western PA in the mid 90's).

There's actually a documentary about some of this type of wild Amish behavior.

http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/movie/details/0,7286,VID-V+++260314,00.html?

[joe]

Not to mention the fact that teenagers from any culture often violate their culture's norms.

[Warren]

"I guess paintball guns don't count as a modern convenience."

Amish youth are not so sold on Ludditism. They often eschew forbidden gadgetry to keep out of trouble with the tribal elders, but are constantly on the lookout for loopholes. (Insert comparison to Hasidic Jews)

The quote that raised my eyebrow was this one:
"...said Ivan Miller, 41. "He should be punished. The guy lost it."
I remember reading of Amish people who didn't believe in secular law enforcement. 'Vengeance is mine' and all that. I wonder how many still practice 'no retaliation extremism' (for lack of a better term).

[Kevin Carson]

"Good God, there's blood everywhere! Hey, wait a minute.... That's not blood--it's tomato juice!"

[EgoLadenDilettanteGuy]

Nigh Hill, instead of posting that comment about threads descending into obliv, why don't you just sit in front of your computer and say it out loud. It works just the same.

[Anonymous]

Nigh Hill writes sadly -
opinions are like dead leaves
or cold lights in space

[I'm a winner]

Arguing on the internet is like competing in the special olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded.

[Ray]

Six or seven years ago in one of our retirement communities out here in Phoenix, some lady in her 90s lost control of her car and drove through an outdoor crafts show full of other seniors, acclerating as she went.

An 86 year old man in a wheelchair died. He made it that far through life and then gets whacked by a Buick.

I was just thinking I don't mind dying but I don't want to go out at the hands of a fool. At least let me take the nut-job with me.

[Neb Okla]

The shooter here apparently drove by a number of times and demanded that the vandals stop pelting his car or he would shoot them.

Clearly his best course of action would have been to call the police and leave the area.

As is usually the case here, both sides continued to antagonize. The shooter kept making a stink and the vandals kept vandalizing.

While I question the sanity of someone shooting a vandal with a paintball gun, one must also question the sanity of the vandals for not retreating when the threat of lethal force was presented to them.

Ultimately both parties had the ability to end the situation, but stubbornly refused.

The vandals, who were the initial antagonists, had the greatest opportunity to avoid this tragedy, so it is only fitting that the tragic result affected them most.

I would expect that a stiff penalty will also be assessed to the shooter when he is found.

[Ron Hardin]

What's ``clip clop clip clop BANG clip clop ...''

Amish drive-by shooting.

[Madog]

To be fair, paintball guns are air rifles, and air rifles have been around almost as long as gunpowder rifles. It's really only the paint ball that's questionable as a modern convenience...

[ty]

ok look a group of amish kids 15-23 were fing paintball guns and throwing tomatos at this guy he got out and told them it was a brand new car! he got bak in and drived by again at they continued to do it he go out and told them to stop! he drived by one last time and he did it again to bad he was armed and had a gun he shot all of the kids killing them as he drived away with a a smile on his face 🙂 **amaish people suk!**

[Anonymous]

The Amish in New York State all have guns for hunting. Deer season is like a week long holiday. They are happy to get the meat, and can all of it. I don't think they have rumspinga here either. I don't think I can ask my Amish neighbors about it, not if they think it is sinful to talk about.