On Monday, six girls were taken into state custody from the compound of evangelist Tony Alamo in southwest Arkansas amid allegations that the religious leader was marrying young girls to older men.
While he denies the abuse, he does believe that young girls should marry as soon as possible because it's mandated by the Bible. His view on sex for girls? "Consent is puberty."
The U.S. Attorney's Office believes the compound was producing child pornography. Alamo denies this allegation, stating that it's government officials who are engaging in impure activities after taking the young girls into protective custody.
Stories like these make me feel like I've been transported to the past, where wimmin-folk were to be seen and not heard, and edjoo-ca-shun was only for them uppity folks.
I simply don't understand. In this country, in the 21st century, how can it be okay that families relegate their daughters to such a life, with no education, no idea of the wider world, no idea of what they're capable of? I don't believe living such a life as an informed choice is a bad thing. I do think that forcing young teens into it without an understanding of their potential is a very bad thing.
But I guess that depends on your perspective. If your power base depends on keeping half your followers under strict control, and the other half can be bribed with the promise of a young girl, it's certainly not to your advantage to give those young girls any kind of exposure to the wider world. We can't have them thinking they can do or be anything other than a teen bride, now can we?
Granted, Mr. Alamo appears to be a real nutter, complete with ideas about the great Washington, DC/Vatican conspiracy and Armageddon, not to mention carrying his dead wife's body around with him for years on end, waiting for her to be resurrected. As long as he's not hurting anyone, I really don't care if he paints his ass blue and barks at the moon. But the young girls who have their choices and futures compromised by him and his belief system deserve better.
H/T to SkepChick
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