Now, Amish people have a very different way of doing things, but do we really need to see their struggle in the real world through a reality show? Well, within a month, TLC has brought a reality show called “Breaking Amish” to Sunday nights. The show is based on 4 Amish and 1 Mennonite that leave their homes for good and move to New York City where they start a new life. There is Abe, Kate, Sabrina, Jeremiah, and Rebecca. These 5 might seem normal (besides their clothes), but they actually have different ways of doing things in their hometown, so how will they survive in the real world? Many difficulties come their way as they were never introduced to real world things and situations back in their homes.
Amish and Mennonite people believe in doing things different than everybody else. They prefer not to use electricity, cars, and most electronics or devices. There are different kinds of Amish; Ohio Amish, Lancaster County AMish, and Mennonites. They tend to practice the same things and beliefs, but in stricter forms. Rules are given to you by your church, and if you disobey them you can be shunned and not spoken to for weeks at a time. Anything modern makes them feel they are separating from God; worldliness. If you’re not Amish, than you are considered English, no matter what race you are. It’s almost like going back in time. The women get up early to wash, garden, clean, bake, sew, and much more. Now, what for us would be almost impossible is that they can have phones, but they are used outside the house and are shared with other families. Women can only ever wear dresses and men wear jeans and a striped shirt at the age of 16. Driving can sometimes be okay for men, but women can NEVER drive. Those are a lot different rules than we have in regular towns!
Breaking Amish has people questioning… Did the creators pay them to leave their home or did they choose to find the show? Some believe that it is wrong of these 5 to leave their Amish lives forever. I mean, just think of saying goodbye to your family and friends forever! Therefore, some refuse to watch it, being disappointed with TLC. I do too, but it’s pretty interesting to watch. Now, there are reasons that the addicting show is fake, such as; Jeremiah has a domestic violence arrest from 2005, Rebecca divorced someone before running off with Abe (who she is actually married to and has a child with), Jeremiah has an ex-wife, Abe has a public intoxication arrest in 2008, Sabrina got married in 2009, and sadly more. So, this show is an entire lie? That makes me wonder what else TLC is lying about. I think that Breaking Amish should tell the truth on the show instead of people seeing pictures and reading articles on the internet! No one should be watching this fake sob story of these 5 young adults’ terrible lives that never actually happened.
~Allison McAlinden