Technology and Rumspringa

So since I've hurt my ankle and have been far less mobile than I'm used to, I've been watching a lot of TV. That's not to say it's more appealing to me now, just that it's more distracting than simply sitting with my foot up unable to move. Anyway, last night before I went to sleep, I caught part of a National Geographic documentary about the Amish and their weddings. It was very interesting and educational. In the Amish tradition, at 16 years old the young people of the community go out into the "English" world. This time out of their community is called Rumspringa. It is a time for young people to see what they're missing on the outside, fine a husband or wife, and return to the church to become official members before God.

Fascinating unto itself, I very much enjoyed the documentary until the kids began talking about what they would miss when they went back to their traditional communities. One boy said he would miss his laptop, but miss his Blackberry more since it's with him always. What I heard when he said that was that America has done such a good job at advertising and selling people lifestyles, that even the Amish, those who are without the ads, the newspapers, the magazines and all electronics, can get sucked into something like a Crackberry in just a short time out in the "English" world.

This boy won't miss traveling or seeing life on a more global scale. He won't miss the new friends he's made and the new life he has set with his girlfriend. No, he will miss his Blackberry by his side at all times. The only redeeming factor of this boy was that he still wanted to re-enter the Amish community even though he would have to give up the things we take for granted every day. I feel that in order to excommunicate yourself from your family, you would need a better excuse than a light-up paperweight, but even still, I don't know if I could do it now that I'm this deep into technology, could you?