Posted by
Shogrensus on Sunday, April 13, 2008 6:04:53 PM
April 10, 2008 (cont)
The women then briefly touch on the raid of the polygamist compound in Texas that resulted in over 400 children being taken into state protective custody. The raid was prompted by two phone calls from a woman who alleged she was 16 and had been forced to marry an older man and who thought she was pregnant. (click here and here and here for articles about the raid and polygamy)
The brief discussion:
BW- But you know the other part of it that we just don’t understand is the women who, whether they are brain washed or scared- and some say they even like it- why in this day and age this kind of thing happens and women still take it
Joy: It’s a polygamist concept.
BW: You have to understand why they like it
While Joy doesn't care if adult women choose to marry into polygamy- whatever they want- it seems fairly self-explanatory why these women “choose” this life. They don’t know anything else. Women in polygamist camps, women who stay with abusive men, women who have been made to feel as though this is their only option… These woman, at best, lack either the knowledge of opportunity, the strength or both to leave this life behind. At worst they stay because the danger in leaving is worse than the danger in staying.
I suggest reading Plato’s Allegory of the Cave to better understand why, why, why…
A serious question BW and other liberals should ask themselves: Do all of the women in the Middle East and Africa (and even in the United States) who live under Sharia Law choose that life or do they have no ability to question their oppression?
(For those people who will tell me that Islam doesn't support polygamy I argue that unlike the Mormon Church that excommunicates polygamists, Islamic scholars clearly articulate the justifiability of polygamy. Click here and here and here and here for resources on polygamy in Islam.) I will concede that most Muslim people do not choose to practice polygamy, but the truth is the religion of Islam would not prohibit them from it if they chose to engage in the practice.
There should be no question in a civilized society that adolescent girls should never be encouraged to marry. A young girl should be dreaming of college and a career and of course a families with A loving partner who supports her efforts to fulfill her hopes and dreams. 14 year old girls have no idea who they should marry and cultures that make this decision for them should be abhorred.
There should also be no question that polygamy is wrong. If people do not want to, or can not, commit to a marriage with one person, they should not get married. Rather than engage in polygamy or extramarital relationships that undermine their marital contract, people should act like self-actualized adults and practice self-control.
I know it is a lot to expect in a society that promotes immediate gratification and self interest above all else...
They briefly continue:
EH: But look at Big Love the show that was on- is it still on? I don’t watch it but- it essentially glorified this lifestyle and made it seem a little bit, you know, beautiful, maybe a little bit fun, it kind of showed the complications of living with many women living under one roof. I mean we’re complicated women.
I have to admit it- I think Big Love is hilarious and I do not think it glorifies polygamy. The writers of the show use humor, irony and great character development to show the trappings of this lifestyle. So, if living under the constant threat of legal prosecution, affiliating with people who live lives devoid of modernity so they can also hide, hiding your lifestyle from your neighbors and general community, having your children think your lifestyle is immoral and losing relationships with non polygamist relatives doesn't discourage you- well then, polygamy might be for you.
They babble back and forth and then Joy delivers a great one liner: When a man has lot of wives they call it polygamy; when a women has a lot of men they call them clients
She can be funny…