I have felt very bothered by the recent events surrounding the polygamist ranch in Texas. I was never aware polygamy was still relevant on such a large scale. As of Friday, the 416 children that were taken into custody by the state of Texas are still in custody and blood tests have been ordered for every child to determine their biological parents. This whole case has drawn attention to more than the possibility of sexual abuse of young children within the church. The lives of young people growing up in communities like the Texas ranch are entirely controlled.
I was watching The Today Show Friday morning and Meredith Vieira was interviewing two boys and a couple who took them in after they had been shunned by their communities. "The lost boys," or young men I should say, talked about how they were not allowed to watch TV, listen to music, or have any contact with the outside world. When they did, they were kicked out of their communities, rejected by their families, and like many in their situation, turned to substance abuse. The Today Show later discussed that many boys are shunned from their communities because there are simply not enough women to go around. When each man has an average of three wives, the circle of available females shrinks. To see the interview from The Today Show,click here.
The whole story is a complete nightmare. American is one of few countries that truly embraces religious freedom, but this is one of those instances that definitely pushes the envelope. I imagine that I am not the only one who feels poorly educated about anything having to do with Mormonism and particular sects of the church. I read somewhere that polygamy is practiced because it is a way to reach a higher level of heaven. I know there must be more to the justification of polygamy, but I will admit that I am completely vulnerable to anything the media reports about ranch, ready to believe whatever I read and watch.
Does anyone have thoughts about the coverage?
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