I lived around an Amish area for awhile, and unfortunately, this is probably not uncommon. The Amish do not permit local intermarriage and try to get their people to take a spouse from another further-away Amish community. However, after awhile, they’re all pretty closely related. They have a serious problem with birth defects, the mentally handicapped, and people like this. But they won’t admit it, and the cops don’t want to go there.
I’ve read about that. Sad that this is what it’s lead to.
I sent you a pm. On second thought, I decided to post some of it here.
I live near a large Mennonite Community in Texas S.E. of Dallas. With exception, they are a monoculture (as in close).....kind of creepy.
Nicest people you ever met, yet creepy. They, unlike the Amish, use electricity and drive Fords almost exclusively.
I buy some of my groceries at their little store in Kemp. Good stuff, though some of it is pricey. I can buy some things on the cheap, yet other stuff (I guess since it is cert. organic) I will not even look at. The fried pies and bread are to die for.
I have been around these people for long enough to notice some things just ain’t right with them.