For me personally, I do not believe so. Unless their identity is causing them harm or others harm, why not let people live? The Amish have survived for many years without electricity and the luxuries we have, and I believe they will continue to do so. The human race lived like they do for many, many years, and we have come this far. I do not see the harm in allow a group of people to stick with tradition of that is what they want. And this can go along with any identity. As long as they are not causing harm to themselves or others, let people live the way they feel like they want to or in a way that will emphasize who they are.
Sarah Geisweit
I don't think the discussion was about forcing the Amish to change their identity, but rather about arguing with them that there is no point for them not to use electricity first because what they use, ex: gasoline lamps instead, was considered once a violation by those who would prefer to use other forms of lighting such as candlight. So the discussion was all a matter of how important argumentation is in causing a change in society. If individuals are argued with profoundly, with good reasons and evidence of the positive sides and gains that await them, they take up what they might have thought of as not part of their identity, endorse it and incorporate it as part of their identity, without their identity being undermined.
ReplyDeleteFinally, argumentation has the positive side of showing individuals benefits and advantages that they might not have had access to because they have enshrined themselves in a closed circle thinking it is only a matter of identity. Evolution is typical of life and it will happen any way. It is happening already with the Amesh; they use cars, cell phones because they are important and even necessary and they are still preserving they identity while using such hi-tech of our time.
Mohamed Ahmed
I don't feel that argument really has a great cause of change in our society. I don't really think that anyone likes to be told that their beliefs are incorrect. Every person likes to believe that their thoughts are superior to other's. Arugment just makes people want to prove each other to be incorrect to make themselves feel superior. I don't feel that there is really any positive side to argumentation.
ReplyDeleteArguing is not the correct technique for trying to make a person change their mind, because it is too forceful. In many cases when you argue with a person in an effort to persuade them to think or act differently, they will most likely do the exact opposite of what you want. A better technique would be a debate where each side states their own opinion and they have a discussion. Even then the chances of you changing their mind is far from guaranteed, but at least you are not causing them to turn away from your viewpoint completely just because of the way you presented your opinion.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has their own views and opinions, and there will always be dispute over beliefs. Argumentation has become a way of communicating about these beliefs. Which, I believe makes it an even more touchy subject.
ReplyDeletePeople should be aloud to state opinions with argumentation, but should do it in a way that does not seem hostile or over forceful.
I also think that trying to make people change their idenity or view on things is wrong we shouldn't urge people to change unless it's for the good. We should always try to see both sides views even if we lean to one side more than the other.
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ReplyDeleteI don't believe that the point of this conversation was to state that forceful change Amish Society was needed. The point was to make a comparison to how individuals in modern western society are accustomed to electricity, it is seen as a necessity. A logical individual would agree that forcibly changing a culture's identity is a negative idea/action. Also, in response to this statement "Unless their identity is causing them harm or others harm, why not let people live?", in some cultures practices that may be seen as harmful in American Society, may be a social norm in other cultures, I believe its self-righteous for Americans to decide what is proper and non-harmful in other people's society.
ReplyDeleteIt’s important not to force your belief onto someone else’s. Saying their beliefs are wrong while yours are right. Everyone is allowed to think and believe what they like but someone shouldn’t force it on them. The Amish are slowly evolving their beliefs because they want to.
ReplyDeleteI believe that people should not change their identity that they have had for so long to fit in with today’s society, including the Amish. A friend of mine lives next to an Amish family and they invited us over to make homemade ice cream with them. It was a great experience and I’m so glad I was given a chance to interact with them because I was able to see a different lifestyle that I knew nothing about. They were the friendliest, loving family I have ever met. The kids were a joy to be around and the parents were extremely welcoming. After spending time with them, I saw how they like their lifestyle. They have made accommodations to survive. Just because they are different from the norm does not mean that they should change their identity. If anything we should take a look at them and see how they value family time and hard work and take a lesson from them.
ReplyDeleteThe original discussion is class was not based on forcing Amish to change their identity. My group brought up the point that electricity in "our" society, which is known to the Amish as the English society, relies a lot on electricity in our daily lives. Without electricity people would have a hard time commuting to work, they were raised in the environment to only know how to survive with electricity. My point about the Amish in my discussion was to compare how our society unfortunately relies too much on electricity to go through their life, but the Amish have never lived their daily lives with electricity. It sad how much we but our lives in the hand of electricity, and maybe one in a while we should live more conservative in the matter of electricity and have more family time.
ReplyDeleteI think that accepting different people's lifestyles is important and crucial in today's society. I think the Amish obviously see that electricity is convenient and could be useful in their lives. However, it is their tradition and their choice to not use electricity and continue with their current lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has their own opinions and way of doing things and I don't think anyone should change their views/beliefs to fit in with society. If their way is working for them then they shouldn't feel they need to change what has been working for them for so long.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah. You should not try to change a person's identity unlesss it is harming themself or others. I believe that it was completely inappropriate to even say that we should change the Amish! They choose to live a simple life according to their religious belief. Who are we to think its our right to change them? In fact, we need to follow thier example! When was the last time you heard for Amish people stealing or murdering somebody? The are simple people, but at least they obey the most basic laws.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe we should change our idenetities for anyone. It's what makes us "us". I believe as long as we have good intentions and morals we should be able to live however we please.
ReplyDeleteNo one should ever have to change their identity to be accepted. Your identity is what makes you unique, so why be someone your not? I think this was taking the wrong way in class. The Amish were brought up as an example. The Amish were being compared to today's society, no one ever said the Amish needed to change their identity.
ReplyDeleteWe are each individuals with our own bodies and own thought processes. This is what makes humans so unique. We are all so different, but in many cases we are the same. No one wants to be told how to live, and if the Amish choose to live a simpler lifestlye without electricity, so be it. To each his own.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is different and everyone has there own opinions and their own thoughts and their own bodies. People should never change to be accepted because i feel as if personalities make the world what it is and the more different personalities you get the more interesting the world becomes.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your entry sarah! The amish and many other cultures have their own identity what does it matter to others? Everyone is different and unique so why not embrace the different things we do whether they are big or small.
ReplyDeletei agree with Matt, there really is no positive side to this argument. However, its not that their lifestyle is "wrong" it is just inefficient compared to the way others live today. We just do not understand. Just like they probably dont understand us.
ReplyDeleteI think we were all born the way we are for a reason but sometimes we are affected by what others say and what they feel we should look and act like. People need to realize that its their life they are living not everyone else's. They have to deal with the things that happen, not others who are contradicting what they feel we should look like. Were all unique, how boring would it be if we all looked, talked and thought the same way? Live up to what you know you are and how you feel whether people accept it or not.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is wrong to try and change someone that is not doing any harm to others. In society now people are so quick to want to change people when maybe they should look in the mirror. People are different and everyone has their own way of living and doing things. Unless they are doing wrong to the world then let them live the way they want. Not everyone lives the same way in this world and that's what people have to get use to.
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ReplyDeleteIt was a great experience and I’m so glad I was given a chance to expereince a different culture and wonder if i could live as an Amish. The answer to the question is no mame. I need electronics like my cell phone and my laptop. I hope that in my afterlife i wont be a Amish.
ReplyDeleteADAM CLEMENTS
I feel like everyone should be able to make the decision of how they want to live their lives, this is America the land of the free. However I feel we as "groups" put limitations on how far we really want to allow each other to come into our own. For example since we're talking about the Amish, I do believe they raise there children to follow there way of life and at the age of 18 they are giving the option to decide to stay in the religion or to go in a "different direction" however if they don't choose what their family wants they disown them.That's what I don't agree with.
ReplyDeleteI agree with London, if people don't want to change good or bad in their society they won't.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it isn't right to force someone to change their identity and the way they have lived. It should be their decision, regardless of the situation, to be able to follow any way of life that they want.
ReplyDeleteI just can't understand why people have a problem with people being different. There's nothing wrong with not going with grain.
ReplyDeleteIn the discussion, The Amish was only mentioned to be put in comparison with our inner-city society and how electricity consumption differs. Nothing would be forced on the people, and if it was beneficial to them to have electricity, the Amish would have done it already
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