I think we need donations for the state of Texas to assist in the prosecution of this cult. I have absolutly no sympathy for practicioners of polygamy. The fact that Brigham Young and the LDS church did it in the 1800s does not make it right today. The federal government forced the church to stop praticing in the 1800s. Perhaps state governments can do the same with the FLDS and other polygamost groups today. I am ready to donate money to that end.

The thing is that the state of Texas is not prosecuting polygamy. They are prosecuting child abuse. This has never been about polygamy. If it was, state officials would have arrested all the men, but they didn't, did they? I hope they prosecute every person who did wrong to a child to the fullest extent of the law, and I will cry for every child allowed back into that compound.

Weep for your country. This is how freedom and democracy dies. We no longer live in a free and just nation.

Chemist is right. The lady who says she wants her daughter to be 25 years old and a college graduate has no clue about college and young people today. If the daughter goes to college you can kiss off the polygamy and subservient attitude. College will be a game changer. I know. I teach at a major state university.

Chemist is right.

This has to be a joke, right? Well... unfortunately not.

The FLDS and other groups seem to have an actual spin machine. This is amazing. Groups that are breaking the law have put together a unit to do the public relations bit. Impressive.

But the public will see through it. And as facts emerge from Texas the public will be outraged in Texas and across the nation.

But in Utah we will get platitudes and excuses, as before. Nothing ever changes does it.

The Shadow Knows.

Anonymous: I fully agree that it is child abuse they are prosecuting. I to will weep for any children that end up back in the compound. What a future; girls "mattied" at puberty to men old enoiugh to be their fathers or grandfathers. Boys who must know that they may be kickedd out for some mimnor infraction. Any society has about an equal number of boy and girl babies. If the male leadership is to have 3+ wives many of the men/boys will have no chance of bring married in the faith. What illogical perverted thinking

No, "Chemist" is dead wrong. I cannot fathom the group Chemist belongs to that would engender such outright hatred for another group, no matter their beliefs. Read Chemist's letter again. The hatred for others is palpable and oozes from every word. What these child protection faschists are doing to these childfren is unspeakable. And then threaten to adopt them out from the only family they have ever known? Lennonist Russia could have come up with no more diabolical plan. And based on "evidence?" Where is the "informant" that initiated this travesty? If there is incontroversial fact of any law breaking, and a reasonable prosecutor believes a jury would side with him, then prosecute the lawbreaker, but to kidnap an entire community of children with no experience to outsiders, then subject the youngest girls to a physical exam to determine if they have been raped would be enough to absolutely terrify a child. They will never forget what the "outside" world did to them and when the heavy handed dolts responsible for this nonsense are sued out of their socks, maybe Texas will settle down again. One would have thought WACO (and Ruby Ridge) to be a lesson. Apparently not.

I agree with California Andy.

What's up with this kind of writing: "At the end of the press conference, red, white and blue balloons — one for each of the Texas children — were released. Some got caught on trees, others popped like firecrackers, and the rest sailed into the afternoon sky, floating north."

Who cares what happened to the balloons! Come on D-News, stick to a professional, news writing style. I want to read news, not poetry.

Lonely_Rider is right. I do not condone polygamy. This is reminisant of the hippie communes of the 60's. These people raise their children to be out of the mainstream, they stay to themselves and if you have been reading all the news, they are being punished for their lifestyle by the very God they worship (i.e., children have physical and menttal anomalies due to the inbreeding). The hippies were not accepted because they did not conform to society, well we do not all have to conform to society if we do not affect others in the community. The FLDS seem to want to keep their lives separate from mainstream society by living in a compound where they raise their own food, have a hospital, and their church. How would each of you feel if your church was raided by law enforcement, your home ramshackled, your family Bible confiscated? I would feel violated! I believe the underage children should be protected, but if you are going to protect them from their religious beliefs, then you would have had to start long ago before they were conceived. May God help them all, this is NOT a communist country. Leave them alone!

The saddest part is that many of these women,children and even men know no other way of life.This is how they lived and what they did. They had NO way of seeing what is on the outside and what is wrong or illegal!! If they did question the beliefs they were going to go to HELL! How confused many of them all must be! I feel so bad for them!!!!

Well put California Andy.

@ Chemist: No sympathy for polygamists? I certainly don't condone it, but if that's all you know, and if you think that is what's right, how can you blame them? Do you not feel sorry for the children the state kidnapped? It's one thing to have an opinion and point of the flaws of their obviously broken society, but it's another thing to feel no sympathy for those involved. It's bigotry!

@ Compassion: It's definitely confusing for them. I think everyone will be judged based on the what we do with the knowledge we have.

And yeah, that was kind of a weird ending to the story.

why would the judge issue a warrant on a phone call that was never confirmed ad who the person was that made it.
To pull over 400 children from their families is so sad.
The judge is an idiot she has should be removed from the bench and the children returned home.
If the person that made the call comes forward her charges of abuse should be looked in to and the person who abused her should be given his day in court.
The children and women had their cell phones taken away by Texas if they were so imprisoned why would the church allow them the use of cell phones i the first place.
Texas has abused the rights of the children and the parents.

I do have sympathy for the children and hope they can be free of the polygamous lifestyle they were born into. If the only way to free them is to have the state take them, then that is better than remaining in the compound with the bleak options they would have there.

What lessons were to be learned at Waco and Ruby Ridge? That they should have moved in on them sooner? The government did what was right then and they are for all intents and purposes, doing what's right this time.
Oh, it's Lenin, not Lennon. And there's no h in fascists.

Let me start by saying I AM NOT A POLYGAMIST. But, when you think about it, polygamy really isn't bad, if it is between consenting adults. Granted, it would not work for everybody, but, for some it works out great.

Think about it, if a man marries a woman who wants a career and another woman who wants lots of kids, it could be a great system. There would be a father, in the home, one woman can work on her career and have kids. The children would be raised in a loving home with parents who care about them, and not in an institutionalized daycare.

Also, if practiced by consenting adults, it is better for society than the serial relationships that we have where people are making babies then running away at the first sign of a problem.

Finally, think about the environment, rather than having a bunch of single women living in an apartment or house by themselves, they are reducing their impact on the environment by livng in a larger household.

To You Go First: There are couples who hire a full time live in nanny. Why would you need to call it polygamy? Why should the nanny be "married" to the husband? A live in care taker makes more sense to me than polygamy.
I agree with California Andy; what would be gained by waiting 10-20 years to go in? Just another generation of lost boys and child brides. Maybe it could have been done in a better way, but it really did needed to be done. I am in the midwest, have no polygamous forebears and have heard nothing that seems good about it.

chemist-do you have children? If you do how would you feel if whatever religion you're a part of someone decided it was illegal. Think about it. All you've ever known, what you've taught your children and you believe it with all your heart. Then the government decided to come take your whole world out from under you-you might feel a little different. I don't think it's right to marry girls underage and I never have, but I happen to know the sincerity and the faith that these people have in believing what they do is right. To these young girls they don't feel abused. I know there are some cases where there is abuse, but no more than the abuse that goes on in your town. I graduated from 12th grade, have a college education, and guess what? I even have a brain, and I'm FLDS.

Of course they don't feel abused. They have been brainwashed all of their lives that their fate is to be a plural bride to an old man. Obviously you are not a lost boy, but mathematically there have to be a lot of surplus males to be kicked out of the community to leave 3+ women for the leaders. Taking action now will cause pain for many, but waiting only prolongs it. There have been many reports of abuse in the FLDS. If a girl of 14-15 is sexually active with a male over 18 it is sexual abuse and statutory rape. The LDS church was forced to give up polygamy and it was painful. Now it is time for the FLDS to give it up and it will be painful, but is necessary. FYI, I have a Doctors Degree and several children. I would never stand by and see my 14 year old daughter "married" to a 50 year old man. I love her too much to see that happen.

Yep I'm defiately not a lost boy. I'm a girl. I have 7 children of my own and I would never allow my daughter to marry anyone at 14. The other polygamys groups that are sending their support to Texas are doing it because they know the sincerity behind the women that live polygamy. I was really frustrated when I first read your comment, but now I've had a little more time to think of it from your point of view. I still don't agree with the way Texas went about it all. I know I would fight for all I was worth for my children, whether they were being taken from me by the state or to be married off at a young age, just as I know you would.

To chemist 1:53, what happens when the live-in care taker decides to move on? The kids would be disturbed by the change, and they may not like it. Also, there is a HUGE difference between taking care of children and raising children. Taking care of children does not required any vested interest in their future.