It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
How do you fix this with such a closed community without
destroying their faith and their fabric? Dunno.
Originally posted by FredT
Just shows the importance of diversity in populations and how important it is to avoid a closed gene pool. It works for crops, and the basics apply to humans as well. Remember the "punnet Square" in biology?? If both parents have the undesireable trait, its hard to not pass it so you either carry it or you have it.
A family tree with no branches is not always the way to go.
Originally posted by FLYIN HIGH
The Amish are pretty good people by in large if they could ever get past the whole inbreeding factor. For them to have very desired qualities in furniture making, etc. etc. the leadeership should open the gene pool just a little so they can get some new blood in. Genetic disorders are just the tip of the iceberg with them. They are also more prone to other social disorders that the genetic disorders bring on. It is a perputial circle or cycle they live in and let very, very few insiders in.
Originally posted by WissNX01
I know for myself, I would like to give up modern living for a simpler time, but I could never actually do it. I suspect others would reject thier way of life to continue on our paths.
Sadly, in a few generations, the Amish communities may actually begin to die off, and eventually disappear. An entire culture would have been lost because of thier own beliefs.
Originally posted by Indellkoffer
Most would. Imagine being in Arizona during a heat wave and your beliefs require you to wear a longsleeved dress and have no air conditioning. This is part of the reason people died early... environmental stress.