Polygamy should concern residents of all states
 
By Pennie Petersen
Opinion
 
GUEST EDITORIAL

I'm appalled to see that Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith could brush off the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's move to Texas as if it were no big deal. If anyone should know how serious this matter is, he should. He has witnessed first hand how chaotic it is getting in Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah.

Since Warren Jeffs has taken control, many members have lost wives, children, parents and homes, including Warren's own brothers and the town mayor of 20 years.

The wives are being remarried and hundreds of children are being torn from their fathers, then receiving new ones within days. Underage girls are being married off in the name of God. Warren's home is being turned into a fortress. Orsen William Black fled to Mexico under Sheriff Smith's watch after being charged with five felonies for crimes against children, and yet he's going to bring this Texas sheriff up to Colorado City and Hildale and romance him on what a wonderful and peaceful little community it is.

And why shouldn't he? I'm sure he's sick of this whole polygamy issue, too, as so many are. So why not let them all go to Texas? Out of sight, out of mind, right?

But please, let's not forget about the real issues. It's hard enough escaping from Colorado City, so what are these children going to do in the middle of the Texas desert? How will they get out now? What about the under-aged boys that they drop off in Salt Lake City because they don't meet the FLDS standards? Where will they be dropped off now?

How will a young girl who doesn't want marriage get out of this new compound? Who's going to monitor the birth and death in this new secluded setting? This move should throw up many red flags. Do we not have books upon books about fanatical leaders? They all seem to share the same disturbing attribute.

They keep their followers isolated, uneducated and fearful of the outside world. Texas, it should worry you that "all they want is to be left alone." Left alone to do what? Isn't it clear what happens when they're left alone? Now that the states of Utah and Arizona won't leave them alone to break laws, rape the welfare system and underage girls, they're trying to make a run for your state.

They have already deceived you once with what they are building, and I can assure you it won't be the last. Their own attorney, Rodney Parker, said it himself: They are running from prosecution. This should raise concern for all of the people in Texas, Utah and Arizona.

Pennie Petersen is a former resident of Colorado City, Ariz. Petersen currently resides in Phoenix.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published Monday, May 10, 2004
 
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