Posted: 4/14/2008 6:33:43 PM EDT
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To all: It is said that Abraham Lincoln, when he was angry or frustrated with someone, would write a letter to that person detailing his feelings and then place it in his desk. He would take it out and read it the next day and if it still accurately reflected how he felt, he would send it off. If not, he would destroy it. Unfortunately, this being the Internet one does not have that luxury. In a thread dealing with the current FLDS situation, MrPSmith -- a member whose opinion I generally respect -- hinted very strongly that my outrage over what I perceive to be abuses of the rights of the FLDS members was actually coming across as a defense of the FLDS faith and practices. And after having re-read some of my posts, I have to agree.  For the record, I am not a member of the FLDS church. I do not agree with their doctrines, nor do I support child marriage, forced marriage, or polygamy in general. I am not a polygamist myself, having been happily married to the same woman for nearly 20 years, nor do I wish to become one. I have three young daughters, and my wish is to see them in a happy, monogamous marriages after they have completed their college educations and are adults. I do not want them to have sexual relations with any male for any reason before then. However, I am a proud descendant of 19th-century Mormon polygamists. Three of my mother's four grandfathers had more than one wife, a total of 11 women. Only one of these women was under the age of 18 when she entered polygamy; my 17 year-old great-great-grandmother, who voluntarily married my gg-grandfather. Her dirt-poor Danish immigrant parents enthusiastically supported the marriage because it ensured that their only child would always have a roof over her head and food on her table. After the Federal government passed laws against polygamy, my ancestors were harassed because of their beliefs. One of them went into hiding, another's house was raided by the Feds. Fortunately, because he and his first wife were bedridden and his second wife was the only one available to care for them and the children, the officers had mercy on the family and did not arrest him. I am also a homeschooler. When my wife and I started homeschooling our son about a decade ago, the laws regarding the practice in Utah were not as strong as they are today. Just a few years before we started, the state Division of Child and Family Services would routinely take homeschooled children away from their parents for what they termed "educational neglect". Back then, our SOP for dealing with any child-protection bureaucrat or social worker was to call our attorney and under no circumstances let them into the house without a warrant, because possession is 9/10s of the law and when the state had custody it was very difficult to get your kids back. So, given my family and personal background, it's not surprising that a massive, broad, and what I believe to be overreaching seizure of almost every child in a polygamist colony -- no matter how noble the cause -- would elicit a strong emotional response from me. I still think the state of Texas has grossly miscalculated and will eventually be forced to back down somewhat. However, because I do not wish to be seen as a defender of forced marriage, child rape, or sex between adults and minors, I have decided to keep my opinions on the raid to myself from now on. I hereby pledge to not post in any thread relating to the current FLDS situation, nor will I participate in any discussion about them in any other thread. If I do happen to stray, I'm sure some of you ARFCOMers will be so kind as to give me a gentle reminder in the form of a PM.  That is all. Thank you. |
And may I offer my apology for my remark about Utah. It was inappropriate. During the time I lived in Idaho I knew many members of the LDS church. I know that they (and you) do not approve, nor condone, the behavior of the members of the FLDS sect. By and large, the LDS church is an organization that serves it's members and communities well. Obviously the situation with the FLDS group elicits strong emotions on all sides. I am sorry if I offended you. |
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ill dig my self a hole.. its not the multiple wives thats the issue son.. its the child molestation . they call them wives we call them little girl --- edit.. . er molesters. . now with that said.. in TX they removed a bunch of kids and no one can find the person that called in to report the abuse in the first place.. that looks bad for the state of TX.. only issue I have is the sex with underage girls.. anything else.. i dont care about and is their biz what they do and how they do it.. people will have issues with thier way of life.. who cares .. when child sex is involved.. the rules of freedom of religion change, police your own and all will be well. |
No worries. I, for one, understood your intentions from the beginning. I understand that you did not wish for your religion to be confused with that of the FLDS. I knew all along that you were not trying to defend criminal behavior - and neither was I. My only interest is in seeing fair and impartial justice done, and I assume yours is the same. Therefore, there is no need for you to apologize to me. 
This is a bad time and a bad place for this. I also believe that this comment was made in poor taste. 
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| I'm going to have to follow GarandM1's example and bow out of discussions involving the FLDS. I come from LDS pioneer stock and my ancestors received treatment they didn't deserve in Utah, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri From neighbor as well as government. So I have defensive feelings about how this situation is being handled even though I personally dislike the FLDS and would enjoy sending all the child predators to prison. |
