April 25, 2008
Debate Continues Over Polygamist Sect Children
National news, sports and social debate mashed-up collided in Salt Lake City last night as protesters used the NBA play-off game between our Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz as a forum for debate on the fate of the children seized in the raid of the polygamist compound in Eldorado.
The protest contingent, 50 plus participants strong, waived banners and signs outside the game. According to The Chronicle, the signs were painted with anti-Texas slogans such as, "Texas, bury your Communist pride and give your people religious freedom."
Protest organizer Bob Breeze reportedly stated that the group was not affiliated with any particular group. However, the group is united around concern for the welfare of the children and is calling for the children to be returned to their parents, which brings up an interesting point for debate.
At what point does freedom of religion supercede child welfare?
In case you missed it, authorities responded to allegations of child abuse lodged by a 15 year-old girl from the sect who was allegedly forced to marry a 50 year-old man and bore his child.
Most teenagers are incapable of thinking past the end of the remote control when making decisions. How many "stupid" things did you choose to do between the ages of 13 and 15? Any regrets there? Houstonist also bets that you probably changed your major in college more than once; you were probably 18 or over by then, too.
Is it reasonable to believe that girls "as young as 14-years-old" decided to become wed to much older men?
Assuming that the right to religious freedom wins out in this case, will that set a legal precedent that could be exploited by pedophiles? "Um, your honor, I plead not guilty to these charges since I belong to the Church of Creepy Old Men. We believe in pedophilia."
Whether or not the legal system deems child welfare to be most important, which it should, we hope the children find some sort of respite from the media scrutiny at their new homes.
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Photo by Flickr user strocchi.
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I'm not saying that I agree with either polygamy or young girls being married so young, but I do think that the teenagers raised in this environment are very different from teenagers in middle class suburbia.
The places these children are raised don't encourage frivolous things like remote control babysitters, or violent video games, or being a mall rat. Who's to say that one way of life is better than another. Comparing these 14, 15, 16, and 17 yr olds to the ones we all grew up with isn't going to be a true representation of how they must feel about making decisions on marriage and parenthood.
The unfortune is that when there are some girls and/or boys who don't want to live that way, they aren't given the choice to leave or opt-out. Instead they are forced/persuaded/coerced, however you want to put it,into a life they don't want. That's the real crime in my opinion. Lack of freedom to choose.
For thousands of years, Western Civilization has abhorred polygamy, and year by year, the concept of human rights in the West comes closer and closer to equality between individuals. Freedom of religion in the West cannot extend towards traditions that deny human equality, and treat women as children or chattel.
I'm sorry for those children and women, but the health, laws, and future of our civilization are more important than their temporary comfort.
Excellent point, Cipher.
Tiff, I agree with you as well. However, I still question the ability of kids at that age to make informed decisions based on what they want instead of pressure - even if they aren't the video game set.