You know nothing of these peoples' lives, or you are one of their patriarchs.

Child services agents, sheriffs, social workers, any state officials visiting this community would be legitimately threatened at gunpoint for even coming in to town.

Think David Koresh with teen girls handed out as bribes. Then you will understand.

Read This Book. Then you will understand.

Well, I was reading an article that said that the nephew of one of the leaders, alleges that his uncle and two of his brothers raped him as a child. So, it sounds like the state of Texas has some ground for suspicion and they're investigating the situation.

Wow, Matt. Way to stand up for a parents' right to rape and brainwash their children.

I recommended this not because I think there is anything redeeming about an ignorant concern troll making hay over the condition some children are living in courtesy of the state of Texas (it's likely better than their conditions before state involvement, both mom-time-wise and food-and-shelter-wise), but because if it can bring the ongoing plight of these children's distant cousins into a brighter light, then maybe something good can come of it.

Freedom of religion must include freedom to leave the religion, or that which pretends to be religion is cult.

As I said, I have absolutely no tolerance for any type of child abuse, molestation, pedophilia, rape, and so forth. Personally, I think these should be grounds for capital punishment. My concern here, as I tried to write, is the state has painted the entire community for the alleged actions of a few members. I only ask why punish 416 children in this manner?

And consider a bigger picture. If this is opposition to polygamy, should authorities also root it out in Muslim communities around the country? If it is about the lifestyle, should we also go into the Amish and Mennonite communities? Mormons have been easy targets but this is a very dangerous and intolerant direction for the state to involve itself in.

Finally, however we might disagree with the religious views and lifestyle, what right is it for the state to tell parents what to teach or not teach their children?

Matthew
http://www.TheIndependentView.com

Dumbnitude --

"What right does the state have to sweep in and seize all of these children? Is there such broad guilt by association to warrant such a brazen move? Is the trauma worth it? What justice is there for these children? Putting them in a coliseum and talking about scattering them around in foster homes is outrageous. The spectacle of all this is heart wrenching and inflaming for its injustice."

Law, fool. And the facts: there are allegations of men marrying underage girls. (And the "religion" is not "Mormon" but "Latter Day Saints".)

But let's run with your emotional hysteria: the kids belong with their parents, even if the parents are abusing them. Or with their "husbands," even though the law defines sex with the underaged as STATUTORY RAPE.

Let me guess: your another David Koresh fan.

Yet more dumbnitude --

"As I said, I have absolutely no tolerance for any type of child abuse, molestation, pedophilia, rape, and so forth. Personally, I think these should be grounds for capital punishment. My concern here, as I tried to write, is the state has painted the entire community for the alleged actions of a few members. I only ask why punish 416 children in this manner?"

ASS:

1. The "community" is self-isolated, refusing scrutiny by the outside world. So it isn't easy to determine what has been going on, or who those allegedly FEW might be. The first thing one does in such a situation is remove such as children so the harming of them ceases ASAP.

2. The abuse of the children by the adults in that "community" is the "punishment," jackass. Removing the children in order that they not continue to be abused is not punishment.

As for "capital punishement" for those you list: grow up: if injuring and killing is wrong for one, it is wrong for all including the state. As example: torture is prohibited in all circumstances -- even by the state -- and cannot be made legal. And yet you oppose the gov't when it acts properly, while saying nothing whatsoever about the torture -- for which the express penalties include execution -- being committed by the state in our name.

You aren't concerned about those kids. You are concerned with changing the subject away from the egregiously illegal to yet another instance of bashing the gov't -- in order to establish your "Creds" as anti-gum'mint, especially when it can be assosiated with Clinton/Reno (another instance in which the gov't acted properly) -- when it acts properly.

Yours is the kind of foolish, meritless crap with which the most of us have been inundated since now everyone and his illitersate dog can now post their "thoughts" freely for everyone else to read or suffer through.

This morning, Fox had 2 fumbling and inept interviews with the mothers this morning. It was horribly awkward, and they were very mean and condescending (in their Fox-style).

I'm sorry you're getting so heavily attacked, Matthew--to make sure that police action doesn't get too heavy handed or bigoted, it's important that people ask the questions you ask.

I will certainly feel more comfortable myself once charges have been filed. I certainly agree that children should be able to have visits with their parents, even if those visits must be supervised, until we have all the facts. But that said, for now, I approve of the authorities taking the better-safe-than-sorry approach, and I can only hope I'm not wrong. The accusations are that children are being molested/raped as an accepted part of the lifestyle of this group. IF this is true, then the people who have committed that crime should indeed be charged and prosecuted (although it becomes increasinly problematic if you consider, say, a 22-year-old groom who was raised in this society and not exposed to other values who has sex with his 13-year-old bride). Parents who allow abuse to their children are also considered negligent and therefore, to some extent, legally liable.

The state is trying to confirm the level of negligence, is all.