Culture shock: Seized polygamous sect kids face tough adjustment (YFZ/fLDS Daily Thread)

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 04/24/2008 07:32:33 AM MDT | N/A

[MizSterious]

Culture shock: Seized polygamous sect kids face tough adjustment

The Associated Press

Article Last Updated: 04/24/2008 07:32:33 AM MDT

Posted: 7:33 AM- SAN ANGELO, Texas - The hundreds of children from a polygamist compound taken into state custody are on their way to group homes, shelters and residences, but experts and lawyers fear their transition may be much harder than it is for other foster children.
    The 437 children taken from the compound in West Texas will be plunged into a culture radically different from the community where they and their families shunned the outside world as a hostile, contaminating influence on their godly way of life.
    Many of the children have seen little or no television. They have been essentially home-schooled all their lives. Most were raised on garden-grown vegetables and twice-daily prayers with family. They frolic in long dresses and buttoned-up shirts from another century.

[Dems_R_Losers]

These poor children did not even know what to do with crayons and a sheet of paper, nor did many of their mothers. They have been deprived of everything we normally associate with a happy and well rounded childhood, not just television and modern clothes. Even in the 1850s American children had toys and dolls and picture books. I would bet none of these children has read a Dr. Seuss book, a comic strip, classic children’s literature, poetry. They don’t know who Bambi and Snow White are. They are comparable to Wahhabi children beng sent to madrassas where they do nothing but memorize the Koran all day long. We would not tolerate this in America, and we should not tolerate this cult’s treatment of children either.

[MizSterious]

Thanks, it took a few tries. ;)

[Neoliberalnot]

So the kids and the parents should not have a say in the matter. The State has all the right answers and no one should be concerned with what the kids want? What’s next, post-natal abortion?

[Neoliberalnot]

Who is idealizing 1850s medical care? I think the comment was saying that modest fashion styles from the past may be preferable over the trashy fashions of today.””

NO, no, not that. We want our kids to look like the street walkers in hollywood and to have kids out of wedlock so they conform to government wishes.

[AppyPappy]

You cannot “convert” someone to your religion. I imagine they first have to deprogram the kids from their polygamous belief. Then they have to teach them that God isn’t going to hate them because of the clothes they wear.

[metmom]

The hundreds of children from a polygamist compound taken into state custody are on their way to group homes, shelters and residences, but experts and lawyers fear their transition may be much harder than it is for other foster children.

No doubt, when they don't even know what stuff like crayons are.

Is the judge also allowing them to be homeschooled? Public school would be way too much for them.

TV can be kept off, they can help with yard work and household chores and be given times to pray as they're used to.

It doesn't have to be that traumatic if the foster parents are willing to put the effort in. Compared to many of the kids most foster parents are used to dealing with, these kids ought to be easy.

[AppyPappy]

The parents gave up their rights when they engaged in criminal behavior. Ask Mike Vick.

[metmom]

There’s a lot to be said for running water and electricity.

They weren’t THAT 19th century at that compound, were they?

I’m sure they’re familiar with modern conveniences. The kids had to have seen cell phones at least.

[MizSterious]

This one is from USA Today, and as I learned (the hard way), only the title and link can be posted. In Texas compound case, 4 questions need answers

[greyfoxx39]

These poor children did not even know what to do with crayons and a sheet of paper, nor did many of their mothers. They have been deprived of everything we normally associate with a happy and well rounded childhood, not just television and modern clothes. Even in the 1850s American children had toys and dolls and picture books. I would bet none of these children has read a Dr. Seuss book, a comic strip, classic children’s literature, poetry. They don’t know who Bambi and Snow White are. They are comparable to Wahhabi children beng sent to madrassas where they do nothing but memorize the Koran all day long. We would not tolerate this in America, and we should not tolerate this cult’s treatment of children either.

I noticed on a video of the compound there was no sign of a swing set, a merry-go-round, or any other indication that the children were provided with things to play on. I read that at one of the shelters, when asked what the children did for fun, they replied: "Feed the chickens, and "clean". They asked for cleaning supplies.

[beltfed308]

The parents gave up their rights when they engaged in criminal behavior.

When was the trial? So every adult at the ranch was convicted?

[MizSterious]

First, you have to find out who the kids’ parents ARE. Since not very many of them are stepping up to be tested, it looks like the state of Texas has the final say-so. Any parent not willing to do what’s needed to claim their own children doesn’t deserve to have any say over them.

[TriGirl]

I think you have the right idea, but that was not the intention of this group.

[pandoraou812]

I agree with both of you. Thats just not right. If the churches are planning to do that then the judge shouldn’t have sent them there. They have gone through enough & I would say ought to be left alone about religion at this time. I know I wouldn’t care to have a stranger try to tell me that their church is what I ought to believe in. It will just enforce what the FLDS has already told the children about strangers IMO.

[AppyPappy]

If a sniper opens up on a crowd, you guys would be complaining that the police can’t stop him from shooting because he hasn’t been convicted yet.

[AppyPappy]

They are going to convert them to Methodism?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

So the kids and the parents should not have a say in the matter.

No, not when they're brainwashed into that evil culture from birth, going back four or five generations.

And also, keep in mind that the authorities may not necessarily be dealing with many of these kids actual parents, since an apparent FLDS practice is to separate babies from their real mothers early on and place them to be raised in other households, thereby keeping the perpetual shell game going.

[metmom]

I would bet none of these children has read a Dr. Seuss book, a comic strip, classic children’s literature, poetry. They don’t know who Bambi and Snow White are.

I think that would be way beyond them at this point. Right now, it seems that they just need to learn to unwind and play. Just having toys like swings, bikes, balls, dolls, and picture books like Golden Books would be enough to keep them busy for a long time.

It'll probably be years before they can understand or appreciate what we think of as normal childhood stuff like you mentioned.

[sportutegrl]

Maybe some of the Amish here in PA could serve as foster parents.

[najida]

The kids parents?
You realize they don’t know who their parents are and their parents aren’t really sure what kid is theirs after a certain age. And then there are the kids trucked in from Canada.

No toys, games, stories, bonding time with parents, treats, celebrations, holidays.... nothing normal at all.

It’s not “The Walton’s” that we’re talking about. We’re talking about folks who kick boys out when they get pubic hair and marry of the girls without their sayso, so they can get preggers asap after their first period.