April 22, 2008

We all have cause to worry

Perhaps it is because I'm fully immersed in my new favorite book (which I hope there's some grassroots movement in the LDS Church I can join that wants to adopt it as canon), "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, that I am feeling an extra amount of gratitude for this Nation of Freedoms these past couple of days.
It may be, then, that what I am reading is also cause for the outrage and violent nausea I am also feeling regarding the gross abuse of power by the state of Texas and Judge Walther in the raid on the FLDS ranch and the courts decision to remove over 430 children from their parents. Or maybe this is just something that is horribly wrong and needs to be dealt with, and the good book I'm reading is unfortunately lumped together with this post.
I really don't have the right words to explain how I feel, but to try and make my point without going on forever:
If we are to continue down this slippery path, every time some sicko scout-master or priest goes and touches some little boy or girl, it will now be the state of Texas' (and soon, the whole nation's) obligation to go and remove all the children in the neighborhood of the offense. Parents have no rights anymore. The State knows what's best for your kids, and God has no part in that. People who believe in God are weird and not to be trusted. Wait, that's just Christians.
Good bloggers out there will take note that I have appropriately labeled this under "Rants."

6 comments:

Wyatt said...

And on that note, queue the music. See look what you've done to me Jim.

While there is some truth to what you say, I feel that the Government has never told me what to buy, say or do with my child. I wish they would because it's really hard to understand what goo doo blah smahaa means.

Also while removing the children in Texas may not have been the best choice for everyone. If it is a fight between children's perceived state of being and societies definition of child abuse. I'll put my money on society and child abuse.

If something is difficult is bad for you?

Anonymous said...

I think the state of Texas and the judge were wrong in the way they handled it. It was totally lacking in sensitivity and good judgement. However, I feel the children are suffering from abuse of one form or another. Being denied an education that teaches true principles and facts, giving them only what they (the leaders of the sect) want the children to know, is a dangerous form of abuse.

The physical and sexual forms which have been documented are serious and need to be dealt with seriously. However, I feel that in not identifying the young lady who phoned in the original complaint (and subsequently is suspected of being a crazy woman), then going in to the compound with nothing more than a suspicion violates their constitutional rights. Yeah, they suck. They're weird. They need "divine" judgement, but only when the facts are confirmed. We are a people who believe in the laws of the land. Do we switch sides when it's convenient? I don't think so.

SalGal said...

I read about those people, and not in the news. I read the first-hand account of a woman who escaped from their grips five years ago.

Those children were screwed the moment they were born. They're condemned to a horrible existence by being born to their "parents" there, and they're further ruined by being "rescued" by the state of Texas.

This particular situation is not about the government telling these people how to raise their children.

The FLDS may have started out innocent enough, but no more. What's happened in the last 30+ years is an abhorration of what they were once taught. Before, they were just peculiar like some other religions I know. It has devolved into something else altogether.

Sorry for the incomplete thought, but in choosing the lesser of two evils, Texas made the right choice.

Jim said...

Look, if they are breaking the law, fine - that's all well and good to punish. If they're operating within the law, and you and I don't like what they're doing, then go change the law! I'm trying to point out that it's a very quick jump from singling out the "weirdos" to having your own freedoms taken.

Becca said...

Just a thought...
I agree it sucks to take kids away from their mothers, I know i would freak, HOWEVER - consider that these children are in sadistic, emotionless home environments (ie holding babies under water & continually slapping babies to get them to stop crying, or how mothers are not allowed to hug their own children. Any doubts, read "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop, or watch Secret Lives of Women - Polygamy, & hear firsthand accounts from several women & men of their lives there, also watch Larry King's interview with the polygamy women & see how they are completely unable to think or talk for themselves. Also take into account my cousin who is a lost boy, estranged from his mother, my aunt because he was kicked out. Anyway, just a thought.

Jim said...

Look...I don't know why I continue to play devil's advocate here, but the State of Utah just came out with the statistic that 3% of girls ages 15-19 in Utah are or have been pregnant. Compare this with the FLDS compound state which was at (roughly) 11% for girls 14-17. Does this mean that soon the State of Utah should come and take all our kids away, everywhere?
Also, I want to point out how both of these statistics are misleading, since the legal age one can be married in Texas is 17, and I don't know if the Utah stat counted legally married teens either.
Please don't get me wrong here! I want child abusers to pay a great price for what they do, and agree with all of you who have noted how disgusting the practices of Jeff's people are. I'm not making that point, and if you think I am, you need to back and re-read what I have written.