I would say that they have been treated far more "humanely" than most mothers who have their children removed for suspected abuse. They have been allowed to accompany their children. Most mothers aren't given that choice.
I would be interested to hear how you would have seen this handled more appropriately Glow. I think we agree on the outcome, maybe just not the tactics used? I'd like to better understand how you would have seen it all being handled.
I appreciate your polite response barb :blowkiss:
ok, By saying someone is "humanely" treated I think you and I agree that the women are being treated kindly and humanely now. I don't think anyone with them wants them hurt. In fact the ones helping these women and children see themselves as their "rescuers" and they very well may be in some of the cases. Telling them I am taking your child and you can come if you want leaves a woman with very few options though doesn't it?
Remember when America was a young country and civilization was pushing west? It wasn't long before the Indians were perceived as barbaric and their customs were strange and their hygiene was terrible and worst of all they didn't believe in Jesus. Most of the time they were slaughtered or driven away by the calvary. This was not deemed an immoral act because the land/country "belonged" to the government that the calvary worked for. In this mix there were also compassionate souls who wanted to "help" these Indians, bathe them, give them "decent" clothes to wear etc... basically the white man saw his way as "better" and the attempt to help was really to make the Indians more like themselves.
Well we all know how that ended.
As for this situation today. I completely understand everyone's moral outrage at young girls being impregnated against their will. But if we set that aside for one minute, what else are these people doing wrong? Well there is the polygamy some might say. It is against the law. Do we know if these people have had legal marriages or just "religious" ones? If it is the latter, then they haven't broken the law of the land, they are just "living together" in the legal sense. Also, they are not the only polygamists. I would be very surprised if the ones that were on the Oprah show last week get picked up and taken to shelters. As a matter of fact I would be willing to bet you that they will be left completely alone. So it must not be the "polygamy" aspect of all of this that is bothering people. The other thing that I think is concerning to all, is that these women live a lifestyle that offers no opportunity for change. This is the one that sparks so much sadness in all of us for them. They look so "worn" and beaten down. It makes us want to offer them something. That something is hope and options. After all America is the land of opportunity right?
But could there have been a way to do this with a little less "muscle"? Could the men who are still being "held" at the compound still have been "held" either at the compound or somewhere else completely separate from the rest of the community? They are the problem here after all. Sift through them and if some are still there who are guilty of impregnating these young girls, take them to jail. As for the other men there, who knows if the more moderate among these men could have been persuaded to come to some terms of agreement. Didn't I read that was what happened in the late 1800's with the mainstream Mormons? If it happened then it could happen again. At least the attempt could have been made.
Offer all the women and girls that are deemed in "crisis" such as the young pregnant girls AND anyone else who WANTS to leave the opportunity to do so. Don't insist. Offer.
Let the women and the small children who are definitely not in immediate danger have the choice to stay in their homes OR leave without using separation from their children to influence their choice. This would have been more quietly efficient if all we are really after here is correcting the under age sexual activity component.
If on the other hand obliterating a life style that most of us see as abhorrent and replacing it with one that more closely resembles our own is the goal, then I think everything is going according to plan.
