At a public hearing last evening about 75 people, including more than a dozen nearby Amish residents, showed up to discuss, hear more about and learn the details of a village proposal that would have established an ordinance preventing horse droppings from being spilled on Gouverneur's streets. And in addition to diapering animals, other provisions added that any unexpected manure spills would have to be cleaned up, all horse-drawn carriages would be required to be equipped with electric front and rear lamps and a large orange triangle, and no horse could be left unattended at any time.
The whole flap began last fall when a resident complained to the village board that the Amish were parking their horses and buggies next to the Dollar General Store where the horses dumped while their owners shopped and sold some of their goods. As it turns out, the Amish were unaware that the lot they were using was private. When questioned during the meeting, the Amish, who didn't speak formally, indicated that they would dutifully clean up any and all spills. A local restaurant owner then added that he would be very happy to let the Amish use his parking lot, and that he would even clean up any messes himself and transport the manure to his garden -- a new version of turning turds into truffles.
I have no idea what a horse diaper would even look like or how it might be attached to the animal, but what I envision in my mind's eye only produces giggles. I mean, were we talking about using gigantic Depends here? And talk about mucking up our landfills...
At any rate, this smelly little kerfuffle is now officially over, at least for the present. But it does create some interesting questions...
For instance, some in attendance at the meeting thought that the Amish were being singled out, and that their way of life and values were being intruded upon (especially the part about the electric lamps). Several things that I have come to admire about the Amish are their industry, resourcefulness, kindness and trustworthiness. And I have almost never read or heard of an Amish individual being less than a good-hearted, law-abiding citizen. They even rail against cow-tipping as unnecessary cruelty.
I guess maintaining our tolerance is an ever-present problem. For me the article was a reminder that we all need to step back and take a refresher course now and again. But first just look over your shoulder, especially if you're in the vicinity of the Gouverneur General Dollar Store. My final take? Manure happens...
Stay calm and carry on,
Paul in Potsdam
http://www2.potsdam.edu/loucksap
http://loucksap.smugmug.com
http://madstop68.blogspot.com
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