Reader comments
FLDS classes to focus on 'core strengths'

Wow, the state teaching morals, ethics and principals. Is it me or does it not get any better than that!

Unbelievable that the State of Texas would presume to teach tolerance to these "different" people that they have rounded up, separated children, literally babies from their mothers, in an effort to impose conformity with the "norm". This whole expensive debacle is about "intollerance" for a society that is centered around the family.

The problem is that it is others who need totolerate the FlDS. This course appears to be drawn up by that quack, Dr. Perry, who admiited that all he knew about the FLDS was about he heard about in the media.

The designers of this class knew very well that this group prides itself on staying separate and above the world around it. The emphasis in the curriculum on becoming "tolerant of different races and cultures," appears to be a direct attack on the group's core supremacist beliefs, which makes me question whether that's what this is all about. Is it the perceived racism that's at issue or the alleged child abuse? If the issue was child sexual abuse, and if the FLDS are really a bunch of child molesters, like the state claims, why isn't stopping child sexual abuse the primary emphasis of these so called parenting classes? Obviously the state has a different agenda.

"Promising to teach tolerance, awareness and respect of others..."

Perhaps they could teach this to the state of Texas.

Yep........Tolerance of other cultures should do the trick.
Now all we need is for the citizens of ElDorado, and the members of CPS to sign up.
How about a class on reading a State ID and the definition of "emminent danger".
Then there's the class on basic math, but I guess we will save that one for after graduation... kind of a "college level" exercise.

How refreshing that the FLDS will finally learn to stop brainwashing their children by submitting to government approved brainwashing.

This is absolutely ridiculous. The FLDS should be teaching the classes, and all the STATE officials involved in this raid should be taking the tolerance classes.

Pull yours heads out, Texas!

Well, I'm pleased to see from the preceding comments that I'm not alone in questioning this latest action by the officials of Texas.

While I admit to being sympathetic with the ostensible intentions of attempting to broaden the cultural and social horizons of the FLDS children, not to mention the parents, I am EXTREMELY leery of the idea of the state setting the standards. Especially in this "Big Brother", draconian manner.

Using someone’s children as potential hostages (after amply demonstrating their willingness and power to take them hostage) in order to enforce the teaching by the parents of the State’s ideals of "Attachment," "Self-Regulation," "Affiliation," "Attunement," "Tolerance" and "Respect" seems to be just the latest example of egregiously overreaching application of governmental regulation.

In terms of promoting respect and tolerance for divergent beliefs and cultures, I can't imagine a more blatantly hypocritical method.

Once again, the FLDS are blogging under different names and trying to make us all believe that they are terrible victims.

Teaching children to be racist and frightened of everyone around them is a form of abuse. Isolating people and refusing to allow them the freedom to choose their own life's course is a form a abuse.

Raising children in a warped culture being lead by false prophets with out-of-control sex drive and megalomaniac egos is a form of abuse. Forcing women to wear weird clothes and bizarre hairdos is a form of abuse. Teaching children to fear the color red is a form of abuse. How about forcing them to watch animals being tortured to death.

Warren Jeffs has publicly stated (on tape) that he is NOT a prophet, he NEVER was a prophet and he is one of the MOST WICKED men of this dispensation. Sounds like for the first time in his life he is telling the truth.

This is a culture full of MOSTLY good people who need help. The State of Texas is trying to do that. Due to the "traditions of their fathers" these people have been lead astray for many years.

Tolerance, awareness and respect of others???? This is TEXAS teaching this to the FLDS? Tell me, did stealing their children, and tramplling all over their rights fall under "awareness", "respect", or does that count as just being "tolerant"?

Where is the Texas hotline for intolerance. I may start making annonymous calls right away. Darn...I
need to go get an unregistered cell phone.

This class seems insane. It's basically saying we are going to teach you to love and respect other cultures. I live in Texas, they need to learn this. I mean there is a school in Houston that welcomed two Muslim parents to teach about the culture and the parents went crazy. They didn't want their kids learning about that. I think all parents in Texas should take this course, if having a respect for other cultures in a requirement for having children

The CPS, The JUDGE and all related DPS should be taking a tolerance class. most Texans are not like THe Crazy's in CPS and law enforcement. I am a 6th generation Texan and am applalled at the way this has been handled.

It is only 8 hours??????~!!!!!!
8 years would have been better. There isn't much they can learn about being a good parent in 8 hours.

Cats, if those things are abuse, then why doesn't the state of Texas just come out and say so? If the state of Texas has an issue with the way FLDS children are raised, why doesn't the state of Texas create and enforce mandates for all Texas families to prevent that kind of allegedly harmful upbringing? What's needed here is more transparency into what exactly the state of Texas is up to. That way, other non-FLDS families, who perhaps raise their children under similar, perhaps ultra-orthodox, or separatist, principles, will know for sure, whether they are at risk of having their children taken from then, and can take the necessary precautions, i.e. leaving the state of Texas.

Is 8 hours enough to do a decent job of brainwashing?

Just for the record....I am a Texan. My family has been in this Syate since it was a republic and I live on the land that has been in my family since the 1870s'.
If the FLDS have been here for six months they are Texans as well and have every right to express themselves...........besides they are americans.
To minimize an opinion by demonizing the messenger is as intolerant as the State of Texas has been.
I am a Texan.....will die a Texan......and am ashamed of this State. The States actions were barbaric...........the end does not justify the means.

Kumbaya: I agree with you that some definition would useful. The State of Texas is doing their best under very difficult circumstances with a situation they have never dealt with before. They have made a few mistakes, but they're doing their best. Utah and Arizona have more experience, but have also had a difficult time with enforcement because of the sheer numbers involved and the secretive way these people operate. This has been going on for generations.

However, we all need to take some responsibility now and try to help these people transition into a better life. Things have just gone way too far and society needs to do something to prevent further abuse of innocent women and children. Some of the boys and men are victims, too.

The States of Texas, Utah and Arizona and other states as well as the Federal Government need to follow through this time. I really hope these people can now, finally, come out of the shadows and get some help.

Kumbaya, there are laws against racism motivated crimes. There are laws against animal cruelty. There are kidnapping and human trafficking laws. There are laws against physical butality. And you should know by now that there are laws prohibiting sex with children. Texas is probably just trying to educate these parents so if they have any decency they will teach their children how to live within the law and treat others with humanity despite their beliefs.