Not Amish
If you see someone wearing a bonnet, don’t jump to conclusions; they might not even be Amish. Among them are the Mennonites. The Amish and Mennonites are not the same, despite their similarities. Mixing the two, in reality, will irritate them greatly. Mennonites are a non-Orthodox Christian sect, similar to the Amish. They are not isolated and are a part of more modern cultures. Many of them are computer savvy and drive cars. A Mennonite’s clothing can be mistaken for that of a non-Mennonite on rare occasions.
Not Amish
Meidung
The Amish, despite numerous restrictions on their activities and lifestyles, are surprisingly permissive and encourage others to do the same. There is, however, a system in place for those who break the rules. In effect, it’s the Amish version of a “time-out.” If anyone is found to be breaking their ethics code, there will undoubtedly be repercussions. One of them is meidung, which refers to a person who has been shunned by the community.
Meidung
