We have been studying Mennonite migrations recently in my 11th and 12th grade World History class. Why have large groups of Mennonites migrated in the past? How did these migrations impact Mennonite culture? What happened to those who didn't move out with everyone else? Will there ever be cause to migrate again? If so, where would we go?
In this light, I gave my students a little assignment: "Things get bad for us in the United States. As a group of people we decide this is not the best place for us. (One could argue that we should consider such a move right now on the basis that the Anabaptist people have begun to accept perverted American consumerism.) Do some research and recommend a suitable destination to the Mennonite community."
This is what they found. Of course the research is quite limited and not necessarily in depth. Still, using several criteria these were some of the re-occurring suggestions. Some of them even had google images of the land in their presentations.
1. Australia ( Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland,)
Pros:
High GDP/ low poverty rate
Good agriculture
Space
61.1% Christian
Dairy products are the 4th most valuable agricultural export
No military conscription
Already some Mennonites there
High health standards
Religiously tolerant
Cons:
HIGH COST OF LIVING
In debt (190 billion) (Sure does beat the slats out of 15 trillion)
Can be dry
2. Iceland (Hunavatnshrepopur),
Pros:
-Mostly Christian
-Strong sense of community: 98% of the population believe that they know somebody who would help them in a time of need
-Very beautiful
-Small population
-Located on a major trade route between North America and Europe
-2nd highest quality of life in the world
-4.8% unemployment
-Public school system demands that Christianity be taught
-Constitutional Republic
-No regular military forces
Cons:
-Language
-Cold rough country
-Not much farmland/ main industry is fishing
-Friends with United States
-Small island/ limited space
3.French Guiana
Pros:
- Are welcoming Mennonites
-GDP per capita highest in South America
-Main religion is Roman Catholic
-Close to Brazil which is also a good option
Cons:
-Soil is low in nutrients (they are working at changing this)
-Main language is French (Some English is spoken)
-Issues with illegal immigrants and clandestine gold prospectors
4. Brazil
Pros:
-Nice cities and lots of country
-Temperate climate/ good for working with the land
-2010 survey showed they had the highest religious and cultural tolerance.
-Places to escape to if need be. (mountains, swamps)
-Technologically advanced
Cons:
-A country with a fair amount of world recognition
-Fairly populous
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