[lbo-talk] Dean Baker on immigration

[Matt]

On Tue, Apr 18, 2006 at 11:51:08AM -0400, Wojtek Sokolowski wrote:
> Chris: 
> 
> > This does not work. The Pennsylvania Dutch are not 
> > assimilated at all. They have their own language, their own 
> > very distinct culture, their own religion and roughly their 
> > own territory. They have practically as much right to be 
> > considered an individual "nation"
> > as the Iroquois.
> 
> 
> Huh?  My wife is pure-bred Pennsylvania Dutch very familiar with the region
> (Berks and Lancaster counties & environs)- and this is definitely not the
> story I hear from her or, for that matter, see myself.  You must be thinking
> of the Amish - who are of German origin, but who maintain a separate society
> for religious reasons. But I do not think anyone would take them for
> Pennsylvania Dutch.   

I feel icky saying I'm "pure-bred" PA Dutch but I suppose I am too,
living here in Lancaster as well.  You guys are using the terms
differently - Wojtek like a local, Chris like the rest of the planet.

Locals  - especially Western Lancastrians who do not see any tourists
- say "PA Dutch" to mean the local food (bland, starchy, and
fattening), the ethnicity (Germanic descent), and religion (current,
former, and/or recovering Protestant Conservative, especially
Mennonite).

The Amish are a specific sect of Mennonites.

Matt

-- 
PGP RSA Key ID:    0x1F6A4471                      aim: beyondzero123
PGP DH/DSS Key ID: 0xAFF35DF2                          icq: 120941588
http://blogdayafternoon.com                  yahoo msg: beyondzero123

Theoretically, people see money on the counter, and no
one around, they think they're being watched.

     -Dante Hicks
Honesty through paranoia.

     -Veronica