Posted on 04/15/2008 5:15:25 PM PDT by tripod
ELDORADO, Texas (AP) - State officials Tuesday defended their decision to suddenly separate mothers from many of the children taken in a raid on a polygamist ranch in West Texas. Texas Children's Protective Services spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said the separation was made Monday after they decided that children are more truthful in interviews about possible abuse if their parents are not around.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
If that is the case, these "mothers" should never see their children again.
I agree with you about the child abuse. But certainly not all of these 400 children have been abused. And, there isn’t going to be any abuse while under state supervision. I don’t buy the state’s argument that the children won’t talk with mothers around. They are going to be interviewed privately anyway. I think this is a powergrab by Social Services which is notorious for violations of parental rights.
I’ve been pretty tough on the authorities here. There are some things I understand and others I don’t. For instance, I think there were likely abuses taking place on the farm. So far that hasn’t been proven, but it does seem plausible at this point.
The infractions seem to involve the young women, that they are exploited sexually for the pleasure of the adult males.
What I don’t quite understand is why the boys are being isolated from their moms. I there a reason for this?
Folks, while I do think some bad things were going on out there, I am by no means convinced that every child was being abused, that every adult was involved.
At this point we have signed off on every child being ripped from their parents. I remain unconvinced that is warranted.
Give me a plausible reason, and I might change my mind.
No doubt some DNA tests are in order ~ just to make sure the kids belong to the mothers.
Second, CPS can be overreaching.
Third, I would have to agree that these kids will be more open if they are outside of the presence of their mothers
Once each mother is cleared of any wrongdoing, mother and child should be reunited.
And if any of the women did hand over their pubescent daughters to adult men, they should go to prison for life.
I agree. And, I think it is a wholesale violation of rights - parents’ and childrens’. Again, if supervision is in place children and their mothers ought to be allowed to be together until things are sorted out and specific cases identified where state intervention is justified. Some dangerous precedents are being set in this case my friends.
I don’t know. I think they have to separate them, and then go on a case-by-case basis, and that could take awhile (400!!). I think it’s going to be hard to get a straight story as it is, let alone with Mama watching over it all.
Personally, I’m just grateful it didn’t all end in a big fireball.
Is that how the Texas sherrif gets around?
Given what these mothers (in name only) allowed to happen to some of these children, that’s an incredibly stupid thing to say.
(As if teenage girls never lied to get adults in trouble before.)
Sounds like a witch-hunt in progress.
I’m going to have to agree with you on that.
Have they found the kid that made the anonymous phone call?
I can’t get past that part.
I don’t know anything about these people but the whole thing reminds me of the old movie “The Children’s Hour” in which false lesbian allegations of lesbianism from a young girl ruin some womens’ lives.
It was to show how dangerous an unformed and undeveloped young mind is.
Yes, unidentified and still not discovered 16 year-old girl.
oops
“in which false lesbian allegations of lesbianism”
should read...
in which false allegations of lesbianism
You got to be kidding, right?
Tell me that every mother or for that most of these mothers, were malfeasant. I don’t buy it. Hang the ones who are but, process this case in a way which is fair to those who are innocent. Including the children. The men are out of the picture. Put the children together with their mothers in supervised settings. The truth will come to light and those responsible will be punished. Wholesale violations of rights aren’t the way to go.
I do not think the moms should be in the interview process, but I do think it is very critical that a panel of individuals, who understand how the dynamics of childhood questioning, are.
We don’t want to wind up with 800 moms and dads that get the McMartin treatment.
Maybe some of these women will be more willing to discuss the crimes committed by their men now - instead of trying to cover them up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.