tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post7825061920250832530..comments2024-03-26T11:33:59.219-06:00Comments on Religion in American History: Happiness is a Warm GunPaul Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13881964303772343114noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-38871041410185421682009-11-11T12:08:45.700-07:002009-11-11T12:08:45.700-07:00Both reviews of the Janzen book (esp. the NYTBR on...Both reviews of the Janzen book (esp. the NYTBR one) give me hope that she avoids the dominant trope of Mennonite literary works that reach larger audiences—namely, emphasizing the peculiarly oppressive side of Mennonite upbringings. That tone ring less and less true, so I hope that Janzen has found a way around it. The point that Jessica Baldanzi (the Goshen prof.) makes about Swiss (German) vs. Russian (Dutch-Prussian) Mennonites is an important one, as the vast majority of quality Mennonite literature in North America has come from the Russian tradition. On the other hand, the image of conservative Mennonites (and even more so, Amish) as a quaint, peaceful, tourism-friendly people is largely associated with the Swiss tradition. My friend Sidney King—like me, a Swiss German Menno.—does a great job of addressing this latter image in his 2004 film, “Pearl Diver.”Steven P. Millerhttp://sites.google.com/site/stevenpmillersite/noreply@blogger.com