EPISODE 898 MR VOGEL’S ESTATE SALE CONTIiNUED — TWO PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET
Alan skeoch
oct. 21, 2023
THE ISSUE OF PHOTOGRAPHY — AMISH AND MENNONITES
Most Amish today will not pose for a photograph. Considering it a violation of the Second Commandment, which prohibits the making of “graven images,” the Amish believe any physical representation of themselves (whether a photograph, a painting, or film) promotes individualism and vanity, taking away from the values of community and humility by which they govern their lives. Occasionally, Amish people did have their photos taken, as you can see with the couple in the first image who likely went to a studio for their portrait in 1875. But by the time photography became popular in America in the mid-19th century and photographers and researchers armed with cameras began appearing in Amish communities, most Amish objected to appearing in or posing for photographs entirely.
Most mennonites (including amish-mennonites) don’t mind having their picture taken, and will even keep plenty of pictures of friends and family displayed in their homes. As for posting, I wouldn’t think they would mind so long as you’re not posting for a negative reason.
THE VOGEL AUCTION AND MY CAMERA:
Auction sales are meeting grounds. Easy to strike up a conversation at
an auction sale. Sometimes surprising things happen.
VANITY seems to be the heart of the issue of photography and the Amish and Mennonite communities.
None of the pictures I took could be considered vain. No person was captured in a pose tht glorified
the self . Having said that, my camera was the only camera at the Vogel auction. The only camera I noticed
and many people noticed me in a rather neutral manner. Perhaps I was seen by some as rude…but
most people were indifferent. I remembered an incident at a Mennonite auction years ago when I took a
picture of a Mennonite man carrying a rifle. “Lucky it’s not loaded” he said with a smile. The comment is
open to interpretation. I think he was amused. Why? Because both the Amish and the Mennonites are
pacifists. I took pictures that are respectful although I suppose a bit rude. No one was asked to pose
except for TIM whose story follows. TIM is not an Old Order mennonite, likely not a Mennonite at all.
TIM — HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER REQUIRED BRAIN SURGERY
TIM pushed his wheel chair past me as we waited for the auctioneer to reach the
facing mills and the chicken crate/ He was smiling as our eye locked.
“I was to proud tp bring my wheel chair. Looks like you have bad knees as I do.” I commented.
“No, I had brain surgery years ago.”
“Brain surgery?” I said with a smile…thinking he was joking
“Right here” And he pointed to his forehead…no stitches apparent.
“What happened?”
“Drunk driver hit me from behind…he was going so fast that the impact broke my drivers sept and smashed
me into the passenger seat behind. Nearly killed me. At the hospital a strange ting happened. I could
not touch my nose no matter how many times I tried. My brain would not let me do it. There was something
wrong with my brain. I was alert but my brain and my hand were out of sync. A lot of doctors had ideas
but none worked until one doctor in London (Ontario) believed the fluid that surrounds our brains had
got pooled by the impact and hampered brain signals.”
“My knee seems very minor.”
“Impact drove my car into a nice cadillac. Three car wrecks,”
“What was the drunk driver like?”
“Never saw him…I was unconscious “
Why tell you this story? Because it shows how easy a conversation at an auction sale can develop
while waiting for a chicken crate to be sold. And Tim made my vanity over my refusal to bring a walker obvious to me.
TRACKED BY A LITTLE BOY, ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD
And while we talked I was being tracked. Tracked? For some strange reason a Mennonite boy, about
12 yeas old, was tracking me. He liked my camera. Once he even put a finger in front of lens. Not
done with anger. Done to let me know he was watching me. And I began to watch him in turn.
Here are some pics featuring Mennonites. Pics that are deliberately non intrusive . Pics
that are not vain.
THIS YOUG BOY FOUND MY CAMERA FASCINATING…HE POSITIONED HIMSELF TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED
AT First I thought it was accidental that he was dead centre in so many of my pictures. Not so. He knew what he was doing.
Most Mennonites clustered together with their children in tow. The boy tracking was a different kettle of fish.
But I dare not engage him in conversation. Needed a parent before i would do that.
Then an odd thing happened. The little boy was eating a piece of cake in the back of Tim’s truck.
Tim had probably driven the boys family to the sale. Old Order Mennonites hitch rides.
Does all this sound hopelessly trivial? Life is like that.
alan
NEXT EPISODE — THE REAL REASON SO MANY MEN CAME TO THIS AUCTION — 30 TRACTORS FOR SALE
And Then the Episode you have all been wait for….the GPS episode….THE GOOD POTATO SOUP EPISODE (yum yum yummy)
alan