Recently I found myself watching another show aimed at showing how families live that are practicing polygamist. I am not of the Mormon faith - my family as I grew up called themselves Baptists but I was never baptized and most of my religious knowledge came from listening to my Grandmothers stories or from going to a Methodists Church with my best friend and her mother for years. I like to learn about other peoples beliefs and am always fascinated by watching the different ways groups of people live in our world today and in the past. Polygamists and the Amish have amazed me so I have tried to learn about them which isnt always easy as it seems like they have not wanted outsiders to look into their way of life for many years.Although I have been very interested in this subject(Polygamy) for quite some time I have always just played with the argument for the right to practice religion as so said in our Constitution. I had always argued on the side of the Polygamists and thought they should be left to live as they wish without the abuse of minors and or anyone else - of course. This opinion has not been received well with my family and friends ever. My family just shakes their heads when and if the subject comes up since they have all had to hear me out at least once on this subject and why I feel they should be allowed to practice Polygamy if they chose. My mother looks at me like I am from another world usually and tries to make a stand for all the reasons why she thinks this is just wrong which I counter usually and the conversation is usually just left unfinished with her still looking at me and usually asking me while shaking her head - "Where did you come from exactly" then smirking a little and walking away from me.

      So at the age of 44 - I was still believing as I started to watch another television show about Polygamists that is documentary or reality style that I would be seeing some more supporting factors as to why this should be decriminalized and why this lifestyle works for some so well. I watched every Big Love episode there was before it ended but knew that show was for entertainment not for documenting the daily lives of practicing Polygamists. So there was some truth behind some of the show a lot of the show was fabrication - or was it ?

     Next I found myself thrilled with the announcement of the show Sister Wives and was encouraged after the first season that my belief and argument was valid about these people and their right to practices that are founded in their faith. Actually was impressed with their children and their home was really set up well for all the wives. Then the show took a turn the second season and it has not been shown to be valid factor that supports my argument as it has at times done the opposite. But the Dargers saved the day by doing a one time special appearance on this show and opened their home and selves to the cameras. So I was back on the table of wondering why they are so looked down on for this lifestyle they live?

    You can imagine my joy at the announcement that Nat Geo was to air another show called "Polygamy USA" that was to give us a look into the homes of this group of fundamental Mormons that live here in Arizona. And so it began - with this show unlike the others before I had to make myself watch it past the first few minutes and had a difficult time doing so as it did not hold my attention. I found the people to be very boring as was their daily routine -  monotone and without color. (By color I mean zest ) But since I have wondered about the people that chose to practice polygamy I made myself continue  - and I was left with some rather confusing feelings about what I saw and have thought I believed with all my being before watching this show. So then I went to some other blogs that I like to follow to see if they were discussing the show there. They were and so did I - most of the comments were more positive than I thought they would be - more shock. So when the next week and the next episode came on I was there to watch again with renewed hope that this feeling would go away and I could once again have faith myself that the difference in the way they live and raise their families is just that - different than the way I do. And from the way they focus on their religious belief I was looking to see some of that in their daily activities and interactions with each other.( and by this I mean in their actions not words- so no prayer is not what I mean) Instead this is my interpretation of what I saw and to me I thought it was more than obvious in the season finale this week ........

          I learned that the Brethern or the Priesthood council is believed to actually have a "direct link" to God himself. That was from one of Michael Cawleys wives to their daughter and then to us the viewer. And so the rest of the people that live there let them tell them how to live as God tells them he wants them all to live and be. So I am wondering why they dont go to these selected few with some serious questions for God rather than asking who or whom should marry and who should not. And Michael Cawley stated that they live this lifestyle because God wants them to live a plural life to be like him.  Hummmmmmmm I think Michael should ask the elders if God wants him to have soooo many children that he has to put up "storage containers" as he called them ( actually looked a lot like large construction trash containers) in his front yard to house the children that he has so he can have some more. Amazing after the last show that showed how he can not support the children he has now. It looked worse than a trailer park in that nice neighborhood - classy. And I would like to know how or who will watch those that sleep out there in those containers? They will be out there separate from the house - lets hope that none of them get as horny as Hyrum is or else they might do something that is not allowed - even with raging hormones and little supervision out there it will be hard lets just hope they are not drinking wine or alcohol as many of the others are - we all know how that could factor in there. Those containers are ridiculous and if he thinks they are so civil and since having more children will benefit him - he should live out there right along the children. And maybe a real job would help him to support his growing family instead of putting his wives to work I was taught that a good father takes care of his children by protecting them and providing for them - looks like he is failing on that score card. So lets have a bunch more so he can fail several more times to do his job - that should definitely get him  his own planet. He will have worked to deserve it for sure.
       Next the family called the Thomsons with the two thin young wives that looked more like two lesbians was really lacking the ability to show any religious conviction other than to their wine bottle. Yes I said wine as these fundamentals have made the allowance of alcohol for themselves and these two have seemingly made it a daily activity - seemed to enhance their "bonding" time which was shown playing cards and betting their time with their husband to who ever lost. The loser would give him to the winner for a night - wow how respectful of him and themselves to show us all who wears the pants in that house.
      Next we got to see three other women of the Centennial Park area along with the young thin wife Marlene take an active role in trying to shed more light on their plight and decriminalize polygamy once and for all. So I watched and listened to these women as they talked to a select few in a classroom environment - and as I did so I got really irritated. The following is some of what I thought was not well thought by this group -
      1- They said that they are breaking the law and living this way because - they are committed to change.
Well if that is the way to get what you want done in the USA today - then all DUIs and people ticketed should profess their commitment to change and get their cases decriminalized.
     2- the older women look so much like dikes that I am beginning to see a different picture here. Modesty or laziness ?

     And then good old Arthur goes on a bit about their way of life and their commitment to their belief - which he says several times is to bring a several children to heavens gate that are righteous and have lived the principle as have you. Righteous is not a word that came to my mind for these people. No instead they showed me a distrust and dislike for them as it seemed to me like these people are holding down and back the others in their group - for their own gratification in one way or another not for any true ritual or belief . And this I find really pathetic and not admirable -  The Browns might be failing to show the religious aspect to their arrangement but that is better than faking and making up a belief to hide behind.

     Back to thinking that the only people that I have seen that truly seem to have a real commitment and conviction to a much older belief is the Amish. And hats off to them as it could never be a question when watching them about their life and or way of life being lived out for God and not themselves. The fundamental Mormons living in Centennial Park need to take some lessons from the Amish. Amen.