Why are certain groups of people struggling to keep up with technology?

Many people cannot keep up with the advancement in technology these days.  Most of the older generations do not understand how the current generation can easily figure out everything from a cell phone to a T.V., but  there are people in the world that have an even harder time dealing with the advancements in technology but at their own free will, which are called the Amish.

I believe that Amish people have a hard time right now since technology is changing all over the world. They are struggling to keep up without going against their beliefs with education, productivity, and ways of life due to their need to keep in contact with the outside world for major emergencies.

Something to think about

The Amish culture is really different in how they view and use technology. In my opinion, that is both a good and a bad thing. They are not primarily dependent on technology, so that when the electricity goes out they are not as effected as my generation would be to the point of freaking out. They also do not believe in the use of T.V. (at all), phones, and all other technical things that are important to "outside world" culture.

However, I believe the Amish culture struggles to communicate and keep up with the "outside world." When there is an emergency? How will they receive info quickly? How difficult and long will it take?

I believe that it would take months as well as be very difficult get to receive help and info.

Amish child life

1. Get up and completes their morning duties
2. Attend school from the first grade to the eighth grade Amish children learn to speak Pennsylvania Dutch when they are young, but when they go to school they also learn to speak English and German. They also learn the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics as well as their gender roles
3. Study
4. Play sports but not in a competitive manner

In addition, at a certain age the Amish children are asked to decide whether they want to stay with their Amish family or leave and join the outside society without being allowed to return. Most of the time they children choose to join the outside world causing their population to decrease faster then it would if they stayed.
http://www.amishmennonitequilts.com/child.html

Amish Women

"A married Amish woman is a homemaker whether or not she has children. Before the children arrive, she will help her husband on the farm. If they do not live on a farm, she might work on a quilt or other craft projects to supplement their income. She might have an extra large garden and then do canning. These things she will bring to the farmer's market to sell during the summer and early fall season. She may even work at the Farmer's market as a young girl or at one of the shops in town. As a married woman, she will not be allowed to work for someone else. However, she may continue making quilts, sewing by hand, crochet and knitting projects to sell at the Farmer's Market." (Confessions)
The Amish do not use sewing machines instead; they do it all by hand. The Amish in general do not use machinery to help them with anything so instead they do it all by hand except for a phone and tractors. Whether the Amish can see this coming or not it appears to me that eventually the will, have no option but to start using technology more and more with each generation that goes by due to the need of emergency communication and trade needs from other countries.
For more info go to

http://beawriter.tripod.com/amishwomen.html

Why did they decide to become Amish?

The origin of Amish people has been traced to Christian reform movement in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525 called Anabaptism (second baptism). In 1536, a Dutch catholic Priest Menno Simmons joined this movement and his followers were called Mennonites. During next century, Mennonites were persecuted in Switzerland and Germany by state run churches. The Mennonites wanted to follow the bible and live a simple religious life not controlled by state. As the seventeenth century came to close, a Swiss elder in Mennonite church named Jacob Ammann emphasized social avoidance (Shunning) against the people who left the church or refused to confess their sins. In 1694, Jacob Ammann broke away from Mennonites and his followers came to be called Amish.

As told by Nasim Hassan "In 1681, the Englishman William Penn in Pennsylvania encouraged religious tolerance because he had seen religious persecution first hand as a Quaker. The Mennonites and the Amish people started to migrate to America to avoid religious persecution. In 1737, a few Amish families settled in the Lancaster County, PA. The Amish church does not seek new members. When the Amish children are in their teens or early twenties they have to decide whether or not join the church. The members who leave Amish church or marry an outsider are shunned. The other members are then not allowed to buy or sell things from that person. The ban is a powerful instrument for keeping the church intact. Amish people use a Swiss- German dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch at home."

Therefore, Amish became Amish because of religious purposes to be more "holy" and close to God and family but it appears to me that these days even views on those beliefs are changing with the new generations.

 http://www.contactpakistan.com/Communitylibrary/general/news56.htm

Why do they still keep away from American culture?

As told by Albrecht Powell "The Amish are adverse to any technology, which they feel weakens the family structure. The conveniences that the rest of us take for granted such as electricity, television, automobiles, telephones and tractors are considered a temptation that could cause vanity, create inequality, or lead the Amish away from their close-knit community and, as such, are not encouraged or accepted in most orders."

For example, they cultivate their fields with horse-drawn machinery instead of things like tractors or other electrical machinery.

The fact that the Amish are already using technology for certain things helps prove my point even more that eventually the Amish will have to advance their use of technology.
http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/pennsylvania/a/amish_2.htm

Resources

Baker, Chrysta Lea. "The Life of an Amish Child (part 1)." Different Types of Amish Quilts You Can Own (part 1). 2007. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. http://www.amishmennonitequilts.com/child.html.

"Better Off." People 62.7 (2004): 53. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.

Be a Writer. "Confessions of Amish Women." BEAUTY IN THE WEEDS POETRY. Web. 12 Nov. 2010. http://beawriter.tripod.com/amishwomen.html.

Powell, Albrecht. "Amish Culture, Beliefs, & Lifestyle - Amish Dress, Amish Technology, Amish Education, Amish Family Life." About Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania for Residents & Visitors. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/pennsylvania/a/amish_2.htm.

Ediger, Marlow. "OLD ORDER AMISH PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION." Education 125.3 (2005): 422-425. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.

Hassan, Nasim. "A Jouriney to the past of Americal -  Articles and Stories @ContactPakistan.com." World's Largest Virtual Community Welfare Organziation for Pakistanis - ContactPakistan.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. http://www.contactpakistan.com/Communitylibrary/general/news56.htm.

"Rational extremists." Economist 370.8358 (2004): 68. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 10 Nov. 2010.

Sheila B. "HOW DO THE AMISH LIVE?" HubPages. 2010. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. http://hubpages.com/hub/HOW-DO-THE-AMISH-LIVE.