I don't usually comment about unpleasant things on this blog, but I cannot help it. The whole FLDS debacle has me quite upset.
I should be used to injustice in this world by now, but no matter how blase I may become, it is never enough. I've been reading the well thought out posts from The Common Room regarding the raid on the FLDS compound in Texas since it began on April 3rd. If there is one thing for certain, it is that US parents, perhaps in the back of their consciousness, are always aware of the power of the State, a la "1984" power. It is documented that one false move, one bruise out of place, one innocent comment to a teacher or other government figure that is misconstrued can bring the whole lumbering, squint-eyed, bumbling and inept "system" down on parents in two seconds flat. And from that point on, life is never the same. You are guilty until proven innocent, your children are seized and you are a criminal until proven otherwise. Meantime, the giant bottomless pit of Child Protective Services in any given area suck up the child and spit him or her out in any number of perilous places. If the government makes a mistake? Tough luck. Maybe, after two or more years of grinding through the system, they finally decide the parent didn't actually do anything wrong. By that time, the child is forever changed, perhaps even raped or dead from his time in the "system", and the lives of the family are forever damaged. Don't believe these statistics? Read this blog entry complete with back-up links to corroborate data.
I'm hoping, but not sure, that sometimes this system does actually save children from abuse, does actually give them a chance at a better life. Perhaps it does and I've only read about the mistakes, which leads me to the latest mistake. The seizure of women and children at the FLDS ranch in Texas.
If, indeed, it is believed that men have abused young girls there, then perhaps it is THEM that should have been seized? However, right from the beginning, this is a thinly veiled attempt to get rid of a religious compound that makes the locals uncomfortable. It is religious persecution and not "for the children" after all.
The whole invasion was launched from a now proven hoax phone call. The woman who made the fake phone call, claiming to be a young abused FLDS girl who was afraid of her 50 year old husband, has been arrested. She has done this before. So - what do we have? The original complaint was false, so perhaps the government should just apologize and send everyone back home. But if there is another thing I am sure of, once the giant, creaky wheels of government roll forward, they all but cannot be stopped. They WILL continue on, way behind the rush of facts to the contrary, to prosecute "justice" and roll over those poor souls who have been targeted.
As of today, there are upwards of 430 children and untold numbers of agonized mothers whose lives have been marred forever. The damage done to date cannot be undone and will only be compounded as the juggernaut of state rolls relentlessly on.
We are supposed to have religious freedom in this country, but it is tenuous at best. Do not, under any circumstances, bring the Great Eye of government to bear upon you, keep your head under the radar, or you too could be targeted for correction. Unless, of course, you are Muslim. Then, it is not only alright to do whatever it takes to practice your religion, including polygamy, child abuse and honor killings, it is the government's self-appointed job to bend over backward to make the Muslim comfortable as he does so. I am very afraid for homeschoolers, afraid that they may be next. Hopefully, because there are so many, it will be too much for the State to bite off. I am so glad that I have already raised my daughter, and at present, she does not have any children. This is not a good time for children in the US.
If you want lots of intelligent coverage of this event from it's inception, go to The Common Room. In addition, here is a link for photos and videos of the FLDS debacle. Also, here is an editorial from the Houston Chronicle that also agrees the wrong people are being punished.
I do want to make the disclaimer that I do not support polygamy, however, I DO support freedom of religion and due process of law. If there is abuse, then the logical thing to do is to arrest the perpetrator, no matter what religion he may be, and proceed legally, treating him as innocent until proven guilty. Once the alleged abuser is removed from the area of the abused, the abused should be able to continue their life unhindered and unpunished any further.
If you want to start or join a cult that has isolated itself in a self-contained community, then that is your right. If the law is broken there, then legal procedure should be followed, as it would be anywhere else. This has not been done at the FLDS compound. Not at all.
I should be used to injustice in this world by now, but no matter how blase I may become, it is never enough. I've been reading the well thought out posts from The Common Room regarding the raid on the FLDS compound in Texas since it began on April 3rd. If there is one thing for certain, it is that US parents, perhaps in the back of their consciousness, are always aware of the power of the State, a la "1984" power. It is documented that one false move, one bruise out of place, one innocent comment to a teacher or other government figure that is misconstrued can bring the whole lumbering, squint-eyed, bumbling and inept "system" down on parents in two seconds flat. And from that point on, life is never the same. You are guilty until proven innocent, your children are seized and you are a criminal until proven otherwise. Meantime, the giant bottomless pit of Child Protective Services in any given area suck up the child and spit him or her out in any number of perilous places. If the government makes a mistake? Tough luck. Maybe, after two or more years of grinding through the system, they finally decide the parent didn't actually do anything wrong. By that time, the child is forever changed, perhaps even raped or dead from his time in the "system", and the lives of the family are forever damaged. Don't believe these statistics? Read this blog entry complete with back-up links to corroborate data.
I'm hoping, but not sure, that sometimes this system does actually save children from abuse, does actually give them a chance at a better life. Perhaps it does and I've only read about the mistakes, which leads me to the latest mistake. The seizure of women and children at the FLDS ranch in Texas.
If, indeed, it is believed that men have abused young girls there, then perhaps it is THEM that should have been seized? However, right from the beginning, this is a thinly veiled attempt to get rid of a religious compound that makes the locals uncomfortable. It is religious persecution and not "for the children" after all.
The whole invasion was launched from a now proven hoax phone call. The woman who made the fake phone call, claiming to be a young abused FLDS girl who was afraid of her 50 year old husband, has been arrested. She has done this before. So - what do we have? The original complaint was false, so perhaps the government should just apologize and send everyone back home. But if there is another thing I am sure of, once the giant, creaky wheels of government roll forward, they all but cannot be stopped. They WILL continue on, way behind the rush of facts to the contrary, to prosecute "justice" and roll over those poor souls who have been targeted.
As of today, there are upwards of 430 children and untold numbers of agonized mothers whose lives have been marred forever. The damage done to date cannot be undone and will only be compounded as the juggernaut of state rolls relentlessly on.
We are supposed to have religious freedom in this country, but it is tenuous at best. Do not, under any circumstances, bring the Great Eye of government to bear upon you, keep your head under the radar, or you too could be targeted for correction. Unless, of course, you are Muslim. Then, it is not only alright to do whatever it takes to practice your religion, including polygamy, child abuse and honor killings, it is the government's self-appointed job to bend over backward to make the Muslim comfortable as he does so. I am very afraid for homeschoolers, afraid that they may be next. Hopefully, because there are so many, it will be too much for the State to bite off. I am so glad that I have already raised my daughter, and at present, she does not have any children. This is not a good time for children in the US.
If you want lots of intelligent coverage of this event from it's inception, go to The Common Room. In addition, here is a link for photos and videos of the FLDS debacle. Also, here is an editorial from the Houston Chronicle that also agrees the wrong people are being punished.
I do want to make the disclaimer that I do not support polygamy, however, I DO support freedom of religion and due process of law. If there is abuse, then the logical thing to do is to arrest the perpetrator, no matter what religion he may be, and proceed legally, treating him as innocent until proven guilty. Once the alleged abuser is removed from the area of the abused, the abused should be able to continue their life unhindered and unpunished any further.
If you want to start or join a cult that has isolated itself in a self-contained community, then that is your right. If the law is broken there, then legal procedure should be followed, as it would be anywhere else. This has not been done at the FLDS compound. Not at all.
1 comment:
Very well said, kiddo. Proud of you!
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