Texas Polygamist families reunited with children

Texas welfare authorities say the state didn't have a right to take away over 400 children. I am dumb founded by this whole thing. The state is fighting to separate the children again but for now they are home. I believe children should be with their families but in this case I think its wrong. Young women being forced to be married to older men sounds unethical to me.

I was listening to NPR the other day and there was an interview from a few couples in Phillie who have embraced the polygamist lifestyle. One of the couples wife requested another wife be brought in the home and she even picked the second wife. Another was older and her husband requested the second wife who his first wife had resentment towards the second wife. Wifey #1 states they function as a normal family.

At the end of the day I can't understand the concept of sharing a husband. Seems to me like the male gets the better end of the deal. Never alone- jumps from house to house enjoying sex with several women and leaving the children behind. For the women - some days alone while her husband is with another women-taking care of their children and cleaning their home so when he returns everything is ready. RIDICULOUS, I am definitely not a fan of the idea. It seems unethical!

Bella

Bella-beautiful movie about the complex decisions we have to make in life. Difficult adult decisions we have to make and aren't always ready to make. Even with support and wisdom our tunnel vision causes us to make decision that we may regret one day. I highly recommend it-it takes place in New York and has a beautiful blend of latin culture in it. I love watching good movies and this was definitely one of them!

Lights Camera Action

STIR|World Vision

Living is the United States and LA i am constantly blinded and distracted by the reality of the world outside of my bubble that i live in. Many people in major cities across the globe can live their lives blinded by the media and self indulgence. I found this clip today and was moved by it because it brings a glimpse of reality to my world. It seems that in this day and age we have to work real hard to seek truth. STIR in Australia is on the right track. Here is a stat from their website "11 Million children die every year before they are 5 years old. This is mostly due to easily preventable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and malaria. 54% of these deaths are attributed to malnutrition. 99% are in the world's lowest-income countries." And that is as real as it gets.

-PW

Gay Marriages

California state Supreme Court has open the doors to same-sex marriages.  I read an article on-line from Mercury News that says there is a post on Craigslist for an ad for a gay/lesbian wedding planner.  June 16 is the soonest gay couples are expected to tie the knot.  In the San Franscisco Chronicle they said twenty minutes after the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that same-sex marriages are legal a few dozen couples showed up hoping to get married right then and there. 

I am personally really surprised I haven't heard much about this.  I am wondering how long this will last.  Tell us how you feel about this subject.

human trafficking in california

I was reading The California Progress Report today and came across a post from December 2007 The California Alliance to Combat Trafficking and Slavery Task Force released its final Report on trafficking in California.  Take the time to review some of it.  It's an issue that is right under our nose!

• "In July 2005, the federal government arrested more than 40 people in LA and San Francisco and seized more than $3 million in illicit proceeds in Operation Gilded Cage.  This operation involved more than 100 Korean women told investigators that they were taken from their country against their will and forced to work as erotic masseuses."

• "In 2004 a women who was lured from the Philippines under false pretenses, then forced to work 18-hour days at the home of an executive at Sony Pictures.  She had to sleep on a dog bed and was threatened with never seeing her family again if she complained".

• "In 2001 a Berkeley landlord and restaurateur was sentenced to more than 8 years in federal prison for smuggling teenage girls from India in a sex and labor exploitation ring spanning 15 years.  He repeatedly raped and sexually abused his vicims and forced them to wrk in his businesses".