Another new episode of American Colony: Meet The Hutterites and more of the usual BS and lies.
The first interesting thing I heard was that one of the guys said that there 57 members on the King Colony but on the intro, they said they had 59- what happened to the two people?
The secret sewing session in the middle of the night was highly suspect that no males, elders or anyone knew about the sewing session. And then they conveniently leave behind a piece of cloth? They also had one a woman, Lisa, just flat out lied about the sewing session. That would never happen in real life because they put God and the commandments first and friendships second..
Then the bed building segment was suspect as well. It certainly did not look like they had the tools to make the beds: a tree debarker would be one piece of equipment. Oopps, later in the show, they showed them debarking the trees by hand, which is very difficult, especially for 20 beds. And two days to make 20 beds? With 2 guys? Not happening. And it didn't happen. Then Marvin gives the two $50. Nope- not in a real Hutterite Colony where no one makes a salary and all money collected belongs to the Colony.. And we never saw a finished bed, did we.
I know many Amish are excellent wood makers and that is their primary job. Most Amish products cost much more than factory furniture because of the quality of the product. But wood making is their primary job. On the Colony, their primary jobs are farming and ranching- not wood making, and that is true with most, if not all Colonies.
Then the Colony complains about a shortage of money and they go bowling? Not likely. All money that the Hutterites bring go to the Colony. No one has a special account, no one has their own credit/debit card and the money they use, goes for the Colony: Hutterites carry credit cards. But they don’t buy fancy cars or anything
substantial for themselves. Vacations consist of trips to other
colonies. http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/hart/Read2.html
Another problem is the wedding bands the women wear: Wearing jewelry is thought to show vanity, which a
Christian shouldn’t have. They wear no wedding bands, though men
wear beards when they are married to help distinguish them from
single men. http://www.bellaterreno.com/art/a_religion/religions/anabaptist_hutterite_tradition.aspx
Seems like some of the young men who are not married, grow beards, when they weren't supposed to. However, mustaches are forbidden because mustaches are associated with the military. Marvin and Toby wear mustaches with their beards, which is strictly forbidden have been since the beginning of the Hutterite religion.: http://books.google.com/books?id=lgUbHUXmrvYC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=hutterites+%2B+mustaches+military&source=bl&ots=F7wvrFnz1t&sig=pKtXWP4ZOiiR1jza8yQDLRd_EYM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IXb-T9PAK4GC2AWg1u20BA&ved=0CEsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=hutterites%20%2B%20mustaches%20military&f=false.
So, are Toby and Marvin actors or Hutterites who don't believe in their most basic philosophies?
Then they had the character, Claudia, dress up as an English girl, with a short dress and jewelry and go bowling with a few Hutterite girls and 2 boys late at night. Again, the actor Claudia, who I don't think is Hutterite, she just plays one on TV, gets flirty with an English boy. In 99% of the Colonies, this would be strictly forbidden and they would probably have an older adult chaperone.
Another thing I find strange: You never see the elders or elderly women, with the exception of perhaps Bertha. When I lived in Montana and came in contact with Hutterite men, the men had their beards and the older the man, the longer the beard. I know in the Amish communities, when the man gets married, they start growing a beard and they never stop, so many of the older Amish have pretty long beards.
The other thing I don't see are babies and toddlers. It would be strange for a Colony not to have babies or toddlers. I think we saw some kids around 10-12 years old on the show. So, where are the elders and the babies and toddlers? Most Hutterite families are large- they don't believe in birth control, but when you see the group photo, you just don't see babies or toddlers and you don't see them running around the grounds or even in group settings.
National Geographic said they would give an accurate view of the Hutterites and they have failed miserably. They make the Hutterites look like a bunch of drunken young adults who swear, lie and spend money like crazy on frivolous things. That is not a true Hutterite colony and it is a shame that National Geographic have decided to go the Jerry Springer route for exposing the Hutterites.
For Property-Owners in Asheville
1 hour ago
Who wrote this rubbish? Amish is not Hutterite, vice versa. They said they are the more laid back colony. Duh! This garbage you wrote is premature, the show is just getting started. I love the show, I love the people and I want more!!!! There are some who have loosen up. You should try it! This family and colony doesn't have to show you every living body on the colony. Your BS is what's the matter. Find another topic to pick at like TAXES AND UNEMPLOYMENT!
ReplyDeleteYOUR TRUELY,
M.CASIDA ;)
Umm, M. Casida, I do know the difference between Hutterite and Amish, especially since I know about the Amish extensively and have visited and studied the Hutterites as well. Please read the writings again.
ReplyDeleteAnd the show is not just getting started, it has been on the air for at least 6 weeks and may have only 4 weeks left.
And if you have read other articles on this blog, you will find that I have also written extensively about taxes and unemployment.
Did you not see the episode where the husbands met up with wives at the cabin? They were scrambling to find babysitters for Marvin's children, and I think I counted at least 3. Just because they don't show little children all the time does not mean there aren't any. Maybe the parents don't want them filmed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the elders and older women probably don't want to be filmed and the show can only have so many top characters to be focused on so we can be part of their story and life..and get a glimpse into it...it has to be interesting or it won't last long and too many characters would not be interesting or give us a connection to continue watching...I would like to know where their money comes from..who earns it and all the families have nice things and modern, too. All the vehicles and all terrain four wheelers aren't cheap. All vehicles are modern, too. How much do they get paid to let N.G. Film and write this story?
ReplyDeleteI live in Lewistown, MT which is often highlighted in the show. I also have lived in the east for most of my life and am quite familiar with the Famish and Mennonites (all anabaptist). Rules andvtraditions can vary greatly from colony to colony. Then there is the distinction between old order and new order, particularly among the Amish. I say all this to caution that you do not apply knowledge of one to another - even within a movement. Since we are a small community (there are only 11,500 people in a county the size of Connecticut), I can assure you these are not actors. However, this does not mean they aren't acting. I'll cite just one show for evidence, the other nine are equally contrived. In the scene where Carver gets in a fight at Moore School the scene is shot at the Lewistown Civic Center. The three female students are students at Fergus High School not at Moore. The one on the right graduated this May. I have a high profile occupation in Lewistown so I personally know nearly everyone on the show. I watched the show with more than a little fascination - not for the "inside look at Hutterite life" but because it demonstrates that reality TV has little to do with reality.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rick for the info, it kind of confirms most of what I thought was going on.
ReplyDelete