Two Very Different Peoples: the Amish and Oneidas - Essay Example

Two Very Different Peoples: the Amish and Oneidas Introduction There are many different factors that distinguish people from one another. Within a country, state or even city, people are not uniform, but instead represent a wide range of different cultures, beliefs, histories as well as many other factors. Within America there are many different groups, such as racial groups: Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Native American and ‘White’ American. While these groups intermingle with one another, there are other groups that maintain their distinction, internally reinforcing their differences. Two examples of such groups are the Amish and the Oneida. This essay examines these two specific groups, considering the differences and similarities between the two in terms of a wide range of different factors, including: leadership, tradition, and religion. While the two groups appear to be extremely different on first glance, there are in fact some remarkable similarities. History The Amish arrived in the United States after emigrating from European German speaking countries. They arrived in two waves, first between 1727 and 1790, and the second between 1815 and 1860. They live in discreet communities, having little to no contact with the outside world. Their way of life is based of Christian teaching, although they are not involved with any state churches. Instead their study of the bible and teachings are all internal. Most Amish live in the countryside, near small towns, which often contain a mixture of Amish and non-Amish families. Currently congregations of Amish fall into two categories. The first is Old Order Amish, which are more traditional. This group maintains values such as using horse and buggy as a means of transport, maintaining only simple attire, they do not use many types of technology, and tend to home school their children . Many people consider the Amish to be a religious sect or cult, accusing them of mistreating children and forcing members to stay against their will. Others consider the Amish simply to be following an alternative lifestyle, which has a much stronger focus on family and community than the average for American Society. While the Amish were immigrants to America, arriving from Europe, the Oneida were native to the land. They are a Native American tribe that has its roots in central New York. Like all Native American tribes, the Oneida suffered extensively at the hands of the Europeans through disease and war . As a consequence of this their numbers were dramatically reduced. Native Americans did not uniformly ally with one side or the other during the Revolutionary War; instead their alliance was based on their tribe, with most allying with the Europeans. The Oneida however were strong allies with the Americans throughout the Revolutionary war. However, this was not enough to ensure that they kept their land or rights. The Oneida suffered forced relocation and the loss of their ancestral lands in the same way that other tribes . Leadership The concept behind the Amish lifestyle is to be able to participate in their Christian faith as they see fit, without going against the laws of the state or the country in which they abide. Currently, more than 200 settlements that are identified as Amish are present within North America. While there are more than 1,400 different congregations of Amish in the US, they have no structured organization or office. Instead, the different congregations may collaborate for some projects, but most often work individually. As a consequence the policy of churches is extremely regionally based, and can significantly differ in both beliefs and practices even within a single area . Leadership both traditionally and in the present day has always been much stronger within the Oneida. The traditional system of leadership in Native American tribes such as Oneida is that of chiefdom. The position of chief of a tribe could be a hereditary position, or it could be obtained through merit. The chief of a tribe, such as the Oneida, spoke for the interests of the tribe when dealing with other tribes or other cultures (such as the Europeans). Throughout the time of European and Oneida clashing, Chief Daniel Bread was the chief of the tribe, and he was responsible for the direction the tribe took that time. It was his decision that led the transplant of many Oneida Indians to Wisconsin . While chiefdom was the method of leadership for individual tribes, there was also more widespread leadership. Originally there were five Native American nations within the region that is now Upper New York. Collectively the nations were known as the Hodenosaunee, meaning the people of the Longhouse. These nations formed a coalition within themselves to ensure peace and protection from outside forces. Leadership was maintained through representatives from each tribe . Tradition Tradition is a very strong part of the Amish community, particularly the Old Order Amish. Much of this is maintained through the Ordnung which represents an outline for behavior that is expected and what is not permitted. It is not a written document, but one that is passed from one generation to the next orally, with the younger generation learning from the older generation by means of listening and observations. Many of the images that are associated with the Amish, such as the form of clothing that they wear, the manner of their facial hair and the use of a buggy are detailed within this information. It also has many taboos, parts of modern society that the Amish abstain from such as going to college, owning a car or using a cell phone . More modern Amish communities do not follow the Ordnung with as much precision, but instead try to find compromises between the traditional values of the Amish and the modern world . Many of the government’s interventions into the lives of individuals and families caused conflict with the Amish. While the regulations that were produced were designed for the greater good, such as laws concerning the use of seatbelts, product labeling, sanitation and workplace safety as well as many others, these often directly contrasted the beliefs of the Amish . Amish had to constantly work to find a balance between the requirements of the government and their own internal beliefs. While tradition within the Amish community has remained mostly consistent throughout their history, the tradition within the Oneida has substantially changed as a consequence of European contact, although they remain distinct. The tribe name, Oneida, means ‘People of the Standing Stone’ . Culturally, the Oneida have integrated much of the European culture that the cultures brought with them, although much of this integration was forced. Much of the culture and history of the Oneida has been lost through integration with the Europeans. One way in which some of this has been maintained is through the Oneida Ethnological Study. This study was spurred by the 1930s discovery of a large amount of handwritten notes, texts and communication had been stored for many years. The information recorded in the texts contained significant revelation about the way of life of this tribe historically . Many of the native traditions of the Oneida have been lost with the passage of time and the constant contact with the Europeans. Currently, the Oneida share many cultural and traditional aspects with ‘White’ Americans Religion Religion is a strong point of similarity between the two groups. Both Amish and Oneida share the Christian faith, although their application of this differs between the groups. The basic tenants of this faith are shared by both groups, including the presence of a single creator God, the immortality of the soul, and that Jesus Christ is the son of God. The Amish are a branch of Christian faith, and share many of the beliefs that the more mainstream denominations such as Catholic, Anglican and Protestant have. They believe that baptism should take place when a person is fully grown and makes the decision to follow Christ for themselves, rather than as infants as is practiced by the Catholic Church. They follow the New Testament much stronger than other denominations, in particular emulating the lifestyle and practices of Jesus, such as ‘turning the other check’, being quick to forgive and loving their enemies. Their religion is less formalized than that which is seen in other parts of society and more integrated into their everyday life. Prayer and worship occur naturally, without fuss or debate. There is little discussion of believes or arguments over religious theory . Their religious belief and focus determines how they live their lives, and it is the reason that they have little contact with the outside world. While the Oneida currently follow the Christian religion, this was not always the case. Prior to European contact, the Oneida believed in a single god who had created all that exists, called the Great Spirit. Religious belief and teaching was passed on orally and with accuracy from one generation to the next. They believed that the soul was immortal. As the Oneidas came into contact with the Europeans, they gradually integrated parts of the European religion into their own. Their early More than most other tribes, the Oneida were highly susceptible to religious instruction. They not only listened to the Missionaries that periodically visited them, but sought advice and instruction. There are many similarities between those native beliefs of the Oneida and the Christian beliefs introduced by the Europeans . It is likely that this is part of the reason that the Oneida accepted the Christian culture and practices so easily. Currently none of the original Native American faith remains, and the Oneida tend to follow the Christian religion with as much passion as other Americans. Unlike the Amish, religion is not an overriding factor for the Oneida, and they do not all have the same beliefs or affiliations. Economic Activity In terms of economic activity the two groups differ greatly. The Amish refrain from most conventional forms of money earning, and most work within a short distance of their homes. In general Amish communities are self sufficient with a strong community spirit. As such, there is not such a strong need to earn money, as if a person has a need there is frequently someone else in the community that can help out. They also have little focus on innovation. The Amish desire things to remain a specific way, and reject many of the innovations that other groups consider essential to modern society. Any innovation that reduces time spent with the family or the importance of family or community is rejected, and the Amish abstain from its use. To outside observers this often makes the Amish community appear backwards and out of touch, but it gives them what they desire and they are content with the way they live and have no desire for change As the Europeans expanded in America, the land that was available to the Native Americans, such as the Oneida, was significantly decreased. In order to survive, the Oneida was forced to sell much of their land in order to survive. Traditionally, there has been little need for the Oneida to earn money; similarly to other Native American tribes they were able to live off the land, providing for themselves. However, with the increased involvement of the Europeans and their increased presence, this became more difficult, and the Oneidas had to find other ways of surviving. The forced relocation to reservations increased this problem, as it was no longer possible to hunt for game, eliminating many of the traditional Native American ways of providing, such as using game for meat and tanning the skins. Thus, there was need for the Oneida to find some other way of making money. For many Native American tribes, casinos have always been an important mechanism of earning money. This came about initially because the Oneida had been reduced to having almost no land. Consequently they were very limited in ways in which they could sustain themselves. The Turning Stone is one such casino, which has been run by Oneida for more than 30 years . As such, innovation plays an important role in Oneida society. Innovation helps to ensure their continued survival without having to rely on outside sources. In terms of the Casino industry which the Oneida have a large part in, modern technology and innovation is important as it allows for protection against thieves and attraction of consumers. Family Amish society places a strong focus on the value of family, both extended and immediate. The number of children varies between couples, but the average is around seven children. This results in a population with a large number of young people at any given time. Families remain together as people grow and age, and as a consequence, elderly grow old with their children, and people rarely live on their own. The life of Amish members is very contained. Most major life events, such as births and marriages occur at the home, and people work, play and socialize all within the immediate area of their home. In general Amish are able to stay relatively isolated from the outside world as a consequence of the strong level of care and assistance towards one another which they exhibit. They operate on the principle that each person needs others, and help is readily given for any occasion . In contrast, family is not as much of a focus for the Oneida. While they still have care and concern for those that they are close to, it is not such an overriding concern, and as a consequence does not drive their society in the same way that it does for the Amish. Conclusion The Amish and the Oneida are two distinct groups that are present within the United States of America. They differ significantly in many factors, with the Amish being strongly self contained and focused on family, religion and community, while the Oneida are more outward focused, interested in their rights and in prospering. Nevertheless, the two communities have some strong similarities. They both follow the Christian religion and have substantially different tradition and culture than the rest of American society, although much of this in the Oneida has been lost. These differences and similarities can be traced back to the histories of the two groups. The pressure against the Native Americans was so great that the Oneida had to sacrifice many of their beliefs and traditions in order to survive. References Bloomfield, J. K. (1907). The Oneidas: Alden brothers, 1-10,37-49. Hauptman, L. M., & McLester, L. G. (2002). Chief Daniel Bread and the Oneida Nation of Indians of Wisconsin: Univ of Oklahoma Pr, 1-5. Hostetler, J. A. (1992). Amish roots: a treasury of history, wisdom, and lore: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr, 1-5. Hurtado, A. L. (2008). Reflections on American Indian history: honoring the past, building a future: Univ of Oklahoma Pr, Johansen, B. E. (2004). The New York Oneidas: A Business Called a Nation. Enduring legacies: Native American treaties and contemporary controversies, 95. Kraybill, D. B. (2003). Negotiating with Caesar. In D. B. Kraybill (Ed.), The Amish and the State (Second ed., pp. 1-10): The Johns Hopkins University Press. Lewis, H. S., & McLester, L. G. (2005). Oneida lives: long-lost voices of the Wisconsin Oneidas: Univ of Nebraska Pr, Ray, K. (2003). Native Americans and the New American Government: Treaties and Promises: The Rosen Publishing Group, Tiro, K. M. (1999). The people of the standing stone: The Oneida Indian Nation from revolution through removal, 1765--1840.  Read More