Questions about Colorado City

[Ranwho]

Glad to hear it. The bottom line is common sense. If an 18-20 year old boy is dating a 16-18 year girl we all know it's nothing perverted (and I'm just throwing out ages in the general range here) but a 40 plus year old man dating (marrying) a 14 year old girl is not cool, not cool at all. :>)

[jajjaaj]

I'm all for people having and living with the rights of American freedoms which include religious freedom. If having multiple wives is what they believe God meant for them, who are we to decide the value of the family institution? In some states Gay marriage is allowed, polygamy is not? I don't believe in some religions or ones choices, but by golly we should not be quick to make that decision for someone else. Where the line is drawn to religious freedom is when children and teenagers are forced into a marriage or placed in a compromising situation.

As it is, if polygamy was allowed there would be less problems with marriage licenses and name changes. They wouldn't hide these facts if the the fear of jail did not loom over them, nor would collecting welfare benefits be so easy if every member of the family could be listed legally.

But one fact is clear, the FLDS are not friendly to outsiders because they were raised to be fearful and distrustful of the outside world. Not because the outside world was reporting the news or being unjust to them. And you won't see reports of wrong doing in the polygamist communities as they believe in handling these issues quietly on their own.

Forcing a people into submission through Government intervention is not going to make things better, it will only force these people to hide deeper the issues that are the most prominent to ones safety.

Overall, we should not forget that there is child abuse, welfare abuse and other abuses that are not limited to just a few communities. It is prominent all over the country.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by jajjaaj

I'm all for people having and living with the rights of American freedoms which include religious freedom. If having multiple wives is what they believe God meant for them, who are we to decide the value of the family institution?

Using that logic, ritualistic circumcision of young girls, which is dictated in some religions, should be allowed as well. Thankfully, we have laws in this country which outlaw such barbaric traditions, and those laws should be enforced. If you don't like the laws, you can work to have them changed. Otherwise, you know where the door is.

[jajjaaj]

Whoa Kdog! LOGIC is reading the entire post. In the same paragraph you quoted me, I wrote, "Where the line is drawn to religious freedom is when children and teenagers are forced into a marriage or placed in a compromising situation." A compromising position would include abuse of any kind, including the one you mentioned.

While I appreciate your compassion and protection of the young, don't assume that everyone out there is the bad guy or that they believe in and uphold to child abuse in religious freedom or of any situation for that matter.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by jajjaaj

Whoa Kdog! LOGIC is reading the entire post. In the same paragraph you quoted me, I wrote, "Where the line is drawn to religious freedom is when children and teenagers are forced into a marriage or placed in a compromising situation." A compromising position would include abuse of any kind, including the one you mentioned.

While I appreciate your compassion and protection of the young, don't assume that everyone out there is the bad guy or that they believe in and uphold to child abuse in religious freedom or of any situation for that matter.

Whatever. So they brainwash their girls until they're legal, and then coerce them into arranged polygamous marriages. Call it what you will, but it's wrong. In most civilized societies, women do not willingly engage in polygamous marriages.

What I want to know is if LDS men have multiple wives, and the normal male/female birth ratio is 50/50, then what happens to the excess men?

[jajjaaj]

You say "Whatever" after accusing me of condoning child abuse and now you are off on another tangent? I'm sure that there are women brainwashed into marriage, but that is happening all over America, not just in the FDLS community. That being said, any abuse or coercison is just plain wrong, that was never the issue nor did I condone such in my post. It seems you are here strictly for a fight that does not exist. Please pick someone worthy of those attacks. If that is not your intention, then please take the time to read and understand the written word for what it is rather than make things up.

The issue in my post was whether polygamy should be allowed. If adults choose to be in a relationship (notice I said "adults choose"), be it gay, swingers or polygamous, or anything else for that matter, then it should remain the choice of adults, not the Government. When the Government decides who we should allow into our bedrooms and what we do there then this is no longer a free country.

I also believe you underestimate the control women have and the ability they have to think on their own. While it is true there are women forced into a polygamous situation, there are many women who firmly believe in polygamous relationships and don't need to be coerced into such a relationship. Do not assume that because you are not interested in this way of life that other women are surely being dragged to their death by being one of many wives in the same household.

On another note you mention LDS men with multiple wives. LDS men do not have multiple wives, it is the FLDS men that practice this belief. The LDS and the FLDS are 2 separate entities. Here is a little history... In the 1800s, Utah would become a part of the statehood under one condition, the polygamous sect would stop the practice of polygamy. While the majority of LDS agreed to discontinue the practice, there were a few (now known as the FLDS) that refused. They felt the Government was encroaching on a basic way of life, a life instructed and encouraged by God. And so they continued this way of life and have for over a hundred years in secret. Although now, not a secret.

As for the excess men in the "FLDS", they are ex-communicated as unworthy to live in God's community. This is a huge problem. These poor young men are forced into a society they know nothing about. Call it culture shock... like being dumped in a foreign country with no survival skills. They lose all contact with their families and end up living on the streets and/or addicted to drugs as a way to cope.

There are organizations not only helping young women who wish to leave the FLDS, but organizations helping the young men as well.

There are many excellent books and websites on the FLDS. If you truly want to make a difference (anything is better than shooting at people in the dark with accusations), I suggest becoming knowledgeable on the sect and then getting involved to help those afflicted. They will forever be grateful of your time and efforts. And believe me, action is much more rewarding than being all talk.