Amish Forgive Harassment By High School Football Players
This story appeared several days ago with scant details attached. Now more has come out and (a bit to my surprise) it’s starting to get national attention. Besides getting a lot of local coverage, Newsweek has now picked it up.
Amish in the neighborhood of LaValle, Wisconsin (Sauk County) had been getting harassed in their homes at night. Nine juveniles were cited for disorderly conduct. Here’s what they did, via wpr.org:
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Department has released details on allegations against teens accused of harassing the Amish community earlier this month.
According to a redacted incident report filed Aug. 11 and sent to WPR Wednesday, the teens spent several nights blowing air horns, shining lights outside of homes, ringing doorbells and lighting off fireworks.
Nine juveniles have been cited for disorderly conduct and fined $213.
Football players from Reesburg High School were in the group, though it sounds like it included others. The school district canceled the team’s first two games as a result. In some places in the country, canceling high school football games is a really big deal.
This part of the report tells you why this type of thing happens to the Amish:
According to the incident report, deputies increased patrol in western Sauk County after multiple reports of harassing behavior in the Amish community at night.
During a traffic stop on Aug. 11, several juveniles were “determined to be part of a larger group that had been engaging in these behaviors.”
One of the juveniles told deputies they had gotten the idea from students at a neighboring school district.
The juveniles reportedly admitted to knowing the Amish did not have cameras, making them “easy targets.”
Thinking about it more, I’m going to guess that this story resonates with people not just because it involves Amish, but because it’s members of a football team doing the harassing. Not that football players are known to regularly do this thing – far from it.
But it does fit into “bad jock” stereotypes in pop culture – of physically stronger athletes picking on weaker victims. Seems like more of a 1980s stereotype, but I imagine it hasn’t gone away. And I hazard to guess that more than a few people had experience of that sort of thing in their high school days.
It doesn’t sound like anyone was hurt, and the things done – shining lights, ringing doorbells, setting off loud fireworks – might be dismissed as “pranks” by some people. But none of that makes it okay. And if it went on for several nights, I can see how things got to this point.
The Amish Response
The Amish here responded with grace, as tends to be their way. They released a letter thanking the non-Amish community for their support, noting that the harassment has been forgiven – and even wishing the best to the football team. Here it is in full (via WMTV 15):
We, as members of the Amish Church of La Valle would like to thank the public for their concerns about what happened in our community the first part of August. We would like to take this way to inform you that all is taken care of. We all are well satisfied with the way it was done. We feel the case is closed, forgiven, dead and buried. Amen.
We also want to thank everyone who in anyway supported the Benifit Fish Fry for Little Emma who is doing well. The support and turnout was beyond our expectations. May God Bless Each And Everyone! Thanks For All Concerns!
We are hoping the Reedsburg High School Football Team has a successful and enjoyable time for the rest of the season.
The Amish Church of La Valle
The Amish also said that members of the football team have apologized. Here’s a picture of the letter:
Just one more observation before putting this post to bed. As you can see in the above photo, the well-wishes for the football team are in different handwriting. That bit may have been added later.
Not only is that part a warm gesture – but it’s also probably good PR. Especially if the Reedsburg area is as football-crazy as some towns are for their high school teams! So whoever thought to add that, well done.
Ringing doorbells?
Most doorbell systems run on electricity, and I know there are battery powered door bells, but I doubt many Amish have them.
Football
You need not be nice or smart to play football.
I’ve delivered to this area. Very near Hicksville as I remember.
Wouldn’t it be great for the Amish to show up at the next game? Someone would have to explain the rules!
Amish and football
In my years of engaging with Amish culture, I’ve seen Amish boys passing footballs a few times. Lebanon and Perry Counties mostly. In the Old Order Mennonite community in Snyder County I’ve seen games of “touch football” being played. In Mifflin County’s Big Valley I have spotted Penn State decals on buggies. I also possess photos of buggies with Steeler, Eagles and one this year with an old Redskins bumper sticker. I’ve also seen Amish made quilts with a Steelers theme. All of this in PA of course.
Glad 2 games were cancelled. They deserve to be punished for what they did. The school, and coaches, are there to teach. The game is secondary.
Rowdies and tough love
In the picture, only the note from the Amish showed up, not the apology by the team or any photos. Anyway I am glad they got punished, they deserve it and it will teach them a lesson. It may seem like a prank but it can cause a lot of trouble too. I am tired of bullies harassing people because they seem like easy targets like they are nice, weak, disabled, etc.
On another note one idea is to invite such kids over for a forgiveness meal to let them see how the Amish live and how nice they are and it should build a connection and make them ashamed of ever thinking of doing something like that again and to discourage others from it as well.
Blessings.
That’s actually all that I could find. It was only stated in the report that they apologized, I assume a verbal apology.
Peace and Love
Peace, Love and forgiveness is exactly what I see in the Amish. Extraordinary people.
Universal
Unfortunately that type of bullying behaviour is pretty universal – with many variations, and also degrees of harassment – I see it occasionally hitting the headlines here Down Under…
Blessings
Maxine
HOPE
It’s generally accepted that the only way to be particular behavior has changed is to look to the future. While I do not think the Amish must attend the high school’s football games, how this was handled offers hope that what is seen as gaps can be bridged with love and acceptance. Sports too often emphasize the competitive aspect to the extent that being the “top dog” means making the other dogs something less and keeping them “beaten.” Obviously, we’re not dogs, and that’s good news because it means we don’t have to act that way. It looks like that lesson was learned here…
I think what you say here is well put, and one reason that Amish (or a lot of them anyway) generally don’t emphasize competitive sports.
At the same time many young Amish people are competitive – and do compete when they play in different venues (volleyball, ice hockey, corner ball to name a few).
I didn’t post on it, but recently there was a report on an Indiana Amish youth basketball team doing just that. But in the schools they would emphasize things like teamwork and fair play over keeping score and winning.
Football players
$213 is NOT enough punishment, they need to be paddled and then spend some time in juvenile detention plus make restitution to the Amish. They also need to be kicked off the football team. If that means no football for that school, that’s just plain tough.
reply
my sentinments exactly david
Catherine
Couldn’t agree more