You have been 'lanched.

http://instapundit.com/archives2/018029.php

As sad as it may be, I venture a guess that 'we' see Mormons as 'real' Americans. That is, Mormonism was founded in this country and its tenets were decided by people who had grown up in its culture. Islam comes from a different part of the world with a different culture.

I would say that is the most likely reason people are more shocked by one than the other.

A double standard on polygamy? Um, of course. Double standards on everything, forever! Don't you know that only Western whites are capable of real evil?

Maybe it's the "compound" that is the real problem more than polygamy.

It would be much harder to abuse kids if they lived in more normal surroundings instead of in a compound.

Texas CPS should issue a cell phone to every member of that community old enough to use one and call each one regularly to get reports of what is going on in the reconstituted community.

And yet many of the most vocal critics of polygamy are supporters of gay marriage. Polygyny and polyandry are a lot more natural than gay marriage. It's just assumed, of course, that a widdle woman couldn't possibly decide for herself to enter into such a relationship freely (usual Marxist oppressor-oppressed dichotomy horsehocky here).

And yet many of the most vocal critics of polygamy are supporters of gay marriage. Polygyny and polyandry are a lot more natural than gay marriage. It's just assumed, of course, that a widdle woman couldn't possibly decide for herself to enter into such a relationship freely (usual Marxist oppressor-oppressed dichotomy horsehocky here).

darelf:

Yes. Well. It's one thing to be shocked by an exotic lifestyle. It's another to decide, after deliberate consideration, that equal justice under the law is dispensable and an identical practice should be treated differently depending on who practices it. I for one fail to understand why polygamy, when practiced by Mormons, requires state sanctions and seizure of children, while polygamy, when practiced by Muslims, is rewarded with welfare benefits paid to the same "family" for each wife the man has. The situation in Texas is appalling, and I think the social workers there in charge of this awful action should be shut down--pronto.

I'm not seeing it. I see people bring up the polygamy thing with Muslims, as a negative, all the time.

By the way, Mormons aren't the only ones in this country who practice this. Here's a link to a prominent fundamentalist Christian site. There are a number of fundamentalist Christian sects who practice polygamy.

Maybe it's the "compound" that is the real problem more than polygamy.

It would be much harder to abuse kids if they lived in more normal surroundings instead of in a compound.

Texas CPS should issue a cell phone to every member of that community old enough to use one and call each one regularly to get reports of what is going on in the reconstituted community.

It is difficult to accept the premise that Mormonism is an expression of American culture. During the decades after the founding of the Mormon church, they were rejected quite vehemntly by the American culture of their time, resulting in their corporate decision to move outside the USA. It is only recently (since the 90's)that we see them acheiving any credibility with the American people. This raises the question of why. Are the Mormons doing something different? Or is it due to the postmoderninsm of America and a collective movement away from concern for the importance of truth in religion?

Personally, I think that this controversy over polygamy opens the door to a serious question for the American nation. How are we going to deal with a religion such as Islam or Mormonism that espouses values quite different from American ones? Generally speaking, in the case of Mormonism, that question was answered by the Supreme Court, and American culture won. We have yet to see what will happen with Islam.

I think Islam and American culture are incompatible. I prefer free speech, free press and free religion. Let's just say I prefer freedom to the slavery of Islam.

I'm not seeing it. I see people bring up the polygamy thing with Muslims, as a negative, all the time.

By the way, Mormons aren't the only ones in this country who practice this. Here's a link to a prominent fundamentalist Christian site. There are a number of fundamentalist Christian sects who practice polygamy. Yet you don't hear much about them either. Why, do you suppose?

As we saw during the Republican primary, Mormons are fair game for public ridicule. I would guess a large part of that willingness comes from Mormonism's classification as a denomination of Christianity in this particular context, a religion which everyone can mock or defame without worry. That isn't to say that polygamist cults don't deserve harsh scorn, I'm just noting how much easier it is to launch the attacks because of the religion that those renegade nutter Mormons can be tenuously connected to. Even polygamist Muslims fall under the umbrella of minority groups that you can't criticize or scrutinize at all without being labeled a bigot. So look forward to many more years of breathlessly reported exposes on the polygamist Mormons while the MSM ignores the behavior in other religious groups as well as the terrorist threat in this country at large.

As we saw during the Republican primary, Mormons are fair game for public ridicule. I would guess a large part of that willingness comes from Mormonism's classification as a denomination of Christianity in this particular context, a religion which everyone can mock or defame without worry. That isn't to say that polygamist cults don't deserve harsh scorn, I'm just noting how much easier it is to launch the attacks because of the religion that those renegade nutter Mormons can be tenuously connected to. Even polygamist Muslims fall under the umbrella of minority groups that you can't criticize or scrutinize at all without being labeled a bigot. So look forward to many more years of breathlessly reported exposes on the polygamist Mormons while the MSM ignores the behavior in other religious groups as well as the terrorist threat in this country at large.

They can start by raiding here.

Since the FLDS has been around in its current form for about 80 years, I don't think the issue is just people's negative views of polygamy. In fact, that they've existed in the same county in Utah, and actually expanded to El Dorado, might suggest that people never really cared that much to begin with.

Until they start with the kid-touching, of course. Which seems to be the issue you all are missing, here.

As we saw during the Republican primary, Mormons are fair game for public ridicule. I would guess a large part of that willingness comes from Mormonism's classification as a denomination of Christianity in this particular context, a religion which everyone can mock or defame without worry. That isn't to say that polygamist cults don't deserve harsh scorn, I'm just noting how much easier it is to launch the attacks because of the religion that those renegade nutter Mormons can be tenuously connected to. Even polygamist Muslims fall under the umbrella of minority groups that you can't criticize or scrutinize at all without being labeled a bigot. So look forward to many more years of breathlessly reported exposes on the polygamist Mormons while the MSM ignores the behavior in other religious groups as well as the terrorist threat in this country at large.

They can start by raiding here.

As we saw during the Republican primary, Mormons are fair game for public ridicule. I would guess a large part of that willingness comes from Mormonism's classification as a denomination of Christianity in this particular context, a religion which everyone can mock or defame without worry. That isn't to say that polygamist cults don't deserve harsh scorn, I'm just noting how much easier it is to launch the attacks because of the religion that those renegade nutter Mormons can be tenuously connected to. Even polygamist Muslims fall under the umbrella of minority groups that you can't criticize or scrutinize at all without being labeled a bigot. Some lazy Friday morning hypothesizing for you. So look forward to many more years of breathlessly reported exposes on the polygamist Mormons while the MSM ignores the behavior in other religious groups as well as the terrorist threat in this country at large.

Beyond that, the "compound" image also does wonders for media coverage. Everyone wants to cover weirdos when they all gather in one convenient place.

Since the FLDS has been around in its current form for about 80 years, I don't think the issue is just people's negative views of polygamy. In fact, that they've existed in the same county in Utah, and actually expanded to El Dorado, might suggest that people never really cared that much to begin with.

Until they start with the kid-touching, of course. Which seems to be the issue you all are missing, here.

It is my studied opinion that ANY man who would have more than one wife at a time is certifiably koo-koo.

Apparently, it is OK for Noah or Heather to have two mommies, but only if they are homosexual.

Please be more accurate in your distinctions.

First of all, the name "Mormon" is a distinct word that has acquired secondary meaning and refers to the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Secondly, the "Mormons" have not practiced Polygamy for over 100 years. And because the Mormon church is globally heirarchical, the 15 leaders in Salt Lake set the doctrine and practices for the entire church worldwide. Mormons, therefore, do not have the same spectral spread in doctrine and practices that Evangelicals, Baptists, or Muslims do. Therefore, there is no such thing as a “fundamentalist Mormon” – you can’t get more fundamental than the 15 leaders that set doctrine.

Furthermore, the church’s name, “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” and the word “Mormon” are registered trademarks owned by the Salt Lake based church, used in commerce since 1838 (which gives them common law trademark rights since them) and hence the Texas compound and other spin-offs that use those terms in their names are infringing on the LDS Church’s trademarks and causing a lot of confusion.

But your blog is also causing confusion. The mark of a good blog is accurate facts, and retractions or corrections when that is pointed out.

Please make a more accurate distinction. Since around the the late 1800s or early 1900s, any Mormon that practices polygamy was or is promptly excommunicated, and ceases to be a “Mormon”.

There's no need to speculate as to how Muslims would be treated... in NYC when a Muslim openly admitted polygamy to the citywide NY1 tv channel nothing happened, even though polygamy is a felony under state law. See the entry with details here:

http://angrynyker.blogspot.com/2008/03/shame-on-bloomberg-schumer-and-rest-we.html

Let the raghead son-of-a-bitches try it in Texas.

This situation brings up several larger points.

1) Terrorism WORKS. The majority will deplore the actions of a few members of a relatively harmless religion while accepting, and even rationalizing, the violent acts of another. Fear trumps civic morality. The LDS are a safe target for outrage, while those who fly planes into buildings, or behead outsiders, or blow up their own children with car bombs are "oppressed freedom fighters" who must be "understood".

2) Most people have never developed an internal ethos or morality. They tend to listen to leaders or other members of a group they wish to associate with. This leads to "Clarence Thomas bad, Bill Clinton good", or Bill Clinton bad, David Vitter good". One must look inside and decide your own code of ethics. Don't listen to anyone else, especially me.

3) As a libertarian, how the hell did my marriage become the government's business? This is the same sort of "Big Brother" that requires flower arrangers to be licensed here in Louisiana. Has anyone suffered injury or death from a less than tasteful flower arrangement?

4) As a husband, I do not understand polygamy, but I appreciate it. I mean, damn, it's hard enough with one wife. If someone is so capable to handle more than one, they're better than me.

This situation brings up several larger points.

1) Terrorism WORKS. The majority will deplore the actions of a few members of a relatively harmless religion while accepting, and even rationalizing, the violent acts of another. Fear trumps civic morality. The LDS are a safe target for outrage, while those who fly planes into buildings, or behead outsiders, or blow up their own children with car bombs are "oppressed freedom fighters" who must be "understood".

2) Most people have never developed an internal ethos or morality. They tend to listen to leaders or other members of a group they wish to associate with. This leads to "Clarence Thomas bad, Bill Clinton good", or Bill Clinton bad, David Vitter good". One must look inside and decide your own code of ethics. Don't listen to anyone else, especially me.

3) As a libertarian, how the hell did my marriage become the government's business? This is the same sort of "Big Brother" that requires flower arrangers to be licensed here in Louisiana. Has anyone suffered injury or death from a less than tasteful flower arrangement?

4) As a husband, I do not understand polygamy, but I appreciate it. I mean, damn, it's hard enough with one wife. If someone is so capable to handle more than one, they're better than me.

This situation brings up several larger points.

1) Terrorism WORKS. The majority will deplore the actions of a few members of a relatively harmless religion while accepting, and even rationalizing, the violent acts of another. Fear trumps civic morality. The LDS are a safe target for outrage, while those who fly planes into buildings, or behead outsiders, or blow up their own children with car bombs are "oppressed freedom fighters" who must be "understood".

2) Most people have never developed an internal ethos or morality. They tend to listen to leaders or other members of a group they wish to associate with. This leads to "Clarence Thomas bad, Bill Clinton good", or Bill Clinton bad, David Vitter good". One must look inside and decide your own code of ethics. Don't listen to anyone else, especially me.

3) As a libertarian, how the hell did my marriage become the government's business? This is the same sort of "Big Brother" that requires flower arrangers to be licensed here in Louisiana. Has anyone suffered injury or death from a less than tasteful flower arrangement?

4) As a husband, I do not understand polygamy, but I appreciate it. I mean, damn, it's hard enough with one wife. If someone is so capable to handle more than one, they're better than me.

Here's what I simply don't understand:

A man can have a wife and a half-dozen mistresses, fathering children on all of them, and so long as he provides a modicum support for the kids (& only if the mother demands it), the law bats nary an eye - - and most of society likewise declares this a personal choice made by adults.

Should he choose to marry the same women, formalizing his intent to support, he's legally a felon and morally a pervert, according to law and Mrs. Grundy.

Similarly, a pregnant 16-year-old is an expression of personal choice and privacy that the girl's parents and the law have only limited power to interfere with... providing that the girl in question limited herself to a mate who is too young to provide support.

Have we as a society really thought through what end results we seem to be advocating for, based on the logical conclusions of our policies? (Hollow laugh)

This situation brings up several larger points.

1) Terrorism WORKS. The majority will deplore the actions of a few members of a relatively harmless religion while accepting, and even rationalizing, the violent acts of another. Fear trumps civic morality. The LDS are a safe target for outrage, while those who fly planes into buildings, or behead outsiders, or blow up their own children with car bombs are "oppressed freedom fighters" who must be "understood".

2) Most people have never developed an internal ethos or morality. They tend to listen to leaders or other members of a group they wish to associate with. This leads to "Clarence Thomas bad, Bill Clinton good", or Bill Clinton bad, David Vitter good". One must look inside and decide your own code of ethics. Don't listen to anyone else, especially me.

3) As a libertarian, how the hell did my marriage become the government's business? This is the same sort of "Big Brother" that requires flower arrangers to be licensed here in Louisiana. Has anyone suffered injury or death from a less than tasteful flower arrangement?

4) As a husband, I do not understand polygamy, but I appreciate it. I mean, damn, it's hard enough with one wife. If someone is so capable to handle more than one, they're better than me.

If the FDLS were larger and much more intimidating, they would be treated with the nearer same standard as Muslims.

To me the biggest problem with the FLDS cult is the way the boys are thrown out of the group as they reach puberty. If that doesnt demonstrate unfitness as a parent, I dont know what does.

Please be careful to make a distinction when using the term "Mormon." This might be helpful: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9OqdOM9udv4

Watch some of the many interviews with women who grew up in the FDLS compounds & left.. "escaped" is more accurate. These men do not "handle" having multiple wives, they rule with intimidation and by playing them against each other, and by threatening each woman's kids if they do not go along and "be sweet." Plus, if someone is raised inside that group, they are also taught that all outsiders are dangerous & evil, "of the devil."

Sadly, even members of today's "modern" Mormon church are similarly taught not to trust the input of outsiders.

They may be living more exposed to modern society, but mind-control techniques and heavy pressure to conform and fear are part of their program.

Those who join as adults very often leave the Mormon church once they see the patterns, but those who grow up in it often are too deeply influenced to be objective.

Not so different than Catholic or Jewish "guilt" or teachings of "exclusivity" and being "chosen" somehow by God.. Evangelicals get on the same band wagon..

But, besides the teachings of "how great our religion is vs everybody else" there is also a horrible element of how "wrong everybody else is" and "they are not going to heaven, poor misguided souls" and "we must save them!"

Yeah, well.. come to think about it.. many religions seem to be carrying on that same theme. Ugh!

Would it be too much to assume that any religion that requires its' members to wear particular clothing is probably going over the line in mental influence?

And, every time you see someone wearing way too much cloth for one body, something crazy is going on?

Women do not just normally WANT to share a husband: in every harem or polygamist household, there is tons of discord between the women, and tons of jealousy.

They are just taught that their jealousies and resentments are "evil" and "inspired by Satan."

How is that for a nice control mechanism for men?

And, all of such religions are completely run by men.

Like most.

How is that for a clue about who makes the rules, and who obeys the rules? Hmmm!

When your whole world obeys certain rules, growing up as a child you just try to fit in & accept the way things appear to be. It is not the same as making a true "choice."

When making a different choice will result in rejection by your family and your social group, the pressure is on.

Even if the lifestyle is unhealthy, it is what you know.

Listen to the women who left the FLDS. They say shocking things, not even seeming to realize just how shocking their memories are, including WATERBOARDING BABIES & beating them to "break their spirit" and "make them fear their fathers" at an age before memory!

Dig into this before you call it simple religious choice!

Texas may be bungling, but this needs to be stopped!

As has been pointed out, Mormons and the LDS church are synonymous and only historically, but not doctrinally or organizationally, related to the FLDS church. The latter is not practicing polygamy as a fully consensual relationship between adults; rather, they are highly abusive relationships where adult men basically act as thugs. Unfortunately, all too often the adult wives facilitate this.

(People may wonder why this isn't prosecuted more often; it's very difficult to prosecute when nobody will testify. This is partly due to the brainwashing these young girls receive growing up, but also because the leaders of the fundamentalist sects are very dangerous men who have killed and will continue to kill anyone who threatens them.)

Polygyny is an excessively vulnerable state for women and children. That some women are comfortable, or even desirous of that state does not change that.

What the government should be allowing and forbidding is another matter. I have some sympathy with the libertarian idea that indivduals should be able to make their own choices, but ultimately find it falls short. All societies define what they consider to be a real marriage and what falls outside those bounds. Groups may make different rules, but there is no default "no rules" on this earth. The decision thus becomes which rules we shall have. For this reason gay marriage, polygamy, child marriage, temporary marriage, and all the variations should each be considered independently, and not considered precedent-setting for each other. Alas, that will not be the case.

He was diggin' the 70s, with polyester fashion and pink Cadillacs:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/Pictures/june07/210607binladenfamily.jpg

We are aware, right, that even in the UK, 40% of Muslims marry first cousins, so if some of his brothers look like clones, they in some sense, literally are.

Anyone paying attention to the FLDS prosecutions knows that the issue is child rape and child abuse, not polygamy per se.

So no, there is no double standard.

Of course, any opportunity to attack Muslims . . .

Tom Kelly opined not once, but twice that

Maybe it's the "compound" that is the real problem more than polygamy.

It would be much harder to abuse kids if they lived in more normal surroundings instead of in a compound.

Texas CPS should issue a cell phone to every member of that community old enough to use one and call each one regularly to get reports of what is going on in the reconstituted community.

Mr. Kelly obviously missed the news reports of the judge in the case ordering all cell phones to be confiscated from FLDS members because they were doing annoying things such as calling the Media and taking pictures of armored personnel carriers.

Just as a reminder to everyone, "Mormons" is a nickname that gets applied to several religions, including both the LDS and FLDS churches. But they're not the same. The FLDS church broke away from the LDS church in the early 1900's because they wanted to continue practicing polygamy, which the original church had discontinued in 1890.

I am not Mormon. I am of Scotts-Irish heritage and I am Presbyterian. In the 1970s I was living in the Philippines and noticed that the Muslims seemed to be taking over the world. I had at that time worked with several Mormons and learned to respect them for their virtues. They are honest, reliable, and trustworthy, almost to a fault. They are also brave and they will fight. Mormonism may be the only western religion strong enough to withstand the Muslim onslaught. As a traditional Trinitarian Christian, I do not believe what Mormons believe; however, I do believe that Mormonism may save Western Civilization.

Think of all those extra mothers-in-law...aarrrggg!!! Run away

I don't see it either. I have heard derision for Muslim polygamy, as it is rightly deserved. As it is for Mormon polygamy and Christian polygamy and just polygamy in general.

I don't care if it's FLDS or Mormon, polygamy is illegal. And whether there is child abuse or not, polygamy is still illegal and should be prosecuted like the felony that it is. Don't like it? Get the law changed. But as we are a nation governed by law, we should enforce it.

And by the way... FLDS isn't a 'sect' of the Christian religion. It is a cult.

"Would it be too much to assume that any religion that requires its' members to wear particular clothing is probably going over the line in mental influence?

And, every time you see someone wearing way too much cloth for one body, something crazy is going on?

Women do not just normally WANT to share a husband: in every harem or polygamist household, there is tons of discord between the women, and tons of jealousy.

They are just taught that their jealousies and resentments are "evil" and "inspired by Satan.""

I completely agree with you, L. Kirkland. I'm Christian myself, but I find warning bells go off in my head whenever I hear of a church or denomination that tells you what to wear, and won't let you debate and discuss religious issues.

In terms of Muslim polygyny, I have been studying it for a long time, and I have yet to find instances of it being a benefit to women, even by women who believe it is permissable, they still are jealous, unhappy, and rivals with their co-wives.

A good book to read to provide a Muslim perspective on the issue is Fatima Mernissi's "Dreams of Trespass".

Polygamy is not illegal. Bigamy is, but only if you apply for and secure a second marraige licence because its fraud to do so.

Polygamy is not illegal. Bigamy is, but only if you apply for and secure a second marraige licence because it's fraud to do so.

I have an awful confession to make. Although I philosophically and in a vital sense subscribe to the legal idea of non-married multiple girlfriends, having done this THREE times in the last 20 years, as a "man with a plan" by which I mean any man with a life ambition other than just being Mr. Family guy, two girls a week, every week, essentially sucks. You lose more than twice the time making two girls happy as making one happy. It's great that they vie for "favorite wife" status, which stops any female personality disorders such as passive-aggression or other types of "pussywhipping" games, but you can end up as a boy-toy in which you might as well take alkaline batteries. I once delighted in how much better my "top" wife girlfriend treated me like a king instead of a bum, when I was dating other girls, but now realize the folly of that. Though on the surface, things got better for a summer at a time, over the years, she turned into an enemy instead of a friend. The details I will leave to your imagination.

I really feel like I have to point out that FLDS members are NOT Mormon. You wouldn't call Protestants Catholic would you? The fundamentalists broke away from the LDS (Mormon) church and started their own thing. Real Mormons find it insulting to be lumped into the same group as the FLDS.

The FLDS is a not part of the "official" LDS church, but to say they are not Mormon is ridiculous. Do they not hold the Book of Mormon as scriptural? Were not all their founders members of the LDS? They are not comparable to Protestants who repudiated the authority and the doctrines of the Church of Rome. THe FLDS repudiated the leaderhsip of the LDS for deviating from the original doctrines of the LDS Church.

The FLDS is comparable to the various "Old Catholic" sects which repudiated the authority of the Pope for deviating from traditional Catholic doctriine and practice: they are literally "more Catholic than the Pope."

What else? The Mormon Church may be objectionable to many Americans, but it is a purely American creation - born of the Second Great Awakening and the fervor of the Burned-Over District.

The FLDS got a certain level of tolerance by staying in a remote rutal area and avoiding any sort of publicity. No one wanted to proceed against them because such proceedings wouldhave been very difficult.

Nonetheless, there is no precedent of any sort for explicit toleration of their behavior by Americans.

Contemporary Moslem polygamists in America get by while they stay off the radar; they are urban, but like the FLDS live in closed communities that resist all official investigations. Also, however, Americans have accepted Moslem polygamists in Moslem countries. Having done so, it becomes awkward for us to crack down on Moslem polygamists here.

We should, but it won't be easy.

They are not comparable to Protestants who repudiated the authority and the doctrines of the Church of Rome. THe FLDS repudiated the leaderhsip of the LDS for deviating from the original doctrines of the LDS Church.

The FLDS is comparable to the various "Old Catholic" sects which repudiated the authority of the Pope for deviating from traditional Catholic doctriine and practice: they are literally "more Catholic than the Pope."

I'm more than willing to admit if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding that the whole Protestant breakaway from the Catholic church was precisely because they believed the Catholic church had deviated from what they thought it was supposed to be. Not to mention the fact that, ultimately, Jesus was the first prophet of the entire Christian religious movement. So any churches to come out of that and break away from other churches are doing basically the same thing the FLDS did.

Regardless, FLDS are NOT Mormon. I am a Mormon and I can tell you right now they have no connection with us. They don't listen to our prophet, they espouse doctrine that is contradictory to current LDS doctrine, and if any LDS person is found to be participating in polygamy they are ex-communicated from the church. The term Mormon, while coming from the Book of Mormon, is specific to the LDS church. Any break-away groups, once they have severed ties, can no longer lay claim to the name.

I know that I'm not the only one that finds it offensive to be lumped into the same category as those people. Every time the FLDS come up in the news we have to explain yet again that we have nothing to do with those people and that they are not Mormons. I'm certain any LDS church leader would tell you the same thing.

I believe in traditional marriage.

One man and as many women as he can afford.

When the call from the "abused 16 year old" ends up being a 30 something black woman who was obviously not part of the group, and when the MSM goes on and on about how they took away ...Gasp... pregnant 17 year olds, we gotta wonder.

Liberals believe in lowering the age of consent. Ginsburg says 12. Liberals also want to teach your 12 year old how to use condoms and have "alternatives to intercourse", both gay and straight style taught with equality.
Liberals believe in then taking your child to get an abortion with no notice to you, and no reporting to the police.
Liberals believe in accommodating Islamic polygamy, look at Canada and the UK.
Liberals believe that Joe should be able to marry Jack.
So why do they have a problem with Christian sects that believe in polygamy?
Because they are mostly white, they are Christian, and no one is afraid of pissing off Mormons, but pissing off Muslims can get you killed. Or worse yet, you may be called racist.

450+ children and mothers were forced to leave their homes in a fundamentalist compound in Texas, because of a phone call by one girl whose name is not known and who claimed she was abused by a man who some claim was never at the compound. What was the rush? Authorities have known for generations about the polygamist’s activities in the southwest, including the practice of young girls being forced to marry older men. Why, until now, have authorities winked and looked the other way instead of implementing consistent investigation and prosecution of illegal acts? Why didn't the authorities arrest the man the girl claimed abused her and leave the rest of the women and children at peace in their homes?

Who made the decision to arrest the women and children who were either innocent of any crime or victims of a crime? What law gives anyone the authority to arrest victims and/or potential victims? Why didn’t they just assign guards to protect the mothers and children in their own homes, if they thought they were in some danger, or at least give the women the choice of staying in their own homes?

Do you think US government officials will authorize raiding any of the many Muslim compounds scattered around the USA, if some girl calls in and claims her husband is abusing her, or if officials claim they get such a call? After all some Muslims practice polygamy and force young girls to marry old men. Neighbors who have objected to the activities at nearby Muslim compounds should now know they can have a girl call authorities and claim she is in the compound, underage and being abuse, then authorities might actually consider checking out the compound.

Do you think a raid would actually be made against a Muslim compound in the US at this time, even if it contained men abusing underage wives? Of course NOT, such a raid would be politically incorrect and besides Muslims might kill whoever authorized and carried out the raid. But things change.