12 Amish Plead Not Guilty In Hair-Cutting Attacks : NPR

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January 11, 2012

Twelve members of a breakaway Amish group in Ohio have pleaded not guilty to beard- and hair-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in a feud over church discipline.

The seven original defendants and five more added in an indictment returned last month entered the not guilty pleas to federal charges Wednesday in a crowded Cleveland courtroom.

Judge Dan Aaron Polster refused a defense appeal to release the suspected ringleader and his son on bond.

A feud over church discipline allegedly led to five attacks in which beards and hair of both men and women were cut, which is considered deeply offensive in Amish culture.

The seven-count indictment includes charges of conspiracy, assault and evidence tampering in what prosecutors say were hate crimes motivated by religious differences.

Beard cutting. Very offensive.

A Story of Love and Acceptance

Here is a story I received from a sister in Christ. Her name is Patricia, and she gave me permission to share. Enjoy.

We have lived in same place for 25 yrs.   When NY put a 5 cent deposit on all bottles & cans some years ago it became fashionable to dumpster dive for cash.

Around that time we noticed a guy (age undetermined - not old not young) came around a couple of times a day.    Both mentally & physically challenged.    He got pretty good at getting the discarded cans & bottles so we started to pack ours up and leave for him.  And so it continues.

Now we see him several times a week very vocal about say hi & thanks.   His name is Tommy and we believe he lives in a group home.   We give him stuff - a warm winter coat that Richard no longer wears, shirts, etc.    And every once in a while he disappears for some time but always comes back,with a beat up face, once with stiches on his head.   Apparently "people" pick on him - beating the you know what out of him take his money (and even the coat we gave him) but still marches on.   A few weeks ago he told us (once again at the top of his lungs) that he goes to church service every day but twice on Sunday....amazing.

Any a bit of background   Yesterday I was taking some downtime sitting on my porch reading hoping it wouldn't rain.   The Bottle Boy which is what he is known as by all comes walking up yelling I got something for you,I got something for you.   He walked up to me with box that contained 1/2 sheet cake from local supermarket - with it inscribed To My Friend.   He had several more in his cart (for other friends I assume)  the price tag was $20.99.    He gave me the cake and said you & your husband are my friends and are very nice to me.   And goes on to tell me I can't do this all the time I only get $200 in food stamps a month but I will do it again soon.  And he walked (more like limped) away muttering to himself about his friends. 

My reaction was OMG look at this man, challenged in life, no family that you could tell and he spends his money on cakes for his "friends" .  Made me think to myself maybe my attitude of no good deed goes unpunished doesn't work here.

God is good God is great.

Have  good week bro.
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