Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by editorkevin on 28 February 2010 - 4:03pm

We've been following the story about Old Order Mennonites in Mitchell County, Iowa who are now being ticketed for using steel wheels on pavement. Disclaimer: I have not been to Mitchell County, I have not seen the roads, etc...but, in my opinion, I think this is all quite absurd. I just find it very hard to believe that A) a compromise couldn't be reached as one was in neighboring Howard County and B) that there really are all that many miles of roads that the Mennonite-owned farm equipment travel on. I bet we're talking about a dozen miles, if that.

Mitchell County Supervisor Stan Walk was quoted in the Waterloo Courier this morning as saying:

"As far as I'm concerned, it's settled. The ordinance is in place. The Mennonites can modernize," he said.

"We're just trying to help them out of their tradition," Walk added later.

Huh??? "HELP" them out of their tradition???? That is just an outrageously WRONG thing to say. Who the $##$#@ does this guy think he is that he has to "help" any group out of their traditions????? You can read the whole article here. The article is very thorough and there's a lot of good information in it. I've tried to be very respectful of Amish and Mennonite beliefs through the years even if I don't always agree with them. This country is richer for their presence and the presence of all sorts of cultural groups from Louisiana Cajuns to Native Americans to Gullahs on the Sea Islands of the East Coast. Walk's comments just strike me as so arrogant. Can you imagine if those comments were made today about Native Americans or African Americans or basically any other group? There would be uproar. I hope there is over his comments about the Mennonites. As usual, someone can put me in my place if you think I'm overreacting.

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by sueuprising on 4 March 2010 - 12:17pm.

What is particularly annoying about this situation, apart from Supervisor Walk's arrogance, is the inflexibility of the law. Everyone always says what good neighbors and residents Mennonites make. If that is so, then wouldn't the local government be mindful of the practices inherent in this group? It seems that the Howard county bunch have a lot more intelligence when dealing with their citizens than does Mitchell county. This Walker fellow will eat his words come election time I think. It is only because the Mennonites are non resistant that he got away with such an obnoxious statement. I am sure if they were members of any other minority group, the PC police would have been all over him.

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by editorkevin on 4 March 2010 - 11:04pm.

Well said, Sue....

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by gerric on 2 March 2010 - 8:33am.

Just another indication of "government take-over". I feel sorry for the Amish and Mennonites in this situation, especially the 14 year old. My prayer is that God will deal with these Mr. Walk, and that he will have a change of heart. Bullying people is not the way to get them to change their beliefs. Mennonites (and Amish) are true to their beliefs, and it is not up to Mr. Walk to "change their traditions". This is not "tradition". It is their religious belief. Mr. Walk, in my opinion, needs to "change his tradition (belief).

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by editorkevin on 2 March 2010 - 8:48am.

Well said, Gerri....It just seemed very arrognant for a public official to be speaking in that type of language....Hopefully the voters will change HIS tradition (his job) at the voting booth sometime soon!

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by editorkevin on 2 March 2010 - 8:47am.

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by KJuneBug on 28 February 2010 - 9:55pm.

It sounds like the county didn't do it's research and chose the wrong type of pavement, and had some oops moments after the fact when they noticed that the steel wheels caused damage, it sounds like the ordinance was in effect until that pavement change was made. It seems that the county is attempting to fix their wrong by forcing and bullying these folks to change. I hope that the county looses their shirts in this deal and that it does go all the way to the Supreme Court, I see this as a clear violation of the First Ammendment. Are they going to make them "change other tradtions" because it's "time"? That is so ridiculous, that guy is going to regret that he ever said that. Although, being as though it sounds he doesn't have much regard for others, he probably won't care. He sounds prejudiced against the Mennonites, what makes him think he should be THE ONE to force modernization on this group and why? To save the pavement! What a nut! These sorts of things just get my blood boiling! male We haven't heard much on the potty issues up north in a while, I wonder whats going on with that?

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by dcharrison on 28 February 2010 - 8:16pm.

I agree that they shouldn't be trying to change a group's traditions, but in looking at the picture of what the wheels look like, I can see where a person would be concerned that they would do damage to at least asphalt roads. Now if they are concrete, then I can't see it so much.

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by editorkevin on 28 February 2010 - 8:51pm.

Your point about the surface is well-taken and I think reasonable people can debate the damage inflicted by these wheels, but I just think the official was out of line when he starts talking about unilaterally "changing their traditions."

Re: Ugh...This Is Just Wrong.......

Submitted by suzieque on 28 February 2010 - 5:17pm.

maybe the residents of that county can help mr. walk out of his job come re-election time in that area...wouldn't that just be peachy? some people have tunnel vision so bad that they are not willing to see a compromise if it hit them in the face...this guy really needs some lessons in compassion and understanding of their religous matters. it's not nice to mess around with the constitution when it comes to the rights of the people.