Posted by Ms Mellyme... on May 15, 2008 5:47 PM

I believe in live and let live, but with a don't tread on me attitude. If consenting adults want to have multiple wives or husbands...who am I to judge them? If two men or two women want to marry...who am I to judge them? Please note that in all of these cases I am talking about consenting adults...NOT children.
Children don't have the fully developed brains to make solid choices for themselves. That is why adults are their guardians until the age of 18 and held responsible for most, if not all, of their actions. It is the responsibility of guardians to protect children from making bad choices and to teach them how to make good choices based on many factors in the guardians life. One of the major factors that guide most adults in teaching their children how to make proper choices is their religion. It's a sad state when the religion condones and encourages the adults to continuously make poor choices for their children sexually. The words 'sexual abuse' means nothing to these people because they are following their religions path to God.
Although I think their world is upside down compared with mine; I can neither condone nor condemn these women for their choices for the choice was never theirs to begin with. They need our care, concern, and help....not our scorn, ridicule, and finger pointing.
Why isn't the Mormon Church stepping in to help these people and so-to-speak reintegrate them into society and the church? I mean, isn't the Mormon Church about as close as it comes religiously for these FLDS people.....plural & underage marriage aside?

Posted by  on April 22, 2008 6:00 PM

whoever wrote the blog about people should be full of goodness because it makes the world a better place has got the right idea. don't change that part about u. kudos to u.

Posted by  on April 22, 2008 5:49 PM

well kelly, some things you're saying i agree with, and some i don't. i feel that everyone of every age should have freedom of choice. though certainly the parents should have the last say up to a point. and people are considered adults at 18, not 21. if someone can be put to death at age 18 by our so called justice system, then they should also have the right to get married, join the army, and drink alcohol(even though that is not the case). i just think it's hyracritical for our government to say '' yes, we trust you're mature enough to go kill people for us, but we don't think you're mature enough to drink alcohol''. also, just because a person is good looking, doesn't change anything. but i know how it is, if sombody is beutiful, then they can get away with a lot of stuff that somebody who is not as attractive can't. that's just one more thing that is messed up with the world...lol...ps..i hope these blogs inspire u to think and not just piss u off :)

Posted by  on April 22, 2008 6:04 AM

and if u want to talk about raped children, lets talk about how the media rapes our childrens minds everyday. so many problems that the youth of this country face can be traced directly to the media/entertainment, and yet nobody has even tried to do a thing about it. Why? i haven't the foggiest. Maybe cause the same media hasn't told us that we need to be worried about it, cause we ourselves have been brainwashed by television and radio since childhood? i don't know. but just think abot it. the education of our youth in this country has been on a steady decline for many years. schools dump loads into sports, while teachers can barely make a living and the arts are almost completely ignored. Y? maybe because the media tells us that we need to be young and beautiful, and athletic. that we need to do whatever is necissary to get what we want. that if u don't fit that description, then you're a nobody. thats y u c less and less creativity in our youth. their afraid to be differnet. to be an individual, with their own thoughts and reasoning. thats y i told linda, she was a fresh breath of air.

Posted by  on April 22, 2008 5:49 AM

Hey Kelly 43, would u feel the same way if that 30 year old guy looked like Keanu Reeves, for example, prolly not. oh, and bty, maybe i need to be updated on the story, but so far, i've only heard of one girl being raped and abused. but everyone talks as if every girl in the colony has been. media will pounce on that like a lion on a baby lamb, but will they say anything at all about the happy couples that there may or may not be. again prolly not. lets just try and remember, just because something is different or because we don't understand it, doesn't mean it's wrong. and before anyone starts judging me and damning me to hell, i don't agree with anything they're doing. i just feel that it's not our place to judge.

Posted by  on April 21, 2008 8:56 PM

I find the whole story bizarre. The way the woman on TV talk like there is absolutely wrong with what has been done in the name of religion. I think what bothers me the most is that they think what they do is normal. The way they break the law without even thinking about the consequences. If it is in the name of god then its okay to rape young woman and call it marriage. I don't think any man above the age of 30 can rationally think that something like that is normal. They take advantage of the young woman's innocence. What really disgust me is the fact that what they say is in the name of god. To me that is complete B.S. To justify their own selfish desires and tell you that I am doing to get into heaven. I don't think there is a hot enough place in hell to put these rapist polygamist.

Posted by  on April 21, 2008 8:33 PM

I totally believe an adult human being should have the right to decide what is best for themself whether it be to have 6 wives, or never marry at all, but when I was a teenager, if it were to have been required that I marry a man over 30, I would have been grossed out and would have felt imprisoned by the lack of choice. If given a choice, I'm sure I would choose a handsome young man closer to my own age. Until the frontal lobe is fully developed, a child should not marry, go to war or sign any contract. Children should stay children!!!! Kelly age 43

Posted by  on April 21, 2008 4:05 AM

i don't know. i have mixed feelings about this. the comments above say that these men r pigs. but aren't they victims as well, because they were tought the same things from childhood to adulthood as the girls were. and while i believe that freedom of religion should be protected at all costs, there r lines that should not be crossed. not to mention there are many other cultures in the world that practice ordained marriages involving young boys and girls, and while i don't agree with the practice, i'm not willing to say that the people or the culture in general are evil. however, the abuse or neglect of anyone, male or female, is wrong wrong wrong.

Posted by  on April 21, 2008 2:56 AM

Hey everyone,

I caught a snippet of a story about the documentary 'Damned to Heaven' whilst having afternoon tea with my mum. One of the women they interviewed was trying to justify the practice of allowing 12-13 year old girls marrying middle aged men. She saw absolutely nothing wrong with it. Her voice was hollow and vague, as only a person who has been brain washed can sound. These women and children are being abused in every possible way - physically, mentally, and emotionally. They are being raped of their free will.

It's a shame that it casts a cloud over related religions and beliefs. I am not of any faith, but I do know that not all polygamists are bad people. It's just a different way of life, and there are bad people in every single walk of life, just as there are good people. The negative always gets more attention than the positive though.

A family member of mine was sexually abused as a child, and I know all too well the ramificationsof this . I just hope that the children are safe and no further harm comes to them.

Thanks for getting us to think Linda!

Amy Clare

Posted by  on April 21, 2008 1:40 AM

The polygamists have long claimed that what they did followed a previously accepted religious practice, however it is one that was outlawed for very serious and obvious reasons. The truth: This is not a romanticized cable series, it is not as they portray it on big love...children and women's rights are not just abused but mostly non-existent and crimes against them both are regular practice. Not only does it bring shame to the polygamists who do not choose a better life it brings a cloud over all mormon or LDS-based religions. It is a part of the dirty past that has been ignored for too long. I think enough is enough. Very sad that it has taken this long for it to catch everyone's attention.

Posted by  on April 20, 2008 11:14 PM

My dad is a police and he had to go help the victims.
He watched the children and helped take care of them. But what was on my mind about the conversation we had on it was that he didnt mention how horible it was (even though i think it is what they do) he told about the children and how they never ben on a playground. they took them there and he said it was amazing how they had the best time. he also told me how the children were so kind and respectful. the officers grew so attatched to them. I just thank God and still pray there all taken care of.

Posted by Chillidog3 on April 20, 2008 11:10 PM

Raided in the 50's too, same place. Hmm, pretty bad tox out there, polygamy is bad news. One man and one woman, through marriage and finding your true love and soulmate. Same age is a good idea. Hmmm, what a total tox out, TOX

Posted by  on April 20, 2008 11:03 PM

I agree with the comment above about the men being pigs. It's unfortunate that these women have to be without their children; and it's also unfortunate that these women most likely were told by men all there lives that it was ok what they were doing. so sad!

Posted by  on April 20, 2008 10:58 PM

I think it's insane.
Lawyers for the polygamists are trying to tell a judge that this is religious persecution. All I can really say is that it has been illegal for some time now, in ALL 50 states to marry a 14 year old girl. It has also been illegal in the US for anyone to be married to more than one person. These Polygamist men are just pigs.