Evaluation of Peace in Amish and Paliyan’s Communities

Introduction

Culture influences societies. Both Amish and Paliyans foster a peaceful society. They each promote social harmony and avoid violence. The Amish are found in the New World, while the Paliyans are found in the Old World. There are nearly 250,000 Amish communities located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and surrounding areas of the United States and Canada (Nolt, 2016). On the other hand, there are nearly 5,000 Paliyans that live in the forested hills of western Tamil Nadu state which is located in southern India. They are also located in villages in the nearby plains (Gardner, 1972). Despite their geographic and cultural differences, both cultures foster a peaceful society even though they may do so differently.

Evaluation of Peace in Amish and Paliyan’s Communities

The main key to Amish culture is the word Gelassenheit, which means submission. This belief includes “simplicity, humility, thrift, obedience, and accepting the will of higher authorities” (Hostetler, 1993). The Amish seek to love their enemies, pray for them, and to never take revenge. They do not partake in any violence. The Paliyans have a similar approach. Each of their individuals makes his or her own decisions. They refrain from emotional ties, as well as violence. They believe that if they are struck in the face, then they should turn their other cheek. Each culture has its own techniques to avoid and resolve conflict, which are very different yet effective in maintaining peace.

Marriage and Gender Roles

Each culture has a desire to marry, and their marriages consist of a male and a female. The Amish believe the men should do all the heavier farm work while the woman is responsible for the child-raising, cooking, cleaning, washing, and housekeeping duties (Kraybill, 2001). The Paliyans also have marriages, but they do not have different work roles. Their society promotes gender equality by allowing both men and women to share responsibilities equally.

Child Rearing Practices

Raising children is different, yet similar for each culture. Both cultures indulge their children. The Amish teach their young to respect their elders. They also teach through firmness and consistency. They may use corporal punishment, but they are not supposed to do so harshly. Children are expected to work and help out the best they can. The Amish raise their children in a protective community which shelters them from the outside world (Johnson-Weiner, 2007). The Paliyans raise their children slightly differently. They do not discipline, restrain, or punish their young ones. They began to leave their children so they can achieve emotional independence. The emotional independence they achieve fosters their peaceful society because it teaches them to adhere to the social rules, and to not fight with others. Both cultures foster a peaceful society, and they teach this to their children as well.

Conflict Avoidance and Conclusion

In order to avoid violence, the cultures may flee from situations to abandon the situations. Fostering a peaceful society may be tough and hard work, but these cultures live their lives with much more happiness. By avoiding violence, these cultures can maintain their peaceful societies. The commitment to peace and harmony reflects deeply rooted cultural values, demonstrating that even in diverse societies, shared principles can lead to similar outcomes. Through their unique approaches, both the Amish and Paliyans provide valuable insights into the possibilities of living in peaceful communities.

References:

• Gardner, P. M. (1972). The Paliyans. In R. B. Lee & I. DeVore (Eds.), Man the Hunter (pp. 290-297). Aldine Publishing Company.
• Hostetler, J. A. (1993). Amish Society. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Johnson-Weiner, K. (2007). Train Up a Child: Old Order Amish and Mennonite Schools. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Kraybill, D. B. (2001). The Riddle of Amish Culture. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Nolt, S. M. (2016). A History of the Amish. Good Books.