400 + Kids Taken From Texas FLDS Compound (elders, LDS, marriage, God)

[.lava]

Originally Posted by jonny

I blame this child abuse partially on the government's persecution of their lifestyle for the past 150+ years. I don't see the government as the solution. I see it as part of the problem.

hi,

when you have time would you please explain that? how is the government part of problem? do they know this stuff and let it happen?

[jonny]

Originally Posted by jonny

Perhaps if you had a family history that includes Bible-bashing bigots using the government to persecute your ancestors for religious traditions that they didn't like, then maybe you'd question the motivation behind the government in situations like this. If you do have this background, then shame on you for thinking that the government is any different now than it was then.

I blame this child abuse partially on the government's persecution of their lifestyle for the past 150+ years. I don't see the government as the solution. I see it as part of the problem.

I think the abuse is disgusting. I'm glad that Warren Jeffs is in prison. I want the other men and women who are abusing children to be thrown into prison also. But this isn't going to solve the cultural problem and until you solve these problems, you're not going to stop the abuse.

I may be in the minority, but I'm not alone in these feelings:

Some Mormons, especially those with polygamist ancestors, feel conflicted as they watch Texas authorities separate FLDS families on the basis of alleged abuse.

They don't support the practice of polygamy today, yet these Latter-day Saints see the faces of their great-grandparents in the FLDS women and children.

They hear echoes of 19th-century salacious - and false - rumors about their Mormon forefathers seducing women and having sex on temple altars. And they worry about government officials having power to decide what's best for children.

Mormons feel torn over FLDS raid - Salt Lake Tribune

I think that article pretty accurately describes how I feel about this: "conflicted." On the one hand, I see the abuse and want it stopped. On the other, I see how these people are being treated by the media and see the correlation between that and what happened to my ancestors.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by .lava

hi,

when you have time would you please explain that? how is the government part of problem? do they know this stuff and let it happen?

I don't have time right now, but I'll answer your question tonight.

[texan1]

Originally Posted by jonny

I think that article pretty accurately describes how I feel about this: "conflicted."

That's understandable. I feel strongly that the way of life at these FLDS sects is wrong and it needs to change, but it has to be traumatizing for these kids to be taken from their mothers, especially since they don't really understand what is going on. There is no easy answer.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Mr Spinkles

Moreover, it is a group of brainwashed sex slaves being lorded over by a few elite men with totalitarian-like authority over their subjects in their own private city-state, away from the prying eyes of the laws we have to protect children (and adults).

Sure, but you make it sound like that's a bad thing.

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Sure, but you make it sound like that's a bad thing.

Really? It sounded pretty good to me.

[mrscardero]

Originally Posted by jonny

I blame this child abuse partially on the government's persecution of their lifestyle for the past 150+ years. I don't see the government as the solution. I see it as part of the problem.

Second Manifesto in 1904. This pointed out that the Church, itself, had not sanctioned the new marriages (technically correct) and that the punishment for further practice would be excommunication. This was sustained and supported by all twelve apostles and by the Church. This stood as doctrine. The Lord had ended polygamy.

I don't see where the government had anything to do with excommunicating those who choose to continue polygamy. I see the government solving problems to aid in those who have no say or cannot make choices on their own due to being raised with the beliefe that the girls (women) should be married to one man and bare his children. It's the opposite of a bee hive. Instead of the queen, you have a king.

Take a child who was removed from a drug addicted mother and placed with a loving family. Would it be wise to remove that child from that loving family because the drug addicted mother had straightened herself out? Does that mean that the government was causing problems instead of saving a life?

I think the abuse is disgusting. I'm glad that Warren Jeffs is in prison. I want the other men and women who are abusing children to be thrown into prison also. But this isn't going to solve the cultural problem and until you solve these problems, you're not going to stop the abuse.

That's the answer. It's the culture not the government.
You want to end the abuse, end the culture.
If it didn't end with the Second Manifesto,
maybe the government can help.

[zippythepinhead]

Originally Posted by jonny

I may be in the minority, but I'm not alone in these feelings:

Mormons feel torn over FLDS raid - Salt Lake Tribune

I think that article pretty accurately describes how I feel about this: "conflicted." On the one hand, I see the abuse and want it stopped. On the other, I see how these people are being treated by the media and see the correlation between that and what happened to my ancestors.

I was listening to a Texas Ranger on the radio. He stated "Don't mess with the children of Texas". This isn't going to be over at the minimum for a few weeks.

FLDS culture is so secretive that you literally have to peel the onion skin off to find out what is really going on. Are there innocent victims here? Yes. But sometimes the whole class has to "stay after school" to find out who the perpetrators of crime, if any, is occurring. Texas also better study the Utah-Arizona Short Creek raid of the 1950s or they are in for a mess bigger than Texas.