The Salt Lake Tribune carried a couple of retrospectives on the Texas FLDS community (hat tip: M&A, which posts additional links and comments). The first story suggests the FLDS community in Texas has largely returned to pre-raid rhythms. It also notes that the anonymous tip received by Texas authorities is now believed to have been a hoax. Here are the relevant statistics:
Just one child remains in state custody. Twelve men face criminal charges related to underage marriages; the first trial is set for October. A new legislative committee is set to explore “lessons learned” from the raid, which has cost upward of $15 million.
A second article relates emotional interviews with several Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) workers who assisted some of the children removed from the FLDS compound. The article is not completely clear in its terminology: CASA workers are social workers and volunteers who may be asked to speak to the judge in court, but are not attorneys (or guardians ad litem) who legally represent the children or their best interests in court. They work in conjunction with, but independent of, Child Protective Services, the state agency that removed the children. The funniest quote in this sad story:
“How do you file this stuff?” Brown said. “The Jessops and Jeffs are in three cabinets. Everyone else is in one.”
posted April 5, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Oprah was allowed to come in and film and interview at the YZR, and it was obvious that the children were coached….and the answers were what folks in the outside world would want to hear…all is well, everyone is happy etc. Oprah mentioned to a 2nd grade class that she saw no toys…what did they play wiht. A little boy said they don’t play because it isn’t fun. The like to work. Tell me that is a normal answer from a 2nd grader!
The teenage girls she interviewed in a group setting all said they didn’t know anyone who was forced to marry at 15 or younger. One girl said she wanted to marry at 16 and her parents said no. When asked if they dated, they all basicly said that their parents would choose who they’d marry and that that was fine, as the parents knew best and from the way they talked…love had nothing to do with it.
Not what we would consider normal, with the multiple wives (who all get along and care for each other’s children!), as well as the Man they are married to.
Oprah asked if any girls were married off to older men….and the answer was talked around…never saying no.
posted April 6, 2009 at 10:20 am
I agree, pagansister. When are the FLDS going to learn to raise their kids like mainstream American society? Teenage girls shouldn’t be getting married, they should be dressing like Bratz dolls, and having meaningless sexual relationships with guys who don’t give a crap about them. I know that in my high school, the senior guys, often legal adults, had quite a bit of fun with the freshmen girls. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
When will the majority of young women in FLDS society loose their virginity by the time they reach legal adulthood? Why can’t they keep up with mainstream American girls? If only we could get the FLDS teenagers to watch the “American Pie” film franchise, perhaps they could learn the ways of mainstream American culture.
Christ told us how to find peace with the world. In St. John, 15:19, Christ clearly states, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own…”
While I’m sure, pagansister, that you have found the truthfulness of this passage of scripture, what’s it going to take for the FLDS people to finally be of the world? We’ve taken their children from them. We’ve threatened them with prison. We’ve done everything we can to destroy their families, but yet they persist.
I really don’t think we have any other option but to exterminate them. What do you think pagan sister?
posted April 7, 2009 at 4:05 am
I too would like to hear your rebutle pagansister??
maybee we should just send in the stormtroopers like at waco?
especially if oprah doesnt approve!
posted April 11, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Your name,
Since when is collecting anti-aircraft guns and using them on federal agents an aspect of freedom of religion? The Branch Davidian cult did this. They committed suicide by cop, just as surely as the People’s Temple followers did it with cyanide-based kool-aid.
posted April 11, 2009 at 8:57 pm
YN: Waco brought it on themselves, actually their leader did.
posted April 11, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Brent, I’ve tried 6 times to answer you and got caught. Disagree with a lot of what you said…didn’t promote raiding the ranch, removing kids, but should have been checked out since there was a (bogus) complaint. Girls shouldn’t be forced to marry old guys, and should be at least 16 before marrying. Men run the place, women are dominated. Why should a 50 year old man want a 14 year old. That, IMO is child abuse.
All teens aren’t sleeping around, nor all girls being hit on by “senior” in HS., PErhaps in yours?
posted April 11, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Brent: to continue:
You mentioned that they persist in spite of the raid. Yes, why would the men want to give up all that they have?
If the women are happy, fine, but if they want to leave, can they? I wonder.
Also wonder why no teen males were interviewed. They were supposedly working in town. One woman who left the compound, said that while she was there the teen boys who didn’t conform were taken off the ranch and into a town and told not to return. The men can’t have competition or their authority questioned. Boys were 14 to 18 that were removed.
Whatever floats the boats, but if that means children are being mistreated, then as with any organization, the law should be involved to remove the perps or children.
posted April 30, 2009 at 9:01 am
Who are you to define ‘normal’? Why don’t you try living like a mainstream Inuit?
When will people learn to stop messing with other peoples cultures? Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe we aren’t exactly living the best of lives?
posted May 11, 2011 at 4:24 pm
QUOTE:
~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree, pagansister. When are the FLDS going to learn to raise their kids like mainstream American society?
~~~~~~~~~~
God help me! I would raise my children any other way, as it would be better. I suppose homosexuality, drugs, rebellion and extended adolescence until after college graduation is your idea of how to raise children, but it isn’t mine
As to the FLDS or any other family.. it’s none of your business whatsoever so leave them alone
posted May 11, 2011 at 4:31 pm
And to pagansister.. I can’t wait till pagans like you are persecuted like the FLDS and poly people are.. you really have it coming, yourself.. busybody/persecutor