Cutting the cards
 
Opinion
The Spectrum
 
It's not polygamy - more than one spouse between consenting adults - that is so egregious. In fact, the use of the word "polygamy" as a catch-all for the many grievances surrounding it may be partially to blame for inadequate address of the problems. Perhaps it's time we started calling things what they really are - naming the polygamy-clouded accessories that reside firmly in the realm of the unacceptable and obscene.

Among those accessories are welfare fraud, education and information censure, pedophilia, incest and perpetuation of the concept that divinity is somehow at the helm. That sexual abuse of young girls and resulting teen pregnancy has hidden beneath the robes of God in our state for so long is absolutely inexcusable. We raise our voices against oppression and mistreatment of women in countries like Afghanistan. We're appalled by thoughts of what allegedly occurs at Michael Jackson's Neverland. Yet somehow in Utah (and Arizona) we just turn the other cheek when it comes to similar crimes and corruption.

Crimes like ending a girl's education and closing her mind at puberty. Crimes like banishing young men to reduce the number of males in the "herd." Corruption like granting revered status to men who father dozens of children, who will likely not be fully supported with basics, much less higher education. Corruption like using a position of trust or the guise of religion to prey upon minor girls, convincing them that sexual relations with someone two or more times their age is a sacred duty.

It's time we started really pursuing these hidden accessories - these crimes against children and the attendant fraudulent exploit of welfare. After all, our tax dollars are funding this way of life and our hard work translates into propagation of a lifestyle that is building a heritage of underage sexual relations and abuse of public assistance.

Our state cannot continue to turn a blind eye and extend the helpful hand of government to a society practicing a way of life that fosters the standstill of a young woman's education, tragically limits her choices before she's had a chance to vote and saddles her with the burden of children before she's reached adulthood herself.

What cards are missing in this deck? Why do we allow the word "polygamy" to paralyze and understate our response to these very real "accessory" crimes and corruptions that are every bit as damaging as many others we arrest and prosecute with ease?

Taking legal action against men who father children with children and issuing warrants are small steps forward. But with crimes of this magnitude and reach, soft sentencing and excuses of inadequate resources are two steps back. We search upstream for drug-war kingpins. We must search out, rein in and lock up the real leaders and "prophets" of this "accessory pack."

These "accessories" will cost far more than the necessary short-term resources. It's time to go after the ace of spades.

Kerry Kastler Hepworth is a resident of Leeds.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published Tuesday, June 14, 2005
 
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