Today 416 children will go before a judge in Eldorado Texas in one of the largest custody cases in our nation's history. The children were removed almost two weeks ago, after a 16-year-old girl called an abuse hot line claiming her husband, a 50-year-old member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, beat and raped her. The girl has yet to be identified by investigators. Texas officials believe the children were being physically and sexually abused or were in imminent danger of such abuse. Click here for the entire article.
This story has been all over the news this week. Some think that the children should not have been separated from their mothers. Others think that Texas state officials are just doing their jobs. What are your thoughts on this?
04/17/2008 9:23AM
416 kids in court today!
What are your thoughts? Where should those kids end up?
04/17/2008 10:09AM
416 kids in court
i think that if the children were being abused then they should have been taken away but their mothers should have also gone with them
04/17/2008 10:32AM
Custody
These people are morons! I've seen them on TV a few times this week. The women are obviously brainwashed, they all have the same awful hair and wear the same dresses. Take the kids away! They might be heartbroken at first but at least they'll grow up in a safe environment where they won't be taken advantage of by perverted old men.
04/17/2008 10:41AM
416 Kids...
If their mothers arent protecting them somebody has to step in and do something. I agree it may be difficult at first for the kids but atleast they will be safe after they are removed from the situation. It is disgusting that people do this to children.
04/17/2008 10:45AM
416 kids removed from their parents
This children are definitely all at risk. Finding several teen girls pregnant concerns me. In addition, these children either don't know or refuse to share their last names shows only some of the danger that as they have been brainwashed by these cult leaders. Watching the interviews with the Mothers only confirms that to me. Their tone of voice is all the same and a tone that comes across as almost sing song. It reminds me of others interviewed from other cults. While these women are also being physically abused (escaped members confirm that), they have been brainwashed into believing that this is the right way to live. As a result the Mothers are again either unwilling or unable to protect these children, therefore we need to.
04/17/2008 11:04AM
Could have been handled better
I wish they would have handled this better. These poor kids don't know anything different in the way they live. They went in there and removed those kids away from their mothers. Out yourselves in their shoes for a moment. How would you feel if you were one of these young kids, some authority figure came in took you away from your mother and dropped you into a society that you have no knowledge of. These kids are all alone and very scarred. The least they could have done is kept them with their mothers. I know as a mother I would have went crazy if someone came in and took my kids. These poor woman know no other life. Its a shame. I'm hoping these mothers and children get the rehabilitation they need to be able to function in our society.
04/17/2008 11:09AM
Other solutions
I think that they need to look at solutions other than just taking the kids away and sticking them into the system. Sure, some of them will be adopted, and some may make it into decent foster homes, but not all of them will. In addition, they don't even know who the real mothers of some of the kids are or who their real siblings are. I think that they need to punish those who are causing harm, and let the rest of them go back to their lives where they were obviously content. Don't punish those who didn't do anything wrong. Just because they live in a culture on their property that is different from ours, and just because there are a few bad eggs, doesn't mean that they are all bad people. I think that each case needs to be treated differently in this situation, instead of one lump where everything is assumed to be the same.
04/17/2008 11:20AM
Texas overkill?
This definitely could have been handled better. I agree that if there was abusing going on then it should have been investigated to the fullest extent, of course. However (and maybe this is just Texas's style) they went in to that compound 'guns blazing,' with snipers and tanks for gods sake. Seemed a little overkill to me. And now they can't even locate the 'Sarah' girl that called the cops in the first place. Are they certain that the call even came from within the compound? I guess I just think these are the kinds of questions that should have been answered BEFORE they go splitting up families. Especially those that aren't used to any other way of life. It's a weird lifestyle, one that I do not agree with. But all we have to do is look at the iraq war for an example. Might be easy to get into, but the mess is sure difficult to clean up if your not careful.
04/17/2008 11:28AM
416 children
I do not know if the State of Texas was right or wrong. That being said if children are in the presence of the person abusing then or a person protecting the abuser they will not talk to police or social workers. Unfortunately the children may have to be interview without mothers with them.
If the court want to put them in foster homes, the children should be put with families of similar regilous background (Mormons) since this was a very regilous group that the children lived in
04/17/2008 11:28AM
IF...
the mothers are not responsible enough to keep the children in an atmosphere that is condusive to raising a child properly then they should not have custody! The cult like setting they have been living in is NOT condusive to a healthy unbringing. State officials are just doing their job! IF those mothers were to leave the cult then custody should be reconsidered at that time.
04/17/2008 11:31AM
kids
I agree with the authorities in this case. Those kids are better off anywhere than where they were. Their mothers need mental help before those kids should be returned to them. The mothers of those children were letting horrible things happen to them and its abuse any way you look at it. Until they get help to understand that giving their children over to grown men for sexual purposes is so very wrong, they do not deserve to have them back. I'm sure those poor children are scared and upset because they don't really know what is happening to them but I have to believe that they are better off anywhere than where they were. I for one, just can't feel sorry for any woman who allows that kind of abuse to be done to her child. Just last week it was in the paper that a woman was sentenced to prison time for making a young girl have sex with men in exchange for drugs to support her habit. Just because you put a religious spin on it, doesn't make this horrible crime any different.
04/17/2008 11:38AM
Break the cycle
The majority of the mothers in this situation were born into it themselves. We as "free" Americans need to support the breaking of this vicious cycle of brainwashing. Abuse perpetuates abuse, that is all these people know and that is all they will continue to teach the next generation and the next generation etc. It can be very easily compared to people caught in the welfare system here in NY state. Poorly educated perpetuates poorly educated, lazy perpetuates lazy. There is really no reason in this century that anyone cannot find a productive contribution to the country that is thier home.
04/17/2008 11:46AM
re: kids
yeah but thats the way they've been raised since birth. thats the only way they know how to live! that crazy way of life is 'normal' to them, since the women have been isolated all the time. way back in the day it was fashionable to get married at 15, often times to a much older man. i realize times have changed and i dont condone the abusing if there is any, but you have to have some sympathy for those women, (and children) who have basically been mentally trapped their whole lives.
04/17/2008 11:58AM
people's opinions
People don't understand the people in the ranch's lifestyle. Sure, they try to make it sound like they know what they're talking about, and maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but at everyone should research the normal lifestyles of polygamist peoples. This is what they are used to, and, even though it sounds terrible to us, it seems to be normal to them. We just have to be more open to other religions and their beliefs. It's really annoying to me, at least, when people call in all crazed and flip out about to issue. I know they wouldn't want that to happen to their child(ren), nor let it, but THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE CAMP KNOW!!! Our government, like to one man who called in about the beliefs said, our government is just going to try to make these people see it our way, but what about seeing it their way?
04/17/2008 12:06PM
416
Weslea, i just have to say I agree with what happend. if the mothers knew of what is going on then they should not be able to get there kids back. and its quite obvouse they did, if they really thought of what they were doing and belive why go and hide in a compound miles away form the normal person. the hole thing just sickens me, being a mother myself. my number one job in life is to keep my Kids safe.
04/17/2008 12:11PM
child molesters
Raping young children who do not know any different is not a lifestyle. Why would anyone not want this cycle of violence and cruelty to stop? Just because it is the only lifestyle they know does not make it right. What it makes is a haven for the most disgusting of people and that is the child molester.
04/17/2008 12:12PM
overpopulation
Things like this are what's making our world overpopulated!! The authorities did the right thing, even though the mothers are suffering from losing their children. It's terrible, and it really just sucks for the kids, but at least they'll be safe.
04/17/2008 1:00PM
children
someone said that to these children it's normal and what they are used too...if its that normal and what they are used too then why did the one 15 yr old call in afraid...obviousley that little girl did not feel it was normal at all!!
Since I grew up in Albuquerque I always check the news to see what's going on in my hometown. Yesterday I was appalled when I read this story about a woman who collected thousands of dollars of child support from her ex-husband. Nothing out of the ordinary, right???? Well, it turns out the "child" never existed! She's a con! This woman even lured some kid into the court room to pose as her child! Of course her attorney tried to claim that she's delusional and unfit to stand trial. Luckily she's been found competent. The trial date hasn't been set yet.
I can't believe the lengths some people will go to for a lie. What's the biggest lie you've been told?
Thank you! It was a nice surprise when you handed Mike and I a couple of coupons. You saved me $25 dollars on my mini-shopping spree yesterday! What's more, you brightened my day! It's refreshing when people go out of their way to do something nice for you. Sadly, it doesn't happen as often as it should.
You made me think, we should all make it our goal to do something nice for a stranger from time to time. It's not that difficult. You could help an elderly person with their groceries. Or, slow down (instead of hitting the gas) so people can actually merge into traffic. The smallest gesture of kindness can really make a difference!
What's the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
Do you like your significant other's friends? Or, do you think they are complete morons? Take a look at the email I got yesterday...
Weslea, My husband and I just got into the biggest fight ever! I'm upset because he thinks that my friends are morons. We've all known each other since grade school. We try to get together about twice a month and my husband has made it clear that he won't be taking part in the upcoming get together. He told me that they were beneath me, that they all acted like idiots. He's just mad because last time we all got together two of the husbands went on a "walk" and came back high. He didn't like the fact that they could do something like that and then drive their wives and kids home. I don't like to fight with my husband, but I don't want to give up my friends. What should I do?
What do you think? Have you ever had to give up friends? Have you ever fought with your partner because they don't like your friends?
One of the largest custody cases in US history! Today 416 children will go before a judge in Eldorado Texas in one of the largest custody cases in our nation's history. The children were removed almost two weeks ago, after a 16-year-old girl called an abuse hot line claiming her husband, a 50-year-old member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, beat and raped her. The girl has yet to be identified by investigators. Texas officials believe the children were being physically and sexually abused or were in imminent danger of such abuse. Click here for the entire article.
This story has been all over the news this week. Some think that the children should not have been separated from their mothers. Others think that Texas state officials are just doing their jobs. What are your thoughts on this?
Weslea,
My girlfriend doesn't understand why I won't eat at chain restaurants. It's to the point where we fight every time we are trying to decide where we want to eat. I don't mean to be a food snob, but I'm a chef. I know good food. I love to make good food and I LOVE to eat good food. Why on earth would I want to lower my standard to eat at a chain restaurant or worse yet a fast food joint. That's just gross. I feel bad that I'm always fighting with my girl over something that is so stupid, but I refuse to eat bad food. Are there others like me? My girlfriend swears I'm the most stubborn person in the world. I just want to know if there are other people who refuse to compromise on the things they are passionate about?
Thanks,
Dennis (the food snob) from Greece
Well? Is there anything that you are a snob about? Do you refuse to drink generic beer? Maybe you will only drink certain types of coffee? Or, maybe you only buy designer clothing. Tell me what you are snobby about.
I was baby sitting a little boy a few years ago. I took him to the park, he was playing on the swings and running around in the grass. He was just having a grand old time. All of the sudden I notice he's chewing on something. I run over to him and ask, "What are you eating?" He very excitedly tells me, "I found a raisin!!!" It was too late, he had already swallowed. I felt like the worlds worst babysitter. To this day I hope and pray that the little brown thing he found in the grass actually was a raisin.
Have you ever felt awful about something that happened on your watch? Maybe you felt incompetent (like I did for letting that poor kid eat grass raisins)? Tell me your stories...
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I moved here right after I graduated from the University of New Mexico. Having lived in the desert my whole life, I was in a state of shock when I moved to a place that had trees and green grass. In New Mexico the grass is brittle and mostly a brown color. Shortly after I moved here my boyfriend followed suit. He drove 1800 miles across the country with our cat, Cally, in the back seat so that we could be together. I can only imagine all the unhappy meowing that took place! It paid off though, we've been engaged since July!
Now that she's all settled Cally loves Rochester. But not quite as much as she likes begging for treats!
Be sure to check out the "I Love My Country K-9, Kitty and Critter Club." Every month one lucky pet will win a WBEE prize pack for their owner. All you have to do is email me a picture of your pet. There are new pets to look at every month! And now you can cast your vote for the pet that you think should be WBEE's Pet of the Month!
I love living in Rochester! It's been a blast learning about all the things that set Rochester apart from other places. Garbage plates, the Haunted Hayrides, Red Wings and Amerks games, living near the Finger Lakes (and all those wineries!), gotta love Charlotte beach (polar plunge anyone?), and of course the grand canyon of the east, Letchworth!
I'm a goofball, I love laughing and making people laugh! I enjoy being outdoors hiking and camping, all that good stuff. So far my favorite trail in this area is Hi Tor, it's near Naples a little south of Canandaigua Lake.
I started my radio career in Albuquerque, working part time for several stations while I finished college. By the end of my first week at my first radio job, I was hooked! I knew at that point that I wanted to pursue a career in radio.
As a little girl I would sit in my room and listen to the radio for hours. I had one of the duel tape decks, so I would sometimes create a "radio show," playing my music on one side while I recorded my voice and all the music on the other side. Maybe deep down I always knew that I wanted to work at a radio station.
