I was just thinking the same thing! Mullet!! ::snicker::

Sam and his little boys should be forced to get a "Mullet" haircut and wear them in public. You know a real "Mullets Mullet" kinda man.

After seeing the movie "The Shunning" it's seems the Amish are all good at hatefulness towards their own kids, until they "break them" from whatever sin it is they have committed. Don't know if they would really try to break their spirit for listening to music, but looking at these people, I wonder?

What the Amish did or did not do doesn't matter.

What in hell is the F B I doing getting invloved in it in the first place ??????

gtouch, they used an electric flowbee to spite them Even more!

Please remember scissors don't cut hair, People do! I do not want anyone to over react and start calling for the registration and eventual outlaw of scissors!

Bob, the FBI wants to get involved because of the separation of church and state. The public just can not be allowed to run rampent with religious freaks demanding they be left alone, even in matters within the same religion. That is unless they are muslim, then its "PC" to let them run wild, make the local cops bust them an hour away from completing their bomb.

Funny how the amish don't wish 'outsider' influence, yet they called the police on one of their own?

Glad they got 'em. That's the way it always is. They get away with stealing a hair, then they want the whole shock. Had they not been caught they would have went after scalps and faces next. Damn pack of buggy borne thugs!

The FBI is involved because whiny people want hate crimes to exist.

lmao!! you all are on a roll this morning! good stuff good stuff!

S Ulmer - a hate crime is a hate crime, I don't care if you're black, white, gay, muslim, or a twinkie addict (mmmmm...twinkies)...and it is against FEDERAL laws. That's why the FEDERAL Bureau of Investigation got involved. Religious freaks??? Really? I'm sorry your morning is going so badly, but perhaps you should take your anger over to the feed about Sandusky and Co. and you can vent over there.

People who think God is very serious about the way they carry their hair should get a good hobby...

They should have made them become Mennonites and install electricity in their home instead of arresting them. That would really teach them a lesson.

hide yo wife, hide yo beard!

Hate crimes are so hypocritical. We dont want any type of difference in people and all to be treated the same but we have different laws. If I punch a strait guy in the face its one charge if I punch a gay person for same reason then its a hate crime. Doesnt sound like equality. If your hurting someone you prob hate them regardless

If I was Amish and I wanted out and some bearded F*ck would not leave me alone, he would get more than and haircut.

Didn't know cutting another man's hair without his consent was a federal offense.

Yeah and to all of you defending the amish community, They are the biggest owners of PUPPY MILLS and will let dogs suffer because they do not know what a veterinairien, is.

These people have no regards for animals. They think only their lives are important in the eyes of their god.

JmB,

A hate crime would be outsiders against amish, not amish against amish. This may qualify as assault, but hardly a hate crime. When a branch of the same religion wants to break away from it's main body, the only type of discord is disagreement with church doctrine or policy, or just the way some parishners deal with the so called undesired actions by others of the same church. Definately not a hate crime, if that were truly a hate crime, then the term "religious freaks" I used concerning the followers of that demon led islamic so called faith would qualify my right to free speach as a hate crime.

Stream Weird Al's "Amish Paradise" while you read the posts!

This is "religion" to the extreme and what Jesus came to save us from. MODERN DAY PHARISEES. Its not about beards, funny hats, stupid robes, "holy" places, "holy" objects, particular race or creed. It is only about what Jesus has done for all of us (whether you like it or not) and that is give you a gift...and that gift is salvation through him. These people need Jesus

I love it! Amish hate, don't hate the playa. As phunny as all this is, I love it when a PETA person pipes in. Fur is fur, no doubt. You wanna see some hate, you should come to my neck of the woods. I've got your hate right here.

The Amish are a very select group of people. Maybe more of us ought to follow their traditions. Sure would make a better world. They came to the U S because of religious beliefs and they could could live as they want to. Remember Germany during WW11? They made a good decision. I may not agree with some of their decisions but they are a good people. As for puppy mills-- I live in the Amish area and have never seen an Amishman running a puppy mill. I have seen an 'Englishman' running a puppy mill. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!~!!

Ok, now days haircuts and trimming is in. I don't think I'd make it as an Amish myself, well my girlfriend also. I wonder how the Amish feel about body hair and trying to keep it neat and trimmed or shaved? Hmmm, thats one weird religion for them to feel that way about hair, I really doubt God gave one good iota of a hoot about hair. Really hair? Thats got to be a real mess for them to have to deal with the long beards like that. I'm thinking beards like they have should be for ZZ Top and they should pick up guitars and start jamming or cut them. I guess some Amish are using power equipment now days and well one of these days one of their beards will get caught in a saw and then what? Good thing for saftey switches on the power equipment now days. Then I'm also thinking the Amish women may need weed wackers for well, lets just say, are they shaving their legs and arm pit hairs? Pphhewewe, I'm thinking thats disgusting but then again the Amish probably don't need to shave anything because theres not much action going on down there anyhow. I guess its just for having children. I guess they deliver their own children too, because I would think if they went to the hospital when having childbirth they would get a shave down there. Thats got to look funny. Then what if theirs childbirth complications, are the Amish that advanced medically to have children when theres complications. What would they do if there was? Jump in the buggy and hook up the horse to it and giddy-up on their way to the hospital? I don't get it. Trim that stuff up, come on already. What if a women has facial hair because of too many hormones or for whatever reason some women have little goatees or moustaches, do they let them grow in too? I think the Amish women should go get a wax job and then get their behinds bleached, I bet the men would like that and you'll probably see a lot more Amish children too. Ahhh what do I know anyhow, just seems like a bunch of frustrated people there. never mind.....

It's a hate crime because it's an assault over religious differences. Where is the ambiguity here? There is no 'opinion' that it 'might' be a hate crime. The head guy involved with it came flat out and states:

"They changed the rulings of our church here, and they're trying to force their way down our throat, make us do like they want us to do, and we're not going to do that," Mullet said.

How do you interpret this any other way? You don't, however much you want to claim different.

As for the FBI handling it, I can see a very good reason for it. The Amish community is very tight knit and it must have taken quite alot for those folks to actually go to law enforcement with the complaints. Rather than risk gaining any more animosity with the local cops, any distrust that shows up can be directed at the Feds instead, which as clearly shown in the above postings, they already get anyways, whether real or made up because it's 'cool to bag on the Feds'.

@Robert906' This isn'ta hate crime because the victims were the same race as the perpetratorss.

woodrow, spoken like a tru born againer, you have interpreted the bible the way you want it to read, just like king james and the vatican have done. Because the original writers are not here to dispute their words, you all make your own meanings work. I had a jehova tell me that when everyone that was born in 1914 dies, thats when the world will end. What about the crackpot that said the world would end earlier this year? They all got their facts from the same book you read.

Is it not enough to be the best, most honest, caring and giving person you can be? Or does God really want the distruction of all infidels? When you see your pastor next, ask why is his interpretation better than the church down the street, or the guy on TV that wants you to send money every week.

Should you follow ALL the comandments, or just the 10 that are popular, there were over 300 of them, I hear. Was that heavy set fellow in asia a false profit? Or another mesenger spreading the wor and wishes in his own lands?

Was the scientific "big bang" theory literally the first seven days, and without man to count time, it just took a little longer? Man's concept of time and the power of his God being new at that time.

And why was James, the brother of Jesus left out of the holy roman and king James bible?

And how did a bird so stupid as the DODO survive so long?

And why is the sky blue and the orange the only fruit with a color as it's only name?

splitting hairs...on the vine has usual...

S. Ulmer, The sky isn't the most dominent color in the sky. Our atmosphere makes blue the one we see the most. Had you ever thought that James, Jesus brother thad to take care of their mother after Jesus died on the CROSS. As far as the DODO bird, it got lucky. We aren't even sure that it even died out, as much as it might have evolved into something else. "IN the beginning the world was vast and void. " Means it was big and there was nothing there. The Orange was so named because the color.

You don't sound like a Christain. MAybe you should ask yourself, if you have a soul. Some people chose to change. I heard that Amish do have electricity in the way of generators.

If you want to know the truth about Amish people try being a friend to one and find out what an amazing people they truly are! I am blessed to know them.

@Yacksalot, Do you live in Penn', Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky or another state?

I live about 40 miles from Millersburg and I know many Amish and have worked with a few.

It's assault, stuart. Law enforcement needs to be involved.

It's battery with cutting shears...

No Steve, only if they use battery powered shears!

It's a f--king home invasion in which you/your wife/your son are held down and assaulted. In what world do you live in is that just fine with you?

WE need to RAISE TAXES, otherwise the FBI will not have enough money to deal with everything. They will have to pick between the dangerous beard cutters, juveniles selling girl scout cookies, and checking on what you read at the library.

These brave FBI agents deserve a raise. They got someone as dangerous as Al Capone. This is every bit as dangerous as a new wave of heroin addiction.

Thank god the FBI got this. otherwise there would be gangs invading school after school, cutting off their hair and ruining their lives. These poor victims will probably need counseling for the rest of their lives and maybe will not be able to have children

That is an important misconception. Religious crazies are even more spiteful, crazy and persecuting exactly because of their self-righteousness and the very corrupting idea that they are in touch, in tune or somehow closer to an imagined divine being who gives them special status. This makes them very brittle and desperately attached to their dogma. Actually, all monotheistic religions are the most insidious, corrupting and anti-social constructs for the very reason that they necessarily claim to be the only, the true and the supreme thereby denigrating any unbelievers.

Well said!!!!!

One thing to remember, is these men "BROKE INTO OTHER PEOPLE HOMES" "FORCEFUL ENTRY" that in in itself is a crime plus "PLUS HELD PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR WILL, AS WELL as ENDANGER THEIR LIVES WITH SHARP OBJECTS" Yes, the FBI has a right, to get involved ! Religion or no Religon ?

Again, if they broke into your or my home, forced you or me down, and shaved our heads, what would we do? You're darn straight--the law would be called. If they do not hesitate to attack their own, what would prevent them from trying to enforce their rules upon me? Does this sound the slightest bit familiar, but with a different religion name?

But back to humor: What goes clip clop clip clop clip clip clip snip clip clop clip clop? You guessed it: An Amish drive-by barbering. (Sorry, just couldn't help myself.)

LMAO@zapper!!!!!

Blackbird, I didn't even catch that run-on until you pointed it out! Now I'm laughing again; yeah, I'm sure the men would force the beard cutting issue on the women!

If someone broke into my home with the intent to hold me or member of my family against our will with the intent to assualt usl I would have shot them and would be with in my rights. It is fortunate for the beard snippers that they broke into the homes of people who are generally non violent. But even people who who are non violent can change their ways if provoked enough. The Amish whose beliefs, customs and lif style is much different from mine I have the upmost respect for these honest, good industrious citizens who ask little of others. I am glad the elders had the wisdom to call upon law enforcement for help before this situtation became more violent. For all those that have made snarky comments you need to grow up and get a life. This article written by one of the english not by one of the brethren .

Bob, let's say then that "what is good for the goose is good for the gander". If someone came to my house and tried to force me to believe what I didn't want to believe in, then instead of fighting back by cutting their hair (which appears to be more about disgrace than a life threatening event), then I should just "snip" it in the bud and shoot them and it would be my right. I may be reading the story wrong, but it looks like harrassment from one group led to harassment from the other group.

Wow, about a little less then 20yrs. ago now I went to the Bahamas with the family and I was walking the beach and meet up wth some people and started talking to them. It was pretty wild because the one women there was in a bikini and she didn't shave anywhere at all, but I'm thinking maybe at one time she did because she had some real long hair on her legs, longer than mine and I been growing mine forever. I believe they were german, but I don't know for sure now, like I said it was 20 yrs ago now. So this women has a little yellow bikini on and she has hair coming out of everywhere on her and she's with a guy, her boyfriend or husband, not sure which but still, she had herself a man. Now being the pervert I am, I had to glance at her pube area to see what kind hair she had going on down there and it was coming out of her little bikini like you wouldn't believe. Whee oh, man did she have the hair growing down there. I couldn't believe it. That little bikini she had on wasn't covering the growth she had going on down there at all, she looked like Billy Gibbs down there and I got to tell you, I didn't crack a smile or nothing the whole time I was looking and talking to them. I was hoping she would turn around so I could see what she looked like from the back, because I couldn't believe what the front looked like. The only thing that didn't make her look real bad was she was a blonde and you couldn't tell from far away that she didn't shave. Now had she had black hair or been a brunette, she wouldn't of been able to get away with it and she would of looked like a gorilla. So now reading this maybe she didn't shave anything because of religion but then why the bikini? The guy she was with didn't have a beard like the Amish, so maybe it was a different religion? I never seen the Amish at the beach before, so I don't think she was Amish. Yeah she had leg hair about 2 inches long in my estimate, but I didn't measure it. Then her bikini area was even longer. Ok another time my inlaws had a girlfriend that didn't shave either but I think she was a hippy. She was about 20 yrs. old and she didn't have the growth like the women in the Bahamas. I just can't see how a women can go around like that and in the summer when you see everything. I don't get it at all, but then again whatever floats your boat is ok by me too.

...that's the WORST kind, gasp!

I won't be able to blow out my candles tonight!

Thats some hairy stuff there.

What does "going medieval on your heinie" mean? I never heard the term. Lusting after someone's bottom? A spanking? Sodomy--no, that is going classical on your heinie.

CoolObserver,

It's from the Weird Al Yankovic song "Amish Paradise" which is a parody of the Coolio song "Gamgsta's Paradise." The "medieval...heinie" line in Weird Al's song is also a humorous nod to Quentin Tarantino's movie "Pulp Fiction." During that movie Ving Rhames' character "Marcellus Wallace" explains to an individual who has done him wrong how he plans to "get medieval on your ass" (I don't want to spoil the film if you haven't seen it).

Check out Weird Al's song and watch the movie...all will become clear!

I think you meant to say "Hairrorists"

That's OK...one man's terrist is another's terrorist. Isn't a terrist someone who terrorizes the earth?

Good one Hugh! This one is shaping up like the fix-o-flat butt injections of yesterday.

Keep 'em coming :-)

I was thinking that one man's terrorist is another man's barber.

The live spell checkers will.

"When "revealed" religions have a chance to commit violence against nonbelievers, they do it."

This is the most misguided thing I have read today. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with human beings. Religion, doesn't think, doesn't have a brain and is not a living being that makes choices, human beings are. Religion or not; people commit violence everyday who have no religion at all and don't care if others do or do not follow a religion.

Progress is not always in a positive direction. People progress everyday from say simple theft to armed robbery to shooting people during a robbery.

Sorry, Steve, since human beings are the ones who do everything, you can't use that to excuse elements that promote conflict, violence, persecution or ease of committing crimes against others-- like the provocation of supposed religious superiority or other superstitions, hate mongering, the ability to buy off the police, judges, politicians and the military, the easy availability of guns and other elements that easily incite and facilitate violence. Humans may do it, humans do it all, but somethings are promoting and helping hostility and violence.

Sorry CoolObserver since human beings are the ones who do everything in the terms we are describing here (which is what I stated by the way) you can't use that to blame things such as religions or guns or whatever else to promote hatred of such religion and helping hostlity against religion.

Funny, you actually state in your very first sentence it is humans that do everything then turn around in the next sentence and try to blame it on something else. Is that flip flopping I hear?

While I agree, what you are describing is free market capitalism!

How about posting your rant in the appropriate place and not attempt to hijack an unrelated article?

That makes no sense.

Ruken, it's ok with the Amish as long as it's not an electric irony!

Sure it does. but believe it or not some religions believe that it is offensive to God to show him you bare face or head after you become an adult. These people were attacked and it was a hate crime even if it was done by a member of their own community. People think it is funny because it was just hair (not saying that it's not funny) but when illegal residents are attacked and are afraid to report it for fear of deportation we are out raged. because our friends and neighbors wouldn't do that. would they?

Yea, the Catholic church doesn't want women to bare their heads or shoulders or men to wear shorts in their Italian churches. Jews wear those odd little scull caps. Muslims take off their shoes. Now, if there is some god, hasn't he seen it all and what does it matter if you are stark naked? Certainly a god knows what is hiding under clothes.

I've always wondered why the fella that designed the system (the human body, and all that exists) would be offended by any part of it.

Can one of you good-hearted, coldly logical, deeply religious folk clear up this little conundrum about your imaginary sky friend for me?

Thanks.

In my religion, many people prefer to worship naked because; 1. we all came into the world that way, 2. the human body is considered a thing of beauty, 3. we are symbolically removing the manmade barriers between ourselves and nature, 4. we are symbolically "revealing" our true selves without artifice, 5. we are symbolically reinforcing bonds of trust with our co-religionists and 6. reasons depending upon your individual interpretation. But, if other people want to wear whatever, that's fine by me.

That's what my imaginary sky friends told me to do, Agnomad. LOL

Religion has very little to do with logic, and much more to do with faith, btw. Both are part of life.

I still don't think I like the idea of certain crimes being "hate" crimes. I think all crimes should be prosecuted, especially when one person does violence to another. Is it really worse to punch someone because you don't like the "group" you think they represent than it is to punch someone because you just want to punch somebody? I think sometimes that the concept of a "hate" crime just divides people more.

No kidding J-Stat, I think thats great to worship naked. Now I'm not sure I would be able to focus on the sermon if there were beautiful women there. Ok, in your religion do you have to kneel and do all the things in some other churches, like bowel down and things like that too? Whew wee, ok J-Stat I'm thinking I would like to join your religion where do I sign up for it. Its time I had some spiritual healing and I think this would be a good way for me to start with it. I'm glad I stopped in here.

Joe,

J-Stat's a Wiccan. Sign up anywhere you find freethinkers gathering peacefully. Odds are, at least one will be Wiccan. But you'll have to ask, as they don't prosthelytize. Props, J-Stat.

Blessed be.

Just trying to keep the haters in line, so they do less violence or incite less violence against others.

We pay them to fight crime. Or is the home invasion-assault-over religious differences not a crime to you?

Just trying to keep the haters in line, so they do less violence or incite less violence against others.

I think with terrorists, narco-terrorists, gang bangers and other assorted interstate crimes, the FBI has better things to do. Don't like my attitude? Tough sh!t. I'll say it anyway.

We pay them to fight crime. Or is the home invasion-assault-over religious differences not a crime to you?

I think that's a state matter, not a matter for the Feds. Or do beards matter to you?

I was wondering that myself.

A hate crime is usually defined by state law as one that involves threats, harassment, or physical harm and is motivated by prejudice against someone's race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability.

Technically it qualifies as a hate crime. I guess it could be a 'Hitler' complex. Religion aside only for this point, Hitler wanted to create a 'perfect' race of tall, blond, blue-eyed people... but Hitler himself was short with brown hair and eyes. By his own insane beliefs, he should have been in the gas chambers too.

If someone breaks into your home...that may fall under "local" jurisdiction, depending on the infractions. As soon as they held someone hostage, that fell directly into the FBI's realm.

Kidnapping is still a felony.

They are charging members of a BREAK AWAY community , for hurting people in the community they left .

They found a link to Al-Qaida

No Basil, it was a splinter cell from Al-Qaida: "COST CUTTERS"!

Loved your battleship :-)

They do consider this a hate crime. It would be like force feeding pork to Jewish people.

How is one Jew force feeding another Jew pork a hate crime? In fact I've never met Jew that didn't eat pork. I don't know that many though. Maybe 30 or 20? That must be something the observe somewhere I haven't been...

So, breaking and entering, kidnapping, ... aren't crimes? Your stupidity insults the intelligence of educated Americans.

When did Jew's become apart of this? -.- And ideally, Gneisenau, Jew's aren't supposed to eat pork. The more traditionally 'Jewish' the more likely they are to follow hardcore rules like not eating pork or whatever..other..hardcore rules they have :p

A hate crime does not have to be one group against another group. It would still be a hate crime if a black group erected and burned a bunch crosses on another black group's lawn. A hate crime is a simple exploitation of a person's belief or history in an effort to intimidate or torture them.

Jews can ONLY eat kosher pork. I know because here in New York there are more jews than anyplace except Israel and everything has to be "kosher" to get them to spend their money. They even have given up their horrible "lox," the salted salmon stuff, and now want lox to mean the delicious Scottish smoked salmon!

For the life of me I can't think of a federal law they broke.

1964 Federal Civil Rights Law

The 1964 Federal Civil Rights Law, 18 U.S.C. § 245(b)(2), permits federal prosecution of anyone who "willingly injures, intimidates or interferes with another person, or attempts to do so, by force because of the other person's race, color, religion or national origin"

Wow, that took me all of 5 seconds to Google. It took you longer than that to say it wasn't.

@ proamerica - Yes those are crimes. I'm not sure they kidnapped anyone though. Breaking and entering, battery, assault and such are typically prosecuted by the state not the feds.

@ Chris from Yucaipa - Ah yes, the all encompassing Civil Rights Law. However in this case I don't see how one Amish attacking another Amish because of a disagreement (Even if it's a disagreement in religious doctrine.) is a CRL violation. That just doesn't make sense. Using that law in this case seems to me to push the intent of that law way past it's limit. Is one catholic robbing another catholic a hate crime? No, it's a robbery. Is one black murdering another black a hate crime? No, it's a murder. Is a white murdering a black a hate crime? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on WHY he murdered him. Is someone murdering a black BECAUSE he is black a hate crime? Yes, absolutely. So explain to me how this is a hate crime. I don't see it.

@ Say - There must be a limit. Otherwise every crime is a CRL violation. While I think these jackasses should be prosecuted, I am very uncomfortable using the CRL in this case. It sounds like someone is using any thing they can think of and inventing a crime if necessary to prosecute these guys. I don't thing the law was ever designed to be used like this. Stuff like is is why people no longer trust our judicial system and LEOs. Twisting a law to make it fit smacks of abuse of power.

Ok, now about jewish pork needing to be kosher for them to eat it. Ok maybe but now I have a couple of neighbors and one of them is jewish and the other one is a redneck and well they had a disagreement about where they park their cars. Well the jewish guy is parking it a pinch too close to the redneck's garage and he's making it hard for the redneck to pull out of his garage and make a right hand turn onto the road the way the jew is parking in the back of his house. It wouldn't take much compromise for them to work it out but well they're both stubborn and won't budge an inch. So the redneck is waiting in his garage for the jew to come home and he has a slab of bacon with him. Now I'm thinking this is going to be good so I go upstairs and hide so I can watch this without them seeing me. Know what I mean. Well sure enough the jew comes home and parks making sure he parks as close to the rednecks garage as possible, now I see the redneck come out of his garage running after the jew with a slab of bacon in his hand and sure enough as he gets close to the jew he's pulling the rind off the bacon and the jewish guy is fearing for his life now, he's eyes got so big when he seen the bacon I could see the whites in his eyes from where I was standing. Yeah he must of cut the back of the bacon off enough to take and wrap it around the jewish guy and then he takes the slab, the meat part and he's grinding it into the jews face. Oh man, I thought the jew was going to have a heart attack now and he must of been praying in jewish, because I didn't have a clue what he was saying but its hard to hear him with a mouth full of bacon too. Well after a little the redneck stops because whatever the jew was saying must of scared him too. I'm sitting in the window watching this too and I don't know what to think. The redneck turns around and runs into the house having a real hard time opening the door, I'm cracking up but he finally gets into the house and he's looking out his window to see what the jew does. The jew takes out his hanky and starts wiping off his face but he's also licking his moustache and beard with his tongue as he's wiping himself off too. I'm thinking that jews didn't like bacon but this jew is licking his chopsand smacking his lips on that bacon. Then he walks up to his door and he can't open his door either because of the bacon fat on his hands and he starts cussing again in jewish and wouldn't you know it the door opens up for him now. The jewish guy didn't call the cops or anything like that but the redneck somehow ended up with matza balls on his garage roof and in the gutters. Now its all peaceful again and they don't bother each other anymore and well I don't have anything to watch but that was pretty good when that happened. I don't know what to think about it and I thought cops would be swarming all over the place but nothing. Then the way the jewish guy was licking his chops cleaning off the bacon fat off his face made me wonder about them not liking bacon afer that, know what I mean? I still wonder what he was saying, never heard that kind of language before in my life and he was screaming it and singing it at the same time too. crazy stuff.

@Gneisenau

So explain to me how this is a hate crime. I don't see it.

Are you intentionally being closed minded or just stubborn? The definition of a hate crime:

A hate crime is a legal category used to described bias-motivated violence: "assault, injury, and murder on the basis of certain personal characteristics: different appearance, different color, different nationality, different language, different religion."

Sam Mullet has flat out stated that these acts are being done because he has chosen to interpret his religious views to something the other elders do not agree with.

Mullet justified the shearings to the Associated Press as retaliation for what he percieved as violation of Amish orthodoxy.

"They changed the rulings of our church here, and they're trying to force their way down our throat, make us do like they want us to do, and we're not going to do that," Mullet said.

So please, tell me again this isn't a hate crime? It meets every legal criteria established to determine whether a hate crime has occurred. Simply because YOU feel it shouldn't be a hate crime, does not make it so.

@ CFY -

You are too broad in your definition. My religious beliefs say stealing is wrong. Therefore by your logic, if someone steals from me, it's a hate crime since it offends my religious beliefs. My religious beliefs say murder is abhorrent. By your logic if someone kills me not only is it murder it's a hate crime. Well guess what it's not. If I were robbed or murdered it's because the assailants were thugs and murderers and deserve to be punished for it, but not under this law.

These crimes were committed because the assailants felt they were being treated unfairly by the leaders of the local church. Not because the victims were Amish. How can you HATE someone for belonging to a religion to which you subscribe too? How can you hate someone for being Amish, when you yourself are Amish? That makes zero sense.

Look at this this way. If you were sitting in church and the pastor said that members of the congregation could no longer eat red meat because God demanded it and the local beef rancher who belonged to the same congregation jumped up and slugged him, is that assault or a hate crime? It's assault. Same if the beef rancher jumped up and threw a raw stake in his face.

Good question: NAIR?

Wondered that myself.

Makes their women very, very, very happy. Ifyoucatchmydrift.

The mustache was worn by the Kings soldiers and also government parsonnel in europe where the Amish fled from in the 1700's. So it's a sign of disconnect from the government, and obidience to God. That's why they don't buy electricity from the electric company. They want to be self sufficient and not have to be connected to the grid, so to speak. I was suprised to see a photograph of mister Mullet since they forbit taking pictures of themselves. No graven images.

@kingpin: I've never had any complaints about having a mustache, if you catch my drift. ;)

...wish I'd been married to your gal Miker....my "ex" always insisted I shave beforehand if you catch my drift.

I will have to say that I have the best wife in the world. But, it took two tries to get here.

There once was a young bride of May

Who cried " oh dear ,I'm wasting away.

The inside of my thighs

look like mince meat pies

For my loved one won't shave every day".

Uh... they don't have mustaches because they shaved them...

The only biblical reference I am aware of shaving off all hair is when someone is sick and it was specific to those times so it is not unusual that they shave their mustache. Granted I haven't memorized the bible and I make mistakes as does every other human being.

Steve: The article says that Amish men are expected to stop shaving when they marry. The question is if they don't shave why do they not have mustaches.

sweaver came up with a pretty good answer, but it didn't really address how they justify shaving just their mustaches while leaving their beards. Seems a little inconsistent. . . Not shaving would seem to mean NOT SHAVING.

Also seems a little odd that the men can apparently cut their hair. They don't seem to wear ponytails.

Yes I know what the article stated Miker... however Since the Amish have their roots in Christianity there was no requirement in terms of the Christian faith to shave all hair. Further I have seen quite a few Amish and none of the Amish I have seen are harry Apes... They all shave except their beards. I would contend the article is a misleading statement about "Amish".

The point is the article may state that they stop shaving when they are married and the TRUTH may be that they stop shaving only their beards. And apparently on top of that as there is in any culture there are variations. My longwinded point is it is not quite as simple as "Amish men are expected to stop shaving when they marry".

http://www.amishillinois.com/amish/faq.htm says its beards only

http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish4.htm says it's beards only that are grown..

Steve: That may indeed be the answer. I personally don't recall anything in the NT that even mentions shaving. . . I have quite a bit of respect for the Amish, but this particular bit of ideology strikes me as a bit odd.

How does this qualify as a hate crime? That is the most ridiculous term ever introduced by the legal industry. Does anyone commit a crime with love? The introduction of this new category of "crime" was an end-around-run to avoid the obvious unConstitutional presentation of thought control. All the totalitarian regimes of the past used this type of law enforcement quite heavily.

I'll second that. You now get arrested for your thinking and your attitude. Why somebody killing one's girlfriend is considered less serious than shaving off somebody's beard is beyond me.

It just goes to show you how fukked up the libtards made of our laws.

They shaved their hair for no other reason than they hated them. There is no other earthly explanation for doing such a senseless act. If you can't see that you are missing reasoning power. Why else would anyone do such a thing. There is nothing to be gained. Even the worst criminals don't do things for no reason.

You're absolutely right. It is either against the law, or it isn't... Oh, because it's a hate crime, it makes it "MORE" against the law!

The entire concept of "hate crimes" is a legal fiction. Total BS meant to push a political agenda. All the "hate crime" designation does is create a protected class that receives special attention under the law - ironically making them even more hated than they were to start with. I feel the same about "assault on a female" charges. Assault is assault. Shouldn't be a special category based on the gender (or sexual identity or color. . . ) of the victim.

They shaved their hair for no other reason than they hated them. There is no other earthly explanation for doing such a senseless act. If you can't see that you are missing reasoning power. Why else would anyone do such a thing. There is nothing to be gained. Even the worst criminals don't do things for no reason.

So fukking what.

Is somebody killing one's girlfriend considered less serious than shaving off somebody's beard?

Answer the fukking question.

No, I disagree. No one gets arrested for thinking anything. They get arrested for attacking others, for ganging up and hurting others and for inciting violence and hurt to others because one group is in the majority, has bigger resources or is just so ignorant, egotistical, supreme or selfish that they think they can push others around.

You should be arrested for attacking. Period. Not for being in the majority or the minority. The attack is the crime. That's what should be punished. By making penalties harsher for one group or another, you are saying that group is somehow more worthy of protection under the law. That's not how this country is supposed to work.

Bernie Maddoff loved the money... I am confident he didn't hate it.

No, I disagree. No one gets arrested for thinking anything.

Yes they do. You take two identical crimes and if the victim happens to he homosexual or something else, you call it something else and add additional penalties to it. Even though both crimes are just as horrific.

They get arrested for attacking others, for ganging up and hurting others and for inciting violence and hurt to others because one group is in the majority, has bigger resources or is just so ignorant, egotistical, supreme or selfish that they think they can push others around.

No, they additionally get arrested for their thinking and their attitude because it's politically-correct by the libtards in Washington to do so. This is thought control. This is not equal justice under the law.

Utters are on cows, were talking horses and Amish on this page. Well but them again the Amish do have lots of cows.

What do you call a stampede of dairy cows? Udder chaos.......