Regardless of the religious and polygamist issues, I think we all agree that child abuse needs to be detected faster and prosecuted more vigorously. Does anyone know of any especially innovative ways to do this? We've created an online role-playing course that lets teachers (who often notice signs of abuse, but fail to act) practice a conversation with a possible child abuse victim. It gives expert feedback after every choice. If you know of other innovative programs (using technology or not), please let us know. Thanks!
Geoff Brown | Homepage | 04.18.08 - 4:55 pm | #

Not so long ago in this country, it was common for young women who achieved puberty and who desired to start a family (teens younger than eighteen) to wed older men. This was considered natural and quite acceptable. What has changed since then? Were many of our great-great-grandfathers pedophiles worthy of incarceration? Society has changed its laws but not the essential realities of being human. In this country alone, over 400,000 unwed underage teenagers become single mothers each year. Is society better off for prohibiting such women from marrying a man of their choosing (old or young) and beginning a family? Shouldn't the larger issues of personal choice and parental consent be the overriding considerations for such matters?

The raid on the FLDS compound clearly raises constitutional issues concerning the freedom of personal religious worship for U.S. citizens. It should also give us pause to question how we have changed the laws in modern times concerning the age of consent for marriage. I'm all for stopping individuals from abusing the rights of others by forcing them into unwanted marriages. But, I don't see the harm in allowing underage teens who have reached puberty to marry a responsible older person with the consent of their parents. Modern Federal and State laws have become far too intrusive on freedoms that should otherwise be allowed under the U.S. Constitution. Rather than persecute a religious sect that disagrees with the modern norms of American society, perhaps it is time to rethink the rationale for the unnecessarily restrictive laws that we have enacted and to return to an era of greater freedom.

We need honest answers to many difficult questions like: What is so inherently evil about an older man marrying a young teenage woman who has reached child-bearing age and who wishes to be married to him? Most parents would not consent to such unions unless the man, no matter what age he is, has the means to support their daughter. For that matter, what is so inherently evil about plural marriage? It was practiced with the blessing of God in Biblical history. As long as a man properly supports his multiple wives and the women involved do not object, why should society prohibit these unions? How does allowing such unions damage society? Unless we can demonstrate an over-riding societal risk in allowing certain practices, I fail to see why society should have the right to prohibit them just because the majority of Americans do not agree with them.
Darrell | 04.18.08 - 5:40 pm | #