Drunk, Blond, Blue-Eyed College Boys & Hutterites

At 8:07 PM, March 31, 2007, Andy Asked The Following Question..

I know you stated that we could ask you anything - well here it goes.

I live in North Dakota and have had the opportunity to meet a number of Hutterites from the Aberdeen SD and Hawley MN area.

Over the last 6-10 years I have heard, what I have always thought of as an "urban legend", that the Hutterites would bring men into the colony for the sole purpose to impregnate their women. I have heard that it is tough to control "inbreeding" within the colony. At one point I heard that the Hutterites would look for drunk, blond haired, blue-eyed college boys in Aberdeen SD... and then bring them to the colony...

Anyway, I know it was a silly question, but had to ask. Have you ever heard this?

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I knew it would only be a matter of time before someone would ask that question. I have heard this at various social functions throughout the years.

The first time I heard this rumor was when I first left the colony in the year of 1993. I do not believe that the shock and the nature in which I was asked this question will ever wear off. This person asked me if it was true that we load our women up in Horse-Trailers and take them to town for "Breeding Day" Needless to say I was STUNNED and I knew at that point that I would have to address this some day.. Bingo.. That day has arrived.

With all the hype this Blog has created among the Hutterite Colonies you probably think that I have officially lost it by talking about this "urban legend" on such a public Blog but as I have stated before this Blog was created for information purposes so that is why I have an obligation to answer Andy's question..

The biggest mistake people make is by never answering searing questions, no matter how uncomfortable they might be.. Not answering a question means something might be true. The media is really good at this technique.. How many times have we heard something like the following on the local or national news. "Mr. Smith has been accused of stealing millions of dollars from the Rosie O' Donnell Pancake Fund and all calls made to his residence, his business and his mistress HAVE NOT been returned" What is the next logical human assumption... Oh my god the rumor is "true" Mr. Smith DID take all the pancake money..

Of course I would be lying through my teeth, if I did not tell you I knew beforehand.... that I would have some uncomfortable, odd and crazy questions going into this project B U T that is part of the reason I created this Blog. The time has come for someone to have the guts to stand up and address some of the insensitive things floating around about Hutterites because staying in the shadows or out of the media spotlight as Hutterites often do, only contributes to the fact that people think the Hutterites are hiding some horrible secret... My friends, I have never been one to turn the other cheek and run away scared from a tough question and I am not about to start. I know that you have heard this myth yourself and here is your chance to clear the air..

To my Hutterite readers: Go ahead and answer this from your point of view and bury this "urban legend" once and for all.

My Answer: As an Ex-Lehrerleut Hutterite I will tell you that Lehrerleut Hutterites marry all year long and they find their wife's from the oodles and oodles of other unrelated Lehrerleut Hutterite Colonies.. They are NOT limited to marrying inside their own colony and they certainly do not take the book of moral values and throw it out the window just to keep their bloodlines pure. Lehrerleut Hutterites do not practice the "urban legend" and they never have..

Here is a tidbit along the lines of NEW Hutterite blood and the "urban legend"... A Lehrerleut Ex-Hutterite who has a child outside of the colony with an "English" girl cannot bring the child back to the colony (as a new Hutterite member) should he decide to go back for whatever reason. Furthermore Lehrerleut Ex-Hutterites cannot go back to the colony if they have fathered a child outside of the colony. That fact all my itself is proof that Lehrerleut Hutterites do not practice the "urban legend"..

I kindly ask my Hutterite friends to address this issue based on their perspective Branches.. Schmiedeleut, Dariusleut, etc...

Peace and Harmony
Jerry

PS: Andy is simply asking a question so do not shoot the messenger. This question originated from somewhere, years ago, and he was courageous enough to ask the question publicly.