Polygamy scandal. Are the children in danger? What's your take on the matter?

I agree. And you know what else is sad? The media will sell newspapers and airtime because of this scandal. People like drama and this is drama in its fullest. Thanks for responding. dl

i agree with you on this, I think its sick to let men be with 12,13 and 14 yr. old girls. And if you notice anytime the news people ask the mothers about the fathers they won't answer, and try to change the subject. I feel sorry for the children tho, because they know nothing about this world, they've spent all their lives in the compound, I imagine they are scared to death. I hope someone gets the children some kind of counseling.

In fairness, I think there is probably a good side for polygamy. At least for those involved. I would hope that some people that are involved in this practice take the realistic side of it and leave the children alone. We can only hope. I dont want to fault all for the crimes of one. From what I can see the husband is the problem. He knows how to take advantage of vulnerable women. Shame on him. Thanks dl

I lived in Arizona for nearly 30 years and believe me, they won't do a thing about it. Every once in awhile someone escapes a polygamist stronghold, there are even people in AZ that help them, it hits the media and the free newspaper (NewTimes) does a story then it all fades away fairly quickly. The governor, present and past, won't do anything because of the political implications.

Don't hold your breath hoping Arizona will do anything. Everything there is political, even more than many other states.

Its really sad. I am sitting here wishing there was something I could do. As you two stated it will eventually get swept under the rug. FOr these men to have all the things they have and all of that control someones got to be doing something to these politicians so they wont look into this situation. I find it very hard to believe this is the first complaint. Its probably the first one that slipped by. Thanks dl

Well I went to john mccains website and posted a question to his site. I asked him as the candidate for all the people, not just some of the people, those are his campaign slogan words, and as a senator of Arizona why has no one stood up to help these abused and neglected children. I have not got a response, but i will ask it every week until I get one.

Its funny to think that when I was a kid, homosexuality was a big deal or inter racial dating. Now look. I am so upset that my daughter is subject to these issues on a daily basis and there is nothing we can do. Unless I lock her away. THere's a thought. lol

Good point. You want to know what's worse? The pro-"pregnant man" crowd use the same logic to justify that situation. They say "the thought of test tube babies was atrocious when it first came out, but now nobody blinks an eye at such infertility treatments." You can hardly compare the two, IMHO! It's a sick and twisted world we live in!

This sick and twisted world is only going to get worse and as a parent it is getting harder and ahrder to keep kids on the straight and narrow, but as it is my responsibility to raise my boyz with morals and decency, it will keep at it.

There was some concern about that but Texas law apparently allows police to take action if there is reasonable cause to think that children are being abused, no matter where the call came from or who made it. At least that's what they said on the evening news.

Well that is good. I just wondered how this was going to effect their case.

I think that the woman who started all this should be punished. Splash her face all over the news and let America see what a horrible person, with too much time on her hands looks like. I am sorry that these people were subject to this. However, I do think it was a blessing. Something isnt right there. You can tell just by the fact that the father never speaks out to protect the women he is supposed to be so much in love with. My biggest problem with the whole situation is the fact that some of the mothers refused to go with their children. They offered each of the moms a chance to be placed in a safe house with their children. No one ever said they had to leave forever. THis was for the duration of the investigation. I am a parent and I know I would jump at the chance. I think the women were afraid. If they went with the children, they may be harmed when they rejoin the family. Maybe they wouldnt let them rejoin. Who knows? We will never though the real goings on. I just hope the children are given a chance to dedice for themselves when, where, and with whom they want to be intimate. Thanks dl

the problem is the age that these kids were being reportedly forced into marriage that has become the issue, and in fact a couple news papers have reported that a couple of the girls lied saying that they were over 18, when in fact they were only 16...

One of the biggest challenge is trying to determine what child belongs to what mother as some live in communal homes and no one really knew who the mother really was.

Mooch

What happened was that there was a polygamist family and the husband went to jail. His brother then took over the compound in Texas. Supposedly the authorities received a phone call from a young girl named "Sarah" she stated that she was forced to marry a much older man(58) and he beat her terribly while she is pregnant. They eventually raided the compound and took the children. THe authorities offered the mothers a chance to go with their children. A few went and most went back to the compound. This is just a very broad outline of the issue. According to the rules of the compound, once a female child began her period, she was married to men outside the compound. It was said the children these relationships had were sent to the compound. When they raided the compound there were over 400 children. The male children had to leave the compound. Go to other compounds. THis was to prevent inbreeding. I am upset at the huge generalization made regarding the young females. Not everyone is as mature as one another. I dont think it should be allowed that once you menstruate, you are ready to become a wife and raise a family. Some were as young as 14 years old. I love my children and would go to hell and back for them. I dont understand the women's rationalization on leaving their children alone in state custody. They had the option to be with them until the whole mess was sorted out. I hope this helps.

You really dont get newspaper or watch television? Please share? What do you do for hobbies? You seem like a very interesting person. You are lucky. You dont have to be shocked or upset by the terrible actions of others. Your children will not have to be introduced on a daily basis to sick individuals hurting people and our resources. Thanks dl

I think that is a good possibility. It is sad. However, predators prey on the vulnerable. People that werent so pretty or popular, a victim, a person that cant get a break. It seems like they finally have succeeded. I feel for any woman that is victimized. Dont get me wrong, some may have chose the polygamist life style and to each their own. Just wait until your children are mature enough mentally, physically, and most importantly emotionally. That's all I ask.

That is a good thought. I think that could be the case. Most of those types of situations prey on the vulnerable. People play on a persons emotions. The fact is that marriage so be based on love. Not the fact that a child is finished puberty. Just a thought. Thanks dl

That is the exact problem the state now has. There is no "sara". The call was hoax. That will hurt their case. IF none of the girls are calling for help saying they are abused they are going to have a problem proving their case.

At this point I think we all realize that the call was either a hoax or the girl is not speaking out and used a fake identity. We all have seen people add fuel to the fire in cases before. When any kind of crime happens, there are always calls from people who just want to be a part of the drama for some sick reason. For me, the state may be wrong in its reasoning but I think they had something and needed a reason to investigate. We'll never know for sure. I only hope that people realize that a god of your choice would never take your free will. If you are put into a situation where the man you love and want to become one under the eyes of the lord has more than one wife, think about it and the consequences. I dont care if they marry a monkey I just think that it should be a monkey who is mature enough to understand the entire outcome. No child, because of their menstruation cycle should be given to aperson they dont even know much less love. Nothing will ever mean more to me about this situation than this fact. I am sure there are some polygamist situations that are happy and loving. This situation is not one of them. I think people need to realize that this is a case about children not polygamy. As a society when tend to want to take someones sexuality, religion, and or ethnicity over the underlying issues. I am also not saying that all mothers involved showed no emotion. I think they are a raised to accept this as the norm. I think once you become a mother, the child takes first priority. Dl

I dont care about the polygamy. I care about the choice being taken away from a child as to whether or not they want to marry. ALso not to be able to pick your husband.THis is the 21st century. Come on already. Did they honestly think every child was going to do whatever they want without rebelling? I am a parent and they are lucky a child didnt speak out long ago. I understand they are saying there is no child or phone call. THink about it? Maybe she didnt give her real name. Maybe she was calling about her sister or a friend. Whatever the reason, rumors usually evolve from a fact. dl