Nope, I don’t have any defense for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a breakaway Mormon sect that still practices polygamy. But, I’ve seen links to two such defenses. (One at Dispatches from the Culture Wars and one at Opening Arguments.) In the former, Ed Brayton at Culture Wars does a pretty good take down of an entry “by Butler Shaffer at Lew Rockwell that discusses “interesting parallels” between this situation and…military bases.” Brayton responds:
Allow me to point out what is, indeed, obvious: if military bases were used for raping (no, the “spiritual marriage” does not transform the rape of a 13 year old girl into anything other than rape) barely pubescent girls, he might have a point. Yes, military bases are well guarded and have on-base housing. And therefore….what? Shaffer doesn’t say, of course, I suspect because he knows his insinuations are utterly moronic.
I’ve mentioned it before, but Jon Krakauer’s book “Under the Banner of Heaven” is an excellent book, primarily focused on the FLDS and the history of the Mormons.
I second Doug’s recommendation of Krakauer’s book. Anything he has written has been great, but I got quite a lot out of UBH.
I’ve been surprised how long these groups have been able to violate the law despite authorities being completely aware of their activities.
The elders of this wackjob sect should have all assets frozen and pay restitution to state and federal governments for all the welfare, foodstamps, and other aid they’ve been bilking the taxpayers for to support this “religion” that appears to be not much more than an excuse for child rape. Their breeding practices appear to be patterned after puppy mills.
One of the women interviewed by CNN is worried because, “I think one of my 24 sisters was in that compound.”
OK, how many problems can we find with that sentence?
I would presume she might have 6-30 brothers, too. That’s a damn lot of siblings, but par for the course in that group. She probably doesn’t know he sister’s location because either there’s too many to keep track of, or they’re carted here and there without their siblings knowing where they end up. And why is she concerned? Well because the rest of us are the evil ones, presumably because we object to their holy child rape.
Again, I want my money back. All the people who like to rail against “welfare queens” should REALLY hate these guys. Friggin’ parasites. I feel for the women and children, who are the victims. But the male elders in this group need to pay back their ill-gotten gains, and get kicked in the balls until sterile.
No, castration without being knocked out would be better!