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Oprah interviews FLDS moms on YFZ ranch
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FLDS mothers during the 2008 raid on the YFZ ranch
Today Oprah gets unprecedented access to the FLDS Yearning for Zion (YFZ) Ranch, where one year ago, over 400 children were taken into protective custody. Today only one of those children has not been returned.
The allegations of forced, underage marriage is most troubling. This isa radical religious polygomist sect is akin to a cult, and I know I'm not alone in my opinion. As a mom -- a single mom -- I can't imagine not making my own decisions, or having someone make decisions that negatively impact my children -- and in that I mean the alleged sexual abuse and fact that these kids regard work as fun. They do not play. But, they do own iPods which they use to listen to religious music and sermons. And by relgious music I don't think they mean Gospel. The kids also all have cell phones.
Everything is shared on "the ranch" including the husbands. When three of the women were asked how they can love eachother, they said they love eachother because they each love their husband who is the father of their nine combined children. According to the women they love all the children as their own, and while there is a bond between child and biological mother, there is nothing done to foster this bond.
Oprah talked to women about the raid, about having their children taken away. She talked about the crying and screaming mothers and children. As a mother I'd have thought this would impact me. The photos of the children, the words of a mother -- but it didn't. The circumstances are so absurd and frightening, that I can't help but question, not these mothers' love, but from where their fear originated.
When one man was asked what constitutes sexual abuse -- and he says it's open to interpretation. That's probably the scariest part of this show. Consensus of what's right and wrong often defies conventional common sense and laws, and that is clear during this interview.
And as for those hair styles? The women tell Oprah it's not a law -- it's a style. Another thing open to interpretation.
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