Wishy Washy
I watched the Dateline NBC last night which featured an excerpt on the Zion Ranch, a compound in the Texas countryside that is home to hundreds of members of the FLDS, or fundamentalist latter day saints, otherwise known as extreme mormons who practice polygamy. I have to say that my heart is breaking for these mothers and children. While I do believe that polygamy is wrong, and not God’s plan for the way we should live as New Testament christians my heart still aches simply as a mother for these women who have had their children taken from their homes. I can’t speak for the conditions that they were living in, only time will tell what was happening there. I’m pretty sure there are “child brides” and girls being impregnated by men twice their age (or more) before they are 18, and for that I’m grateful that they are taken. I’m glad that Warren Jeff’s is removed from it all and put in prison, as I do believe he’s a creep and a pervert. Obviously anyone living there under his rule and supporting him is also a creep and a pervert, but I just couldn’t help myself when I saw these women coming off of buses and vans without their children and their hearts ripped out. I immediately could sense their distress at the thought of not even knowing where exactly their children were. I think that was the biggest thing that bothered me. They were served no papers, had no record of where their children were, just some information sent home about how to be a better parent and what to do to escape abuse. The children, all ages from 0 to 17 were removed. My heart especially ached for the woman whose husband only had one wife, and together they had 7 children, 6 boys and 1 daughter. They showed pictures of her young daughter who was no more than 2 years old and she talked about how attached her daughter was to her mommy, and I was sad for that little girl. Also, having 6 siblings, it is unlikely that they were placed all together, they were probably split into groups. I’m very curious to know how the Texas state foster care system is handling a sudden addition of 400+ children to the system. And I fear for all of the horror stories you hear about abuse in foster care, and you wonder if there’s going to be children who would have been better left at the compound. It’s a very scary situation. I don’t really believe that removing all the children was the wrong thing to do, although I’m not entirely sure it was the right thing to do either. The mothers were given the option of going to a state provided women’s care home/shelter, which they’d have the opportunity to see their children at some point and however vague, I think if it were me I would have done that. Some of the women expressed distrust with the state and decided they wanted to go home to their husbands, but about 40 women chose to stay.
What do you think about the state removing all these kids? Do you think it was the right thing? I guess they are also taking DNA samples of every child and ever adult at the compound, to find out which children belong to whom. That will tell if there has been underage children giving birth to babies belonging to 50yr old men. It will also tell if the children are even living with their actual parents, as there are rumors saying that some women don’t even know who their real children are. Time will tell what will happen!
Gotta run, baby hungry!!!
Oh my god—pregnant seventeen year olds!! And 16 and 15!!!
I thought the Texas authorites said these people raped children. Where are the stats on 13 and younger? Isn’t that what led to the raid?
If they took the kids away from every member of a type of group which has pregnant young ladies aged 17, would catholics be allowed to have kids? How about blacks? I know whites have pregnant teenagers. How about the Joooooooz. I know they have pregnant teenagers. Let’s take away the kids of the Jooooooooooz.
PT - I don’t think the horror of the situation is that young women are getting pregnant, but they it may be getting pregnant against their will. What 15 year old can make an informed and level headed decision to get married and have babies? None I know.
MKM - Um, they removed the wrong group of people. They should have removed the MEN who are causing the problem. The mothers and the children aren’t the people who should be punished in this. The whole situation just makes me sick.
I’ve stopped watching coverage of this. If I bleed to death inside for all the causes out there in the world I will not have energy or emotions left for MY life.
I’m thinking what will I do if I am in charge and have to make a decision what to do with all this mess? Where to start?
Poor mothers are brainwashed and will brainwash their children that that’s OK, they are “serving God”, “walking in obedience according to His will” as “prophet says”.
Here is a good question: what to do to save young and unexperienced from following their mother’s path?
Separating from the source of brainwashing is the first step, and as cruel as it seems, it will help some of the girls.
Psychologically, abused mothers will teach their daughters to tolerate abuse, brainwashed by false believes will brainwash their children and teach them to do everything to please their teachers they submit themselves to at one point.
A Goos question is: will somebody present the Truth to them?
Their mothers are deceived, but will foster parents tell them the real will of God and present His mercy?
Plain Truth - I think as Kait said the problem is not that they are pregnant, it is that they are pregnant by men twice their age or more. And that they were likely impregnated/”married” against their will. The problem of teenage pregnancy is rampant everywhere, however they are often impregnated by 16yr old boys, not 40yr old men. Ick.
Thanks Lucy for your comment!
Whoa, I’ve missed a lot of your blogging. I’m impressed that you don’t have “Mom” brain and can write such a stimulating blog.
I can’t imagine being where those Mom’s are emotionally. As wrong as I think their lives are, they are so brainwashed. I just feel sad for the people who have been born into it and haven’t really had a choice. It’s obvious to us what’s going on, but I’m sure it’s not to them. I didn’t see the special, but I’m sure a lot of the wives have no clue what normal is…hence the terrible dresses and hairstyles
Lucy - I never thought of that. But wouldn’t a better solution be to help the mothers get better (if they chose) and if they don’t THEN take their kids? ::shrugs:: It’s just a thought. I guess I’d be devastated if my daughter was taken away from me because of something that I had been taught and didn’t know any different about.