Tuesday, April 22, 2008

So Why Doesn't This Change Anything?

Okay, I'm still on the topic of the Texas Religious Ranch. Many things about this have bothered me, from the beginning and now, as more comes to light, I can see much more clearly. Of course, this tidbit hasn't made the same accusing headlines that the rest of the invasion has, but I read that a woman in Colorado Springs has been arrested for making a false claim in a call to the police about being abused. The Texas Rangers have questioned her while in custody, but have not made an arrest regarding the unsubstantiated abuse claim supposedly reported by a 16 year old. From what I've read, there is more evidence linking her to the false report than there is evidence of children being abused by their religious community. Oh, and this woman is not 16, she's 33 and in Colorado and a false claim of abuse is only a misdemeanor. Meanwhile, without a trace of the supposed victim, the people on the ranch have lost their children, their way of life, and their privacy. And what happened to the word alleged in articles and news stories? If there are no multiple state licenses, then where is the polygamy? If cohabitation is against the law, there are tons of people out there in that particular lifestyle. What about them? Now, if the claim was false and the authorities are calling someone a "person of interest," why haven't the proceedings come to a halt, until the original matter of the call is resolved? What gives Texas the right to perform DNA tests when there have been no arrests made and no crime proven? I read the girls are abused because they are raised to be obedient . . . I also read that the boys are being raised to perpetuate this belief system. Doesn't everyone raise their children in their beliefs? And what specifically, is wrong with obedient children? Although I am not an advocate of polygamy, I did jokingly mention to my husband how tired I was, and maybe a few more, younger women on the place could get all the work done. Technically, the Bible only forbids polygamy in the case of a man that is a pastor or an elder. Since it specifically states that rule in regard to those two religious positions, doesn't it follow that the one wife rule is specific to religious leadership, only?
It is my personal opinion, here, that the real reason behind this "concern for the children" is control. This community lived independently of the government and appeared to be self supporting, while still clearly submitting to the authorities, when they showed up in armored tanks to serve a search warrant . . .
I read, as the investigators rifled through and began removing children, the people's response was that of cooperation, prayer and singing.
There is a reason for all this, but answering the "help me call" of 16 year old, was never the reason. I knew that, some of America knew that, and the authorities knew that. What will be the next religion practicing freely outside of mainstream, and when will they need to be dissembled?
. . . Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying . . . Matthew, New Testament

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