Was_Mohammed_Ali_a_Sportsman_or_Idol

Issues & Themes 1. What is a pacifist' Are the Amish shown as pacifists' Describe a scene where their point of view is clearly demonstrated. A pacifist is a person who believes in pacifism or is opposed to war or violence of any kind. The Amish don’t consider themselves as pacifists, but they are committed to peace as a lifestyle and do not associate with violence including angry words or going to law. This can clearly be demonstrated in the film “The Witness” when Hochleitner is harassed by local punks who defile Amish culture and he is unable to retaliate. 2. How do the Amish seem to settle conflicts or disputes' How is this different to the way John Book does things' The Amish community tend to avoid all conflicts and disputes by separating themselves from the communities that surround them. They refuse military service and have a policy on ‘non-resistance’, which means that when governments instruct them to do things against their faith, they refuse to do them, but accept the consequences of their refusal without argument. Their actions are very contradictive to those of John Book, who is from a Westernised community and often settles conflicts and disputes with violence and force. 3. What role do the Amish play in helping John Book capture Schaeffer at the end' John Book is able to use Samuel’s lessons about the silo; he is able to trick Fergie into entering the silo, and then releases a cascade of corn which eventually leads to his death. Soon after Samuel is able to ring the bell on his farm, alerting their Amish neighbours that help is needed. Finally a crazed Schaeffer threatens to shoot Rachel, Book surrenders to him. At that moment, a large number of Amish arrive at the Lapp farm in response to the bell and at this point Schaeffer realises that he has lost and surrenders to Book. Conformity and nonconformity 4. A conformist goes along with what the majority of society wants. The Amish expect everyone in their society to conform to their beliefs. 5. How do they criticise John Book’s behaviour' Rachel criticises Books possession of a firearm after she catches him showing his pistol to Samuel, “John Book, I would appreciate it if, during the time you are with us, you would have as little to do with Samuel as possible”. She indicates that she does not want Book to have a negative impact on Samuel. 6. In what way are they critical of Rachel’s behaviour' When Book and Rachel are dancing to the car radio in the Barn, they are interrupted by Eli who has taken surprise to the actions of Rachel. He accuses her of bringing an outsider into their house with his gun and listening to ‘English” music and dancing with him and explains to her that if the Bishop was to find out she could be shunned. 7. In what ways would a traditional Amish have trouble conforming to life in the city outside their community' A traditional Amish individual would face many problems leaving their Amish community. They would be on their own with only an eighth grade education. And they would have lost the support system that they have relied on for their entire lives. The feeling of old security and support systems would vanish and they would be quite unfamiliar with how a modern day society functions i.e. technology, jobs, rent etc. 8. In what ways does Book stand out in Amish society' John Book dresses in Amish clothing before going to town with Eli, so as not be detected as a foreigner in the Amish community. 11. What do they decide' How are their lives affected' 12. List the strengths of Amish culture • The Amish usually grow up bilingual • They have close families that are tight-knitted • Extended family is very close too • Lots of manners when it comes to strangers and friends, very hospitable • They can build their own houses, grow their own food and sew their own clothes. 13. List the weaknesses • Rape, incest, and sexual abuse is fairly common in Amish communities. • Lower education than American public schools • Physical and verbal abuse that is meant as 'discipline' • Women and children have no rights • Animal abuse is common • Religion is used as a means of control, and is brainwashed into children through discipline and fear. 14. Do the Amish have to make compromises with the world around them to survive' 15. “The Amish could not survive in a modern American city”. Is that the message that Weir is trying to convey to us' Discuss.