Posted on 03/17/2009 3:06:28 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Ebensburg, Pa. (AP) --
A western Pennsylvania Amish farmer was sentenced Tuesday to 90 days in jail after refusing to bring a pair of outhouses into compliance with state sewage laws.
Andy Swartzentruber, of Ebensburg, cited his conservative religious beliefs in refusing to abide by a court order to make the privies used by schoolchildren compliant and pay a $500 fine.
Cambria County Judge Norman Krumenacker said he respected the Amish's religious beliefs but had no choice but to sentence Swartzentruber to jail and fine him $1,000 for being in contempt of court.
"Quite frankly, this is not a religious issue," Krumenacker said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
This one smells.
Sure makes one think twice before buying any produce from any Amish. Might as well buy it in Mexico.
It seems to me one can keep things clean without using modern technology. It would be more work, but the Amish aren’t afraid of work.
The solution here is simple, don’t call them outhouses. Call them composting toilets. Swear that you owe allegiance to the great AlGore and are fighting to save the planet.
Gee, outhouses have worked for centuries - we still have one at the deer shack.
I’m sorry, but dumping raw sewage onto agricultural fields doesn’t seem the least bit “clean.” I agree with trying to avoid a lot of modern technology, but I have to draw the line at raw sewage.
I was stationed in Germany. When our convoy rolled down the back roads past a farm where they were using what we called a “s***slinger” to fertilize fields, you could really smell the difference.
Using manure from any source as fertilizer is an ancient and well established practice. But public hygiene can be protected with modern methods which this particular Amish sect chose to disregard.
Wonder if their kids know about the internet?
Shhhhhh, hope you don't live in PA.
We had 2 holers at my gradeschool in the ‘50s!
If I had to guess, I'd say some new homeowners didn't like the smell and complained.
I could be wrong.
I agree. I’d like to hear the “religious” reason for refusing to abide by the law.
I grew up around two holers in my yout’ in a rural country school and the farm in the early 60s. Talk about an experience in the winter. ;-)
I think it may be having to have an "outsider" come and pump out a "government approved" holding tank.
I’ll bet that if this guy was a Muzzy the story would be different.
The jailed farmer is a member of the Swartzentruber Amish sect, they shun the modern world and technology bigtime.
You're joking, right???
What do you think manure is??? It's sold in stores all over the country as "potting soil". Farmers have been putting poop on the soil as fertilizer since before the Egyptians were the dominant civilization on earth. All "organic" or "naturally grown" foodstuffs were fertilized with manure. Think about that when you pick up an organic bunch of carrots next time.
Creating rules and regulations without proper knowledge leads to stupid rules and tyranny. The regulation to use eco-friendly materials on the space shuttle external fuel tank lead to the destruction of the Columbia. The non-eco-friendly materials that were used were tougher than the "new" and "improved" materials. The across the board banning of DDT worldwide has caused the deaths of millions from insect borne diseases. Don't make knee-jerk reactions.
The government would be tripping over themselves to find the funding and union workers to put in the tank for a muzzie
Will the jail provide an outhouse for his use? Toilets may be too modern for him to be able to use during his stay and not providing an outhouse would violate his religious rights.
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