As I expressed in a previous post, I believe the words “bigot” and “judgmental” have become seriously overused. These words are often used against anyone with whom a person simply disagrees.
On the other hand, as with the word “racist” there are times when there is no better word to describe a person who lacks understanding and is grossly intolerant. While a person who simply feels more comfortable among people who share his ethnicity is not necessarily a racist, one who has an ignorant antipathy toward those unlike himself certainly deserves that label.
This principle can be applied to the term “bigot.” There are occasions when people absolutely deserve this label. This couldn’t be more true than in the case of Texas vs. the Fundamentalist LDS church.
If I were an unbiased observer, detached from the culture and mores of 21st century America, looking down at our mainstream American culture on one hand, and the FLDS church on the other, I would be hard pressed to condemn the values and behaviors of that church as compared to the values and behaviors of our mainstream culture. Texas law enforcement, family services, and the legal system are clearly the aggressors. Further, it is somewhat disingenuous that a culture as corrupt as ours has the audacity to judge the culture of a religious body in a nation that purports “freedom of religion.” It is not as if this is a group of terrorists threatening the existence of this nation. This body is, in fact totally opposite – exhibiting a meekness rivaling that of the Amish.
Texas family services and the other accusers say the poor women have been brainwashed. By whom? The leaders of their church? Is this any less true of devout believers in virtually any religion? So, are the men of the church, their leaders, brainwashed, too? Or are they teaching what they teach just for the sex? - this is what our perverted culture would lead us to believe. Or do they teach what they believe based on their faith? Students of polygamist cultures will attest that having multiple wives is no picnic. The practice has a sustaining purpose and comes with a great deal of responsibility and difficulty. Ask any serial polygamist of our mainstream culture if this isn’t true!
At the time of this posting, there is some evidence that the anonymous "16-year-old girl" who filed the accusation was a hoax. If this is true, it becomes even more clear that there have been aggregious civil rights violations with the purpose of sticking the nose of the the fox in the hen house door. The state of Texas is going to have to float a huge bond issue to fund this legal debacle.
This is a situation where the prevailing culture lacks understanding (ignorance) and lacks tolerance (prejudice) of a religious group and seeks to disrupt and eliminate their religious system. This is fundamentalist bigotry.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
DOUBLE STANDARD
Tell me which scenario appears to be a severe case of “unequal treatment” of the affected group:
An individual in a poor, crime-riddled neighborhood claims she was raped. No individuals in the neighborhood are summarily removed from their homes and detained.
A Muslim accused of constructing a pipe bomb is apprehended and brought into custody, but all other Muslims he associated with remain with their families.
A Catholic priest accused of child molestation is taken into custody, but all other priests, many of whom may or may not be guilty of a similar crime, remain with their parish.
An anonymous woman calls authorities and claims she was abused by her Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ husband, and 400 children of that faith are taken from their families, detained and "reprogrammed."
As much as one may disagree with the doctrine and practice of that particular church, ya gotta wonder.
Picture, for a moment, the typical American city, with its street gangs, rapes, murders, incest, child abuse, spousal abuse, drug abuse, robberies, and assaults. Asserting the standard applied to the Fundamentalist LDS church, 25% of the population of this nations' largest cities would be taken into custody and reprogrammed by the state of Texas.
Who made the judgement that the practices of this church are worse than all of the crimes listed above? And the most puzzling question of all...if there was a crime committed, why were the children taken from their mothers instead of finding the person who allegedly committed the crime as has been the practice in this country for the last 200 years?
So much for freedom of religion...destroying an entire church for one alleged criminal who has not even been found. [Note: Later found and confirmed to be a hoax. Vindication!]
An individual in a poor, crime-riddled neighborhood claims she was raped. No individuals in the neighborhood are summarily removed from their homes and detained.
A Muslim accused of constructing a pipe bomb is apprehended and brought into custody, but all other Muslims he associated with remain with their families.
A Catholic priest accused of child molestation is taken into custody, but all other priests, many of whom may or may not be guilty of a similar crime, remain with their parish.
An anonymous woman calls authorities and claims she was abused by her Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ husband, and 400 children of that faith are taken from their families, detained and "reprogrammed."
As much as one may disagree with the doctrine and practice of that particular church, ya gotta wonder.
Picture, for a moment, the typical American city, with its street gangs, rapes, murders, incest, child abuse, spousal abuse, drug abuse, robberies, and assaults. Asserting the standard applied to the Fundamentalist LDS church, 25% of the population of this nations' largest cities would be taken into custody and reprogrammed by the state of Texas.
Who made the judgement that the practices of this church are worse than all of the crimes listed above? And the most puzzling question of all...if there was a crime committed, why were the children taken from their mothers instead of finding the person who allegedly committed the crime as has been the practice in this country for the last 200 years?
So much for freedom of religion...destroying an entire church for one alleged criminal who has not even been found. [Note: Later found and confirmed to be a hoax. Vindication!]
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