Polygamy in America, outlawed in every state but rarely prosecuted, has long been associated with Mormon splinter groups out West, not immigrants in New York. But a fatal fire in a row house in the Bronx on March 7 revealed its presence here, in a world very different from the suburban Utah setting of “Big Love,” the HBO series about polygamists next door.
The city’s mourning for the dead — a woman and nine children in two families from Mali — has been followed by a hushed double take at the domestic arrangements described by relatives: Moussa Magassa, the Mali-born American citizen who owned the house and was the father of five children who perished, had two wives in the home, on different floors. Both survived.
Somehow I don’t think there was any pernicious feminism influencing that household. Could you imagine one wife saying to the husband: “why don’t you talk more and tell me your feelings?” or “our relationship is not like it used to be?” and did the women sit around every afternoon pondering the things they ARE NOT doing after watching Oprah and blaming it on their husband? I”m just pointing outthe differences, that’s all. The days of polygamy are over, however, in countries that experience population decline and put an end to immigration, you might see a resurgence. Where are the groups of femminists protesting, by the way? I suppose they would be out in the streets if the guy was Mormon. Christian bad/Islam good ?
From the article…”and on support for human rights and equality. ”
From Doug…Where are the groups of femminists protesting, by the way? I suppose they would be out in the streets if the guy was Mormon. Christian bad/Islam good ?
Can you say Hypocricy(sp?)???
I don’t see how 1 man could keep 2 (or more) women happy at the same time. Let’s do a head count and see how many people awaiting divorce have declared “common-law” status – declaring their cohabitation as “spouses” (since man and wife is not longer lawfully accurate).
Until we start prosecuting this behaviour and declaring it morally repugnant, I don’t think we should be judging someone else’s bona fide religious beliefs.
I don’t share their beliefs, but I am not prepared to judge them either.
Fine, you sit on the sidelines, I’ll do the judging.
Alex,
What is it exactly that you will be judging?
“I don’t share their beliefs, but I am not prepared to judge them either.”
Regardless, it’s against the law, and as this incident shows once again, Muslims don’t willingly obey our ‘man-made’ laws.
Daisy?
Hello! Mormon is not Muslim. Not sure what your point proves….
Muslims will obey our “man-made” laws as much as the next religious group. As soon as we as a society have decided how much is a reasonable accomodation for religious practices. We need not apologize to Muslims for our own Christian religions/beliefs. Accomodation can only go so far. We are not asking for assimilation. Jeez, we don’t even ask that of our own native population – Indians, Quebecers, etc.
Feminists don’t care how many wives are owned or beaten by a man as long as that man is non-‘white’. Non-white men are not part of the definition of the patriarchy so they’re oppressed too, which gives them a free pass to oppress others. Machiavelli would be proud of feminists.
I don’t agree with Polygamy in any form. I am annoyed at the half-witted approach with which marriage is regulated.
It is claimed that polygamy is against the law, but it is supported in spirit by North American society. There are even Television shows promoting the life style (As to how do you keep more than one woman happy: You make her a centerfold and have her live in your mansion ala H.Hefner style)
There is nothing preventing any group of people from declaring themselves to be spouses and acting accordingly. Heck, they can even perform a religous ceremony and proclaim their union blessed by a diety. Apparently, it is only illegal because goverment bean counters would not be able to keep track of the extra paper work needed to figure out who would get the CPP survivor benefits.
I don’t agree with Polygamy in any form. I am annoyed at the half-witted approach with which marriage is regulated.
Fred R….there is absolutely nothing wrong with polygamy. If women want to demean themselves that much in this “world of enlightenment” then that is their right. Besides,weren’t all those people living in one spot just keeping their carbon footprint down,and helping to save the world??
I don’t see why polygamy should be regulated.
Taking care of one wife is bad enough…uh oh here comes the smackdown.
All I have to say is . If Women do not combat this strongly, it will be the wedge that destroys all their protections, as well as legal status. If not the right to even have property. They may even end up as owned as before voting & legal rights in the 19th century.
How long before gay’s start demanding, having 3 or four sex partners? What happens to the law then?
What happens when siblings from different Women want to marry? This is only the beginning of the opening of this Pandora’s box of evil.
By the way because some biblical figures had more than one wife means nothing. Right from the beginning of genesis, if not man’s creation, it was one man & one Women. God condemns these types of unions but puts a stamp of approval on the one man one Women model.
Lots of biblical figures went against God. Think Jonah. In his case he didn’t want his enemies to repent & get off Gods bad books. So ran the other way for what little good it did him . Frankly these people are what make this book so real.
Its our job to stop this drift into sexual bondage, where we will all lose in the long run. The feminists have proven a hollow reed filled with the pustule of political hypocrisy.
In the name of freedom ,they bring death, hate, anger, political socialism as dogma, utter moral depravity. All done in the name of equality with domination as their shining path. Upper class, mostly white Women need only apply. Hillary is the perfect example in my opinion, of the old line feminists.
If this was not true where are all the Ladies in the street ? Where are the vigils for the slain or circumcised Women? The honor killings? How come no marches for Spanish Women? Why not outrage for females not allowed to go to school?
Its pretty obvious this latest Women’s movement was more about celebrity & fast tracking upper class ladies into CEO positions. NOT for Women as a whole. Hey if you doubt me just read Gloria Stienmen, or an Andrea Dorkin. Frankly I think they where just out to break the white corporate executives balls.
Real political freedom was achieved in the 19th century. Hard to believe, but hey, read it yourself. Just my opinion
Revnant,
Are you sure that men came up with the idea of polygamy? What women wants to cook and clean all by herself, or look after all those kids, or have sex with her husband.
“How long before gay’s start demanding, having 3 or four sex partners? What happens to the law then?”
You talk about gay’s like they are an alien life form. The number of sex partners that a person has is totally irrelevant. How many sex partners has Ron Jeremy “hero of the homely” had. He is straight and not in jail. We were talking about marriage. (My personal belief is that God put everyone on earth for a reason. I think he made gay people on earth to torment you.)
As for the bible. Those are bed time stories I read to my children. I find most of it scarier than Grimm’s Fairy Tales and wackier than Dr Seuss. I hope my kids don’t get too screwed up, but it is something I do in support of our Judeo-Christian based society.
I love how you can pick and choose exactly which parts of the bible you will subscribe to, but not others. From my reading of the bible, Jesus himself took no steps whatsoever to end slavery and even stated that a “slave must obey his master.” Thankfully, Jesus is not my saviour.
So free the Jews, blacks, muslims, gays, gypsies and whoever else we are oppressing in the name of Jesus, Christianity or some other “good” religion.
Justthinkin, I can say it but you ccan’t spell it. Use a dictionary.
B TW The husnand, if still alive, should be prosecuted and one of the sets of wives sent back to wherever they came from.
Oh darn. I can spell but I can also typo.
In this discussion on polygamy, we are falling into the same trap that the feminists fall into.
We are thinking that the muslims are just like us, with the same attitudes, desires and phylosophical background, but choose a different lifestyle. It’s, like, whatever you wanna do man!
Let me tell you how wrong this is. There is no lifestyle choice for these muslim women. They have been shipped to North America, probably not being allowed to learn the language, and are told that the infidels are evil. BTW They will also be beaten up or killed if they deviate from their traditional “lifestyle choice” of being chatel.
WHERE ARE THE EFFING FEMINISTS!!!!
“Daisy?
Hello! Mormon is not Muslim. Not sure what your point proves….”
From the article: “Her husband cited Islamic precepts allowing a man to have up to four wives, and told her to get used to it. And she tried to obey.”
I reckon my point proves that you are sniffing glue. You might try reading before commenting.
Geoff:
As for the bible. Those are bed time stories I read to my children.
Another warrior for tolerance & respect I see. All the love shows threw in every word. As well as your “progressive” attitudes. I just love you guys. You never fail to deliver.
Nor does your lack of history , facts, or logic.
P.S Your personalized emoting, with attendant dislikes, have blinded you to any sound judgment.
Happy Trails
You realize that it becomes galling the way some people quote the bible or its equivalent in other countries. Everyone is familiar with the quote “He knew her,” or “she Knew him”. And then in one of the other chapters further on, my buddy Jesus set me straight, when he addressed a bunch of Philistines. He said “Know Thyselves!”
Geoff: “Jesus himself took no steps whatsoever to end slavery and even stated that a ‘slave must obey his master.’ Thankfully, Jesus is not my saviour.”
1. Jesus took steps to end man’s slavery to sin.
2. You say Jesus said a “slave must obey his master”. He did not.
3. Jesus is your Saviour; you just don’t acknowledge him as such, and thus render his work on your behalf null and void.
The MORMONS used to practic POLYIGAMY in fact BRINGAM YOUNG had several wives but they supposedly gave it up so UTAH could become a state
Richard:
You don’t expect Geoff to know the Bible do you? People with a mindset like his remind me of Jesus warning us about casting pearls before swine. Geoff doesn’t want to believe and there is nothing that can be said with human speach that will change his mind. However all is not lost… Geoff someone is calling your name would you care to answer?
The planet can’t support current population. Canada is one of few countries who has chance to keep it down before we are faced with one child per couple dictum.
So, stop our open immigration. Only allow people in who will definitely benefit Canada- already speak our language, have money or a profession. Simple, no discrimination.
Lets see 9 rugrats plus 3 adults?makes for a really big welfare cheque.Pity the poor nyc tax payer.
All,
I apologize for the error about Muslim. Must have read right past that. So now we are talking about Muslim’s not following our laws. Nice broad brush there. Not like that are any genuine Americans not following the law…. Just a nice liberal double standard.
My quote was off. Jesus did not say a slave must obey his master. The quotes I was referring to were:
Matthew 10:24
A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master.
Titus 2:9-10
v9 Teach slaves always to obey their masters. They should try to please their masters. They should not argue with their masters.
v10 Slaves should not steal from their masters. Instead, slaves should prove that their masters can trust them. This will show that the good news about God our *Saviour is attractive in every way.
I challenge you to give me one verse (ones that you endorse, not all the pesky ones that you don’t believe) from Jesus that somehow says human slavery is wrong.
Thump away…
Jesus’ mission was to free man from spiritual slavery, rather than political/cultural slavery, which is of man’s own making. Hence, his famous words, “Give unto caesar…”
This is also an important reason why he was rejected as the Jewish Messiah. They believed their Messiah would be political, breaking the chains of Roman slavery.
Geoff: Jesus’ mission was not to establish a political reign or to revolutionize social institutions; he came to save people from their sins. The fact that he condemned neither slavery nor the rule of Caesar does not mean that he approved of either. Thump. He did, however, speak of the leavening effect of the gospel. It can be inferred from this that he viewed its effect in transforming society as continuous and gradual. Thump. Ditto the apostle Paul. Abolition of slavery is implicit in his statement about there being neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, and also in his letter to Philemon, the runaway slave. For more, consult Richard N. Longenecker: Paul, Apostle of Liberty. Thump. Most rational persons are able to recognize from Christ’s words and his person that he possesses a wisdom and a righteousness that surpasses their own. If you think you can compete with Jesus Christ’s righteousness, you are free to do so. In fact, the day is coming when you will have the opportunity to accuse him to his face. I wouldn’t bet on being the last man standing. Thump.