Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Polygamists fight to decriminalize bigamy
The Washington Post ^ | Nov 21, 2006 | John Pomfret

Posted on 11/21/2006 1:36:33 PM PST by presidio9

In her battle to legalize polygamy, the only thing Valerie hasn't revealed is her last name. The mother of eight has been on national TV; her photo along with that of her two "sister-wives" has graced the front cover of a glossy magazine dedicated to "today's plural marriages."

She has been prodded about her sex life: "He rotates. It's easy -- just one, two, three." Quizzed about her decision to share a husband with two other women: "You really have a good frame of reference when you marry a man who already has two wives." Interrogated about what it's like to live in a house with 21 children: "Remodeling a kitchen, that's no small feat with three wives and a husband involved."

All the while, the petite brunette with a smile as bright as Utah's sky has insisted that she's just like you and me: "I'm a soccer mom. My kids are in music lessons. They go to public school. I'm not under anyone's control."

Valerie and others among the estimated 40,000 men, women and children in polygamous communities are part of a new movement to decriminalize bigamy. Consciously taking tactics from the gay-rights movement, polygamists have reframed their struggle, choosing in interviews to de-emphasize their religious beliefs and focus on their desire to live "in freedom," according to Anne Wilde, director of community relations for Principle Voices, a pro-polygamy group based in Salt Lake.

In recent months, polygamy activists have held rallies, appeared on nationally televised news shows and lobbied legislators. Before the Nov. 7 elections, one pro-polygamy group issued a six-page analysis of all Utah's state and local candidates and their views on polygamy. "We can make a difference," the

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: biglove; extendedfamily; familyvalues; pelosi; polygamy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 181-199 next last
To: EternalVigilance

See #118 (typo) ... there is the Supreme Court confirming just what you said...


121 posted on 11/21/2006 6:42:10 PM PST by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]

To: traviskicks

No, fight polygamy, and reduce welfare.

You want a harem?
Rock on dude! Take all you can afford.

But, assuming their human, and female, you're married to one; the rest are whores.

What next? A libertarian arguing for parents right to bargain their children in prearranged weddings?


122 posted on 11/21/2006 7:01:37 PM PST by tsomer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: Sir Francis Dashwood

Yeah, but they said that criminalizing sodomy was Constitutional too, and then overruled it just 17 years later.


123 posted on 11/21/2006 7:08:13 PM PST by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 118 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek
re: As with gay marriage - consenting adults, and I don't see how it can possibly harm my marriage to my wife.)))

If polygamy is made legal, that means either you or your wife could bring more "partners" into the marriage--and I don't see why that'd require the orginal couples' dual consent. Consider the complications of require previous consent from the first spouse--.

Of course, divorce can be the response to "Hey, honey, guess what! You're wife number 1, meet number 2!"

In which case, do you divide the household assets and children two ways, or three ways, or four...

124 posted on 11/21/2006 7:32:25 PM PST by Mamzelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: marsh_of_mists
Not two years ago, everyone was talking about gay marriage and we said "But that could lead to all this other stuff, starting with polygamy." and they said "Oh no, your just being paranoid. It'll never happen." Remember how they tore Santorum to pieces with his comments in that area. Yeah, well, looks like it's time for Step 2!

Yeah, and next thing you know, those dang Colonials will start demanding independence and not having the Crown tell them how to run their lives! </sarc>

125 posted on 11/21/2006 7:41:33 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: tsomer

Why do you assume I want a harem just because I'm in favor of free adults freely choosing their relationships? It's like saying that someone who wants to legalize pot wants to smoke it.

There are legitimate laws against children for a reason, they are not capable of freely making choices for themselves and have less free will than the rest of us.


126 posted on 11/21/2006 7:43:04 PM PST by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/optimism_nov8th.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: metmom

I know of some plural "marriages" (quotes because the second actual marriage isn't legally bound because of law) where a second spouse has entered an existing marriage relationship, and I have to say that I've known the women to be quite happy with it. But I haven't seen it with younger women, who might be more burdened with insecurities and petty jealousies than older women--or at least the older women are more focused on the advantages, in their eyes, of the arrangement.

For example, with one married couple I know, both have professional careers and go to work while the second wife stays home and raises the kids. This works well for them, as the second wife didn't want to have the career and the first wife didn't want to have to stay home full-time to raise the kids or put them in day care.

But I suppose you'd disparage these women as "brainwashed," huh?


127 posted on 11/21/2006 7:52:10 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle

Heck, these issues have been worked out many times by many couples in many legal systems! Plus, people seem to be focused on only simple polygamy schemes. Check out Heinlein's writing to realize there's not just one.

And in the case of one polygynous couple I know, one wife did want to "divorce" and they worked out an amicable divorce.


128 posted on 11/21/2006 7:54:11 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 124 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Why don't I care about this? Why doesn't it matter to me?


129 posted on 11/21/2006 7:55:00 PM PST by Porterville (I'm afraid the forces that want war are more than the forces who don't)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sir Francis Dashwood; EternalVigilance

And #105


130 posted on 11/21/2006 7:57:29 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 121 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I have never understood why bigamy is a crime. One guy in the ghetto make a mess of kids with a handful of women, no crime. A Mormon wants to do the same thing, except actually take care of all of them.....crime?


131 posted on 11/21/2006 8:10:29 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Who? Me?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AdamSelene235
I could go for a 1/10th time share in a wife.

That is frighteningly little sex.....

132 posted on 11/21/2006 8:11:48 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Who? Me?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ValerieUSA; Berosus; Cincinatus' Wife; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; ...
In her battle to legalize polygamy, the only thing Valerie hasn't revealed is her last name.

133 posted on 11/21/2006 8:29:45 PM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Thursday, November 16, 2006 https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gondring
re: For example, with one married couple I know, both have professional careers and go to work while the second wife stays home and raises the kids.)))

The second "wife" is not a wife, but a concubine if you're not actually making it up. And you really ought to call CPS--because there's probably abuse going on. A "husband" like you describe sound more like David Koresh than Father Knows Best.

I'm guessing this kind of arrangement would have been OK for your own mother?

134 posted on 11/21/2006 8:30:59 PM PST by Mamzelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 127 | View Replies]

To: Gondring

Boy, you libertarians sure come out of the woodwork on these polygamy threads, yes? Just remember: the zoophiles and pederasts are waiting in the wings.


135 posted on 11/21/2006 9:05:24 PM PST by marsh_of_mists
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies]

To: marsh_of_mists

Are they libertarians? I sometimes think there's a gang ready on FR to try to discourage and bewilder at ripe times...to say up is down and wrong is right.


136 posted on 11/21/2006 9:13:33 PM PST by Mamzelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle
I sometimes think there's a gang ready on FR to try to discourage and bewilder at ripe times...

At the ripe times, the figs fall, and all is right with the world.

The ones whom you are referrencing are only interested in either raising or dropping their fig leaves, and that is far from right...or Right.

137 posted on 11/21/2006 9:34:57 PM PST by ApplegateRanch (Islam: a Satanically Transmitted Disease, spread by unprotected intimate contact with the Koranus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: marsh_of_mists

As a libertarian and a virile man, I just want to know one thing:

are these polygamist women hot? Four friggin' hot women? Bring it!!!


138 posted on 11/21/2006 9:38:53 PM PST by spacecowboynj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle

For proof of #137, see # 138.

That is definitely...ugh, RIPE.


139 posted on 11/21/2006 9:43:46 PM PST by ApplegateRanch (Islam: a Satanically Transmitted Disease, spread by unprotected intimate contact with the Koranus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: ApplegateRanch

I just went to a site and saw a picture of several polygamist women, about half of which were pretty damn good looking.

These people seem like pretty hard-working, principled individuals and good mothers and fathers. I would vote Yay in favor of marriage rights for them. Ditto for gays.


140 posted on 11/21/2006 9:53:09 PM PST by spacecowboynj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 181-199 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson