I'm sitting here at my computer, idle fingers and just enjoying the scenery outside my window. Sometimes I think I should have been born a cat! I am smiling while I watch Stormy pouncing around the yard with its too tall grass in search of some bug! It's one of those enchanting mornings, the grass is slightly dewy, the sun is shinking through the grass stalks and there's a playful mood out there, helped by Stormy's antics.
She just looks so healthy and pretty, what a huge change from a year ago. I wonder what her life had been like until that day at the shelter and brought her home. Carefree probably wouldn't be a word I'd use to describe it, but nowadays? Sure, and the biggest worry she has is whether she'll eat wet or dry cat food, how many bugs she'll catch, which bed she's going to sleep on, if she'll be annoyed with Sandi today - or not.
Sometimes we forget how to be so carefree, and it's not that easy to remember what that was like. Thinking about it, I'm trying to remember when the last time I felt that way. Hm.. maybe it was when Jenna and I hopped onto one of a number of roller coaster rides at Disney last October. There 's something about the excitement and thrill of a ride that you know will dance you on the edge of taking your breath away - but yet you know it's pretty safe so it's not full of fear. Ok ok so I do know that there are those rare accidents, but given the number of riders on coasters every year, that percentage is pretty darn small and it's not enough to stop me.
Carefree? I wonder if that was a word that the children from the FDLS compound would have used to describe their lives a week ago. It's hard to say because most of us aren't part of the polygamous lifestyle. This is such a complex situation which is rapidly becoming more so. Some say persecution, some say rescue the children, some say violation of rights..... I think it's a mixture of any and all the above and not. Personally, I could care less about the polygamous belief structure other than to say it's not my choice. Is it an easy one? I don't know, if a man/woman(women) consciously choose that way of living, so be it. It gets complex when there are children involved. It certainly becomes more complex when it's more about a lifestyle of submission for the woman (who consciously chooses) vs. a child born into it that doesn't get a choice.
There are so many stories of the fear that these young girls have instilled into them, and to me thats not right. Freedom to practice religion doesn't equal freedom when the children are taught that all outside of this 'house' is bad, and will damn you to hell if you "go out there". That's indoctrination, domination and the use of fear to control how another person thinks. Insulated? Yea their community is.
You know what? The Amish community lives a very insulated lifestyle as well, and they certainly are private too. But... they are not unaware of the "outside" world and yes they have those who leave - some to stay, some to return. They may disapprove of the way "outsiders" choose to live but I don't think that the brush is tarred, painting them as evil. Those that return are consciously choosing that way of living, to embrace the religious beliefs they were brought up with.
The FDLS women that have escaped (to use their often used term) speak of the fear that either kept them there, or the fear of the "outside" world and their inability to cope with it which sends them back. I don't know, but I watch the interviews of some of the women, and am struck by their lack of education, their fear, their submissiveness. What REALLY strikes me is that I'm not seeing too many of the men speaking out. Why? Is it that it's their hope that seeing weak, scared women pleading for their children will tug on the heartstrings of others? Where are these fathers? I wonder how many of them KNOW their children? I wonder if some of these fathers even know half these kids' names much less their birthdates. Hmm.. lets say one of these men has 5 wives, and each one produces 8-9 kids, thats 40 plus children per one man.
Wow. I'd be hard pressed to remember all their names/birthdates... seems like a cattle call to me.
How much of this renegade Mormon sect is about mind control, domination, teen brides vs practice of simple polygamous beliefs? I don't know enough about this sect to speak at depth but I do wonder.
Texas of course is now in a rather unique position... was it about persecution? Don't think so, they've been there quite some time peacefully, not bothering anyone. But.. when there's a phone call from a minor asking for help, there IS the obligation of the state to check that out. Combined with the attitudes of the polygamists of privacy and secrecy, changing answers... I think that the investigators felt compelled to do what they thought was right for the girls/children.
Now amendment rights of these people - or violations of - are being called into question and to a large extent, rightfully so. The balance between the various rights of the individuals in the FDLS vs protecting children/abuse of minors is very thin. I did read a comment on one of the news reports where there is now discussion inside the FDLS talking about a ban on marriage for girls younger than 18. Smart move I think....
I'm sure more will follow as this continues to unfold.
