Reader comments
Readers' forum: Don't legalize polygamy
254 comments | Read story
Of course, polygamy can kill people, and with sexual transmitted diseases. What's wrong with you? Some of you guys on here really nutso!
Your statement ignores the fact that the Church excommunicates people for adultery in the United States. It ignores the extra-marital relations that many wealthy basketball players are involved in. Most of all it ignores the official mistresses of the French Kings under the Ancient Regime and related issues.
Your linking of poverty with promiscuity is far too simplitic.
Shows / Drama, Docs and Reality TV / TV Reality Shows / The Minisode Network
While as I said, in the inter-mountain west support for polygamy may be based on religion in most cases, this is not true if we take a broader view of the United States let alone the world.
There have been many posts on here arguing a secular reason for rejecting same-gender marriage. You may disagree with their logic, but I would reccomend that you accept that the people truly believe their reasoning makes sense.
Secondly, I would recomend you think about the so-called "religious case for same gender marriage". Some of your logic becomes convoluted if you do that.
Thirdly, just because no Hmong polygamists or Polygamists who practice it because of their cultural origins in West Africa have posted on this discussion board does not mean they do not exist.
Lastly your logic that since no one would support plural marriage without a religious argument for it we should ban it, even if it were based on truth about the reasons behind plural marriage, is faulty. You are saying we should seek to eradicate a practice because it is only a religious practice.
More
I haven't and wouldn't read your religious books, based on some dude using seer stones. I also don't believe ANYONE has actually had a conversation with God. So while you follow a bunch of strict rules written by men that portray themselves to have God's ear, I simply use common sense in determining what is right and what is wrong.
If it hurts others, or reduces the rights of anyone (like polygamy), it is a bad thing. if it hurts no one (like same sex marriage), it is ok. If it helps people and hurts no one, it is a good thing.
It's that simple. Don't need a bunch of books to stay on God's good side. It pretty much just boils down to the golden rule - written by a great philosopher many years ago..
is it fairly clear that my opinion of organized religion is that it falls into the first category?
mistress | 6:00 p.m. Jan. 15, 2009
Ricki Lake Show - Minisode - I'm Ready to Confront My H ...with FIVE MISTRESSES.
Shows / Drama, Docs and Reality TV / TV Reality Shows / The Minisode Network
At least as I understand the most anti-religion ruling in US history, well, second most anti-religion ruling, Employment Devision v. Smith, the state can outlaw soemthing if it has a secular purpose, but if its purpose is to destroy a practice that is only condemned because it only arises from religion than the state does not have a secular, non-discriminatory purpose.
If you take the un-overtuned Idaho Test oath ruling by the supreme court you can argue that certain religious practices are so repugnant that the state can take proactive steps to see that they are eradicated.
While the US Supreme Court has not overturned this ruling both the Utah and Pennsylvania Supreme Courts have made rulings that make it so that the government can not deney someone such freedoms as freedom of speech merely because they are using this freedom to promote polygamy.
However Shepp v. Shepp, the one that seems to say that, is an odd case. This is largely because it is built on the false reading of the Yoder case encapsulated in the Smith case.
Persnally I think the ruling in Shepp v. Shepp is unwise. More.
From: fantasycheck
Shepp argued that because polygamy is illegal in Pennsylvania, the visitation rights of Mr. Shepp should be terminated or at least he should be forbidden from trying to teach their daughter ideas in favor of polygamy.
I think Ms. Shepp should have been granted this request since she had custody, and I think the parent having custody should be able to make actual decisions in raising the child.
However, there is the problem that the court followed Smith and held that if the issue was merely plural marriage, then Ms. Shepp would win. However they claimed that this also invoked the Yoder principal of parental control of child education, and with two issues invoked Mr. Shepp won.
I dislike the notion that religious freedom only works when it is paired with another violation of rights.
I am actually suprised that someone like John Pack Lambert, who comes across as fairly educated, would be in the mormon religion. No offense to mormons, but revolving your life around the writings of someone that used seer stones to predict the future just doesn't seem very logical... again - no offense intended.
Well, the comparison to honor killings which is what I actually responded to was a comparison to something that will kill you.
On the other hand, on occasion people have drowned while being baptized, or at least while coming back to shore from where they were bapatized.
If your doctrine of heightened risk of sexually transmitted disease had any legal merit, than Lawrence v. Texas would have been decided in favor of Texas. The highetened risk of contracting the AIDS virus from sodomy as opposed to other forms of sexual contact would justify outlawing such conduct.
You have to keep in mind that polygamy can get someone put in prison and sodomy can not, and to defend the former you have to come up with an issue that apllies at least less to the latter. In the case of STDs it is the other way around, sodomy is the form of sexual contact most likely to spread a whole host of diseases.
IDEAL TEST CASE (Checklists for Anti/Pro-Polygamy SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS)
( ) "GENDER NEUTRAL EQUAL PROTECTIONS (TEST/PROOF), AND
( ) "IDEALLY ASYMMETRIC EQUALITY OF GENDERS (TEST/PROOF),
( ) "BASIC-MINIMUM GENDER EQUALITY STANDARD (TEST/PROOF)," IN THE EYES OF THE LAW AND IN THE EYES OF THE COURTS (ULTRA-SECULAR COURTS)"
IDEAL TEST CASE WITH CORE:
( ) WRITTEN PRENUPTIAL CONTRACTS for polygamists/ous (in all States) (as FIRST TEST CASE) with parental rights;
( ) CIVIL UNIONS CONTRACTS for polygamists/ous (in some States) (SECOND TEST CASE);
( ) DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTS for polygamists/ous (in some States) (SECOND TEST CASE),
( ) COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP CONTRACTS for polygamists/ous (UTAH ONLY) (SECOND TEST CASE)
( ) Mutual-commitment registry for polygamists/ous (SECOND TEST CASE)
CRITERIA:
( ) ATTAINABLE
( ) CREDIBLE
( ) INEVITABLE
NOTICE OF MORAL RIGHTS OTHER CREDITS AND ATTRIBUTIONS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO DEBATER AS PREVIOUSLY STATED AS FACTS AND FICTION, QUASI-FACT AND QUASI-FICTION, AND RESEARCH, IN PREVIOUS CLAIMERS AND DISCLAIMERS.
***************************************************
The problem is that you refuse to recognize that there are millions of people on the earth who have practiced polygamy without ever having heard of Joseph Smith or the Bible, and that even though saying that most practitioners of it today are ignorant of these things totally is probably a bit strong, most practitioners of polygamy world wide do not base their practice on the belief that they are fulling a specific commandment of God to practice it.
After that you next biggest problem is that although some of your arguments about having a religious origin in the practice would apply to "Christian" polygamists who base the practice on their reading of the Bible, at least the most vocal supporters of this movement in the United States reject underage marriages and insist polygamy must be built on mutual love, and in no way claim that a man can recieve a revelation that makes it so a specific woman must marry him.
The fact that the most vocal supporters of Christian polygamy in the US are website operators in Maine who apparently do not actually practice it, makes it easy for them to be so idealistic.
�And we get tired of small minded people trying to compare polygamy and homosexuality! They are different! Polygamy has been shown time and again to cause many problems. It is wrong...plain and simple. There are not always bad people in polygamy, but polygamy itself, is bad!�
Circa 1969:
And we get tired of small minded people trying to compare gay people and straight people! They are different! Homosexuality has been shown time and again to cause many problems. It is wrong...plain and simple. There are not always bad homosexuals, but homosexuality itself, is bad!
The arguments were the same then. Only the minority group has changed.
PETE
Provided of course everyone is over 18 and taking part of their own free will, and is not otherwise related.
I would not do it, however the above aside. If their is No Physical or Mental Abuse and the family supports its self and the kids are well cared for. Then I don't care if you do. I will not keep my kids from playing with your kids.
There are situations that are a lot worse. I am not going to ask personal questions because it is non of my business. I will just be a good neighbor and friend and i know my wife will do the same. My kids do not pick on people so that�s not an issue. Nor do they allow themselves to be picked on.
Again my main and only objection is that it is against the Law. Change The Law.
Same goes for Gay Marriage. If you do not like work within the system to change the Law. We can do that in America.
In the mean time the Law stands.
-It's immoral and wrong (Why? Many claim the same of SSM.)
-Its bad record (Need to see past the FLDS stereotype - just as SSM shouldn't be judged by the Castro District and 70's/80's bath houses in San Francisco. Legalization would bring polygamy out of the underground to where it can be policed.)
-It's anti-women (So was traditional marriage until the last 50 years; there's no reason that legal safeguards can't exist as with regular marriage. Polyandry and group marriage are hardly anti-women, nor is polygyny by consenting women.)
-It's something only religious folks want (Even if true, so what? If SSM was connected to religion, would that undermine it? If SSM/polygamy is held to be a civil right, the whole secular/sectarian argument is meaningless.)
-Marriage is between two people (Polygamy has a heckava longer resume than SSM when it comes to defining what marriage is.)
-It'll bring God's wrath (Maybe so, but that's hardly very compelling from a legal standpoint.)
My Gr, Gr, grandparents were Mormon polygamist and the women in my family involved hated polygamy. My story is also a sad one and much like yours. There is no doubt that women do suffer under these immoral conditions. Some polygamist were even told to say to others that it was good, and to put up and shut up no matter if they believed in it or not. It was a mans world --not a women's. Men had choices and women had none.
It was collapsing LONG before gay marriage was accepted in that country. Check you facts.
You want polygamy legalized? then come up with a contract for all parties. Instead of a marriage contract, it would be a multi-marriage contract. All parties would need to sign it - all wives and the husband.
the current marriage contract, whether man/woman or same sex, is fairly specific, and there are laws in each state defining the rights of each party.
I think you would get very little push-back to legalizing polygamy if all parties had to read, UNDERSTAND, and sign a contract between the multiple parties, explaining each party's individual rights and duties.
You ok with that? Because I bet most polygamist men would have a real hard time signing away so many of their "assumed" rights when bringing on a second wife (his property now split 3 or more ways) and there would be many 1st or 2nd wives that refuse to sign away some of their property or inheritance rights.
But polygamy would be legal.... go for it.
1. Marriage = 1 man + 1 woman
2. Marriage = 2 men or 2 women
3. Marriage = 1 man + 2 or more women
4. Marriage = 1 woman + 2 or more men
5. Marriage = 2 or more men + 2 or more women
6. Marriage is so encompassing it is meaningless, so it is abolished as a Government sanctioned institution. To borrow a line from The Incredibiles: "and when everyone is special, no one is"
unfortunately, you do not have the proper communications skills. I strongly suggest the Evelyn Woodhead reading course and the Gary Troderite logic course. Or you can just keep posting totally incomprehensible comments in CAPS.
your call...
Your right, having not as many rights as the man is A LOT worse than having no rights whatsoever, which is closer to the current situation.
The problem with legalizing it-- is how do we keep woman from having a dozen husbands?
to continue -
all you wannabe polygamists should consider developing such a contract. It would have to be different than the regular marriage contract since it has to cover more than 2 people, plus any children, etc.
and when a wife filed for divorce, many assets would need to be liquidated so the spouse leaving would be able to get her share. (This would hurt the remaining parties).
And the amount of child support the man would have to pay would get very high if a wife leaves with her children. (This too would hurt the other wives).
The man wouldn't have as much claim to the children since the wife has 50% of the children and the man has a lesser % (everything he has is split by all parties so with 5 wives he would only have a 20% stake in each child). And any assets aquired during the time of multiple wives would be owned by all parties.
I think it would get very interesting - and very ugly.
I say we go for it. If nothing else, it would make a great reality TV show...
well, I read your post 3 times and still can't figure out whether you're agreeing or disagreeing - or what you are trying to say.
who has no rights whatsoever? which "current situation"? you need to be more specific....
Oh your mindless tunnel view is really something to laugh at. Let me make it simple for you dear. No one is legalizing immorality. Just because you think something is wrong, doesn't make it wrong. Just because your silly books that you read, that were written ages ago by so called "prophets" doesn't mean that everyone has to follow those rules! Live your life, let others live theirs, it is that simple. No one is legalizing immorality, we are legalizing fredom of choice! If I am not mistaking, that was Christ's plan since the very beginning- FREE AGENCY!
and what do you base your morals on? God? who's God? which God?
you need to understand that your morals and everyone elses morals are not necessarily the same. and basing laws on your religious beliefs doesn't work because your God isn't necessarily the same God as everyone elses...
yeah, yeah - I know - blasphemy!!!
�The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,� he told Tarts. �There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them.
I only boycott those that don't speak the truth, and since everything he said is true, I just can't justify boycotting him for that....
So it is perfectly fine to boycott any business in which the individual owners or managers donated to Prop 8? It is the same thing, isn't it?
and yes - it is perfectly fine.
The principle of whether such a right exists is independent of the mere potential for abuse. The law recognizes traditional marriage regardless of the possibility of coercive or unequal relationships (pre-nups being a classic example). The point is that consenting adults may freely choose to enter such legal marriages, despite understanding that such a marriage may not leave them as equals. You enter a marriage with open eyes and reap the consequences.
***For the record, I do NOT support recognition of polygamous marriages - I just think it's silly to argue for SSM while ignoring the unintended possibilities of other legal relationships.***
no - I am not assuming the issue is the potential for abuse. I am merely stating that there already exists a contract (and associated laws) that protect all parties for 2-person marriages.
You want multi-person marriages? then come up with a contract (and associated laws) that protect all parties for multi-person marriages.
since all parties are affected, all parties must sign. So unfortunately for the man, his prior wives must all sign, and they would be giving up some rights (or at least some right to some properties.)
like I said - if people want polygamist marriages (or multi-person marriages) then that's fine. Just make it legal via a contract. And just like any other contract, all parties must sign (just like both parties sign on a regular 2-person marriage).
I just think that the guy will have a hard time getting the earlier wives to sign the contract, and he might not like having to sign away most of his property, since it now must be split between a lot more people. 2 person marriage means both parties get half. Multi-person marriage means everyone gets a percent.
I absolutely agree with you. Polygamy is practiced in countries where the man owns the property (and usually the wives.) Who, in their right minds would want to have such a convoluted contract?
I say make it legal and see how many men can get more than one sane woman to sign up for this. As far as that goes, see how many sane men want this.
Provided the legal right to enter a polygamous marriage exists, the law doesn't care if the husband (or wife in polyandry) can't get a potential spouse to sign on the dotted line.
Pedophiles weather they like girls, boys, or both and what age group is completely different from being Straight or Gay. What I do not agree with is that its opportunistic, in short what ever is there will do. Very much not the case.
Plural marriage in all its forms, provided everyone is of legal age. Is not pedophilia. To connect the two gives both a bad name.
Other then Not being legal, Plural Marriage does not have to be harmful.
Pedophiles by their very nature and the nature of what they do are harmful and dangerous 24/7.
Hollywood spends large amounts of money to get Bambi Obama elected, a lot of people think that is un-American, and I am one of them.**
And I will still boycott his stupid HBO movies and films.
I call the boycott a TV remote.
Add your comment
Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.
E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- BYU is champion of the state
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...


In both these cases the terms technically have a very broad meaning, but they are used in very limited senses. "The Jews" John speaks of are the leaders of the Jews, and in the same way, 19th Century church leaders would have conveyed better to our understanding what they meant had they said things like "the monogamists in congress who are passing these oppresive laws".