The misrepresentation of the Amish community occurs often in television and in movies. According to the Amish Country News most of what mainstream America knows of the Amish comes from shows such as:
- Violent Saturday
- Witness
- Plain & Fancy (Broadway play)
- Kingpin
- For Richer or Poorer
- Amish in the City
These shows lack the truth behind the Amish way of life and turn the Amish into stereotypes as the Hollywood producers did in the early days of filming when they would depict American Indians as savages.
Unfortunately, producer Larry A. Thompson fell into the same group as the early producers when he failed to get support from the authors of the book he says the movie is based on.
Why the Making of Amish Grace is Controversial
According to the book’s authors, Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt, and David Weaver-Zercher, the book was written not for their own recognition, but to give a better understanding to why the Amish forgave the shooter and comforted his family. The authors had no control over the movie rights of the book being sold.
The authors are scholars in the Amish culture and have worked closely with the Amish community for many years. They knew that the Amish would be disheartened if they learned that they supported the making of a movie that exploited such a tragic event that happened to them and on top of it use fictionalize characters to tell a story that did not occur. According to the authors, they knew of no one who felt the need to leave the Amish community because they could not forgive. That is where the true controversy comes in.
The Amish, by their faith, are obligated to tell the truth. They would be offended by the fictionalization of the movie.
When an Amish woman was asked by a Patriot-News reporter how the Amish community felt about the making of Amish Grace she responded, “We’re not happy. It’s not something we want to be a part of.”
Rita Rhoads, a midwife who delivered two of the girls involved in the shooting stated to the reporter, “To fictionalize a tragedy like that, I think, it’s not appropriate,”
She further stated, “The families know about it and they don’t like it. It’s all anyone is talking about.”
In the beginning of the movie, a disclaimer states the movie is based on the book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy and further explains that some of the characters have been fictionalized. However, this disclaimer still causes viewers who are not familiar with the event or the book to think that this is truth.
An example of this is the podcast from NewsOK. Penny Soldan and Melissa Hayer were invited by Lifetime Movie Network to participate in an early viewing of the movie. In their discussion after viewing the movie, Melissa Hayer states that the movie actually made her wonder if there actually was a struggle to forgive as depicted in the movie.
The book says nothing of any family having difficulty with forgiveness. During an interview, Donald Kraybill stated he was not aware of anyone almost leaving the Amish community because of not being able to forgive.
Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
The focus of the book is Amish forgiveness of the shooter and the compassion they had towards his family. The goal is to explain how and why the Amish could forgive someone responsible for such a horrible crime.
The book gives background information on the events of the October 2, 2006 shooting and how in the aftermath, those affected by the tragedy found it in their hearts to forgive.
The authors give examples of other tragic events where the Lancaster County Amish forgave someone who harmed them so deeply. In 1982, when an Amish girl was brutally raped and murdered the family forgave the person even after they learned the explicit details of how she died.
Another time the Amish found forgiveness took place a short time before the Nickel Mines School shooting. A young Amish boy who routinely road his scooter to a non-Amish farm to work was hit by pick-up truck. The driver kept on going and did not stop. The next day's news story read, "A Boy's Death, a Family's Forgiveness".
The authors explain that the foundation of the Amish way of life is Biblically based and is reflective in the Anabaptist Martyrs Mirror. When asked about forgiveness, the Amish are puzzled by the question. They do not understand why their forgiveness causes such a stir. To them, it is a way of life. One Amish man referred to Jesus on the cross when he said, “forgive them, for they no not what they do”. They also refer to the Lord’s Prayer “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”
Respecting the Amish Community
Each year, thousands of tourists find their way to Lancaster County in order to witness the Amish nineteenth century lifestyle, their plain dress, and their riding in horse and buggies or on scooters. The tourist attempt to take pictures of the Amish, but the Amish will not pose. Having their picture taken is forbidden and again Bible based Exodus 20:4.
Those who live around the Amish and particularly those first responders have respect for the Amish. During the funerals of the girls lost that tragic day, Pennsylvania State Police protected the Amish from glaring cameras and even went as far as a “no fly zone” over the funeral procession.
The locals understand and respect the Amish. For them it was not difficult to know why the Amish chose to forgive that day or any other day when hurt. It is their way of life.
Funds given to the authors for the sale of the movie rights were given to the Mennonite Central Committee.
Sources:
Kraybill, Donald, Nolt, Steven, Zercher-Weaver, David. Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy. San Francisco. Jossy-Bass, 2007. 978-0-7879-9761-8
NewsOK Podcast
Dejesus, Ivey. Amish Grace movie fictionalizes Nickel Mines tragedy, generates debate. Patriot-News, March 7, 2010.
PA Books: Authors' Video Discussion on Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy.
The Amish Country News: http://www.amishnews.com/amishforgiveness.html
Christine Musser - Christine is a passionate researcher and does not stop the research process until she has exhausted all possibilities. Her research has ...
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