Some of you amaze me, you think that you are above others and are able to pass judgment on them without any real facts or evidence. Not one single person here really has a clue as to what was going on inside the compound and yet you are acting as Judge, Jury and Executioner.
Lets look at what we know and dont know:
We know: Many of the men claim more than one woman as a wife.
We dont know: If the other marriages are documented by the state or if only recognized by the church.
If the marriages are only recognized by the church then no law has been broken and thus no crime commented.
We know: some men have young wives.
We dont know: the age of these wives, if any of these women under 18 are pregnant by an older man.
We dont know: if the parents consented or arranged the marriages to the older men or if the age even requires it.
We know: some young girls are pregnant.
We dont know: who the father is or his age.
We do know: that teenage pregnancy is not a new thing and that Texas is the LEADER in teen pregnancy as they have more than any other state. (Source:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110507dnmetteenbirths.35daddb.html )
We dont know: if these teens are like most of the rest of teens in the nation in their sexual curiosity.
We do know: that over 97% of teens say they do not use birth control.
We do know: these people dont believe in birth control. (the more the merrier)
We do know: the state went in based solely on an unconfirmed telephone tip.
We do know: the state is forcing innocent (have not been found guilty of anything yet) people to submit to DNA testing.
We do know: the state removed over 400 children from their homes based on the possibility that some of them may have been abused.
We do know: that over 3 million reports are made each year for child abuse and that is thought to be only 1/3 of the actual cases of abuse. (Source
http://www.childhelp.org/resources/learning-center/statistics )
We do know: every ten seconds a report of child abuse is made in the US.
We dont know: how many of the children removed were abused.
We dont know: the ratio of Children/Abuse or how it compares to the national average.
We dont know: what percent of the alleged abuse is sexual/mental/physical or who perpetrated it.
We do know: that these children have been torn from all that they know and from everyone they know and then placed with strangers.
We do know: that the Texas Foster Care System has been in trouble since 2007 and has had way too many children die in foster care. (Source:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/05/07/7foster.html )
We do know: there has not been any report child deaths related to the compound.
We do know: that trauma to a child such as this whole ordeal has a 97% chance of causing these children to become: a alcoholic, a drug addict, abuser or other criminal.
So just from what I have listed I am sorry but a sane rational person should be willing to give these folks the benefit of doubt as to whether laws have been broken until such time as charges are filed. Also these folks today who knows who tomorrow
Ok rex I will humor you with your questions:
did you force your wife to marry you? No I did not but can you prove any of them did this or is this just your speculation or do you have super ESP and just know everything about everything
was she locked up in a compound when you found her(picked her out)Nope and do you have proof this was happening? And I did pick her out
there was 3 of them I had to choose from
is [wiki=polygamy]polygamy [/wiki] still illegal in the U.S.? Yes it is but can you prove that it has taken place? You do know the definition of it right
http://www.absalom.com/mormon/polygamy/faq.htm have a look here for some good info also.
You are not talking apples and applesReally..? Other than religion how is it really any different that say Dallas or Houston? I would dare say that if you were to compare the abuse ratio of say Dallas and the compound you would be shocked.
But my main question is who the hell died and made any of you judge and jury?
As a side note let me make it clear that I personally think that any man who wants more than one wife should be allowed and vise versa if all parties are willing and I believe that he will get his just deserve when he is on his knees asking God "Why Me?". One is enough for me but I am getting older so... ya know...
And as to the age thing well I have mixed feelings as age is just a number for the most part but there are limits and maturity levels should dictate that with the oversight of the parents.
Matt