Places in America...
 

There are places in America that are NOT mainstream, that consistently shock me of their existence.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04...erica/texas.php

What do you think about 400 children and over 100 women who "escaped" with authorities from the polygamist camp? Are you at all surprised that places like this exist in the US?

The thing I wonder is...How did this system go on for so long? There are 2nd and 3rd generation families in the compound!

I hate to say it, but in the UK, it seems that all we ever hear about America are the religious fanatics, the strange and dangerous cults, the shocking gun crimes committed by children etc etc.

I know that it is a minority from an absolutely vast country, but I'm afraid it doesn't shock me at all. I suppose it must be easier for a whole colony of people to exist in a country so big without detection. Very few places in the UK are remote enough for a cult to become as large and as long lived as this.

Having said that, it's absolutely awful and it's shocking that these things continue in the modern world, let alone in a 'civilised' western society. It's terrifying to think that women and girls are being treated like this, and that they've never known anything different.

I wonder where all the boys are and what will be happening to them?

All cultures are equal, but some cultures are more equal than others.

America takes it's right to practice your chosen religion pretty seriously. I saw an interview that said the authorities had not been able to intervene due to a lack of substantial evidence up to this point but they had watched for years. I am concerned that they have not found the girl who called it in. I fear they may not have a case if they did not follow protocol. Hopefully they have been very careful.

The Mormon Church is a mainstream religion in the US and has been, but this sect that has sprouted out of it has truly soiled the reputation of that institution.

^^^ zacly. i'll add the freedom for equal rights is lost when children are endangered and people are held against their will.

Yes. Unfortunately it's that freedom of religion that causes authorities to tread lightly in cases like this where in the past abused was hinted at but never confirmed.

It's amazing what can be done in the name of religion, and gotten away with.

There are a really nice set of buddhas is Afghanistan, oops, sorry, they got religionated.

Too true! Faith in the presumed truth of things which cannot be proved is very powerful - sometimes overwhelming.

Yes.

If something is unable to be disproven, why, it's got to be true.

The FBI seems to have learned their lesson following Waco & Ruby Ridge. I think their agents handled the Montana Freemen standoff without incident.

Yes but this was not the FBI. This was Texas DCFS peeps if I have heard and read correctly.

... they may also have learned from the PR debacles of Waco & Ruby Ridge.

Let's hope.

it a sect of the mormon church that they don't allow any more.

There are some people that believe in many more wives, personally i am not going to stand for that i would have to kill my spouse. hehehe.

From what is coming across the news he kept everything from these people.
no internet. now that is abuse. :) and no music even laughter was forbidden

The one thing that is good is the head honcho was convicted on charges.

A step in the right direction.