MistressYlwa
Posts: 263
Joined: 8/25/2005 Status: offline
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Watched the Primetime piece on Centennial Park last night. It describes an idyllic Mormon community in Arizona. Religion based, it presents a positive look at polygamy. A quite different view, compared to nearby Colorado City, only 2 miles away. The husband of the family interviewed comes from a large family himself. His father had 16 wives and 75 children. At present he has 2 wives, 9 children, and 1 on the way. The church and community work closely together. Lavish homes, constructed free in some cases, with volunteer workers from the community. Women who are content and happy to share their husbands with their sister wives. Men who support and raise huge families, happily and lovingly. I do have my questions, but of course these are things that reflect the religious aspects of their lives. The church controls all relationships. No dating, and marriages are prearranged. A woman can express, to her father, her desire to join with a man, but the parents and church determine suitability and arrange the match. The man may not even know of her interest, yet is expected to happily accept her as his wife. The same situation can occur for the woman involved, as well. Women in pants are considered defiant of authority. They believe blacks are descendants of Canaan and are cursed. There are other questionable beliefs, but not discussed. Their religion is firm in its beliefs and no one in the community questions those beliefs in any way. As Mormons, they do not recognize polyandry. So multiple wives only. It is a faith based marriage, not sexually based, though it is definitely part of their marriage. The family interviewed was very open about the difficulties, lack of desire to jealousy. But seem to deal with it in a positive way. The women have become more vocal and have entered the political arena. Working to reverse laws against polygamy. I think that in some ways, this was a positive look at poly. But again, with the religion based community, it shows the narrowness that can occur as well. I do hope that they are successful in their pursuits in changing the laws against multiple married partners. I also hope that America can look past the religious aspects and see the joy that is in a poly family. The support and love between all partners.
< Message edited by MistressYlwa -- 2/14/2007 10:08:25 AM >
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Mistress Ylwa You see what power is - holding someone elses fear in your hand and showing it to them! - Amy Tan
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