For those of you who have wondered why I haven’t mentioned the D.A.’s runoff race or any of the other exciting political events that have happened over the last few days, its because I’ve been traipsing through dust, mud and dirt out here in Eldorado, Texas. We’ve watched the children from the Yearning for Zion Ranch load onto buses with their teen moms and head into an outside world they’ve never seen. CPS tells us all the children have been removed from the ranch; a total of 416. The women, 139 of them, have joined the children on their own accord (presumably their mothers).
T.V. and newspaper crews from all over the country are here, including many stations from Salt Lake City, Utah (home to the Church of Latter Day Saints). While they don’t affiliate themselves with this church in El Dorado–the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, its obviously a case of particular importance to their viewers.
Everyone is confused out here. I haven’t heard anyone say for certain that what is happening now is good for the children, but we also can’t find people who believe the life they were living was healthy. However, when you see the images of these kids play while surrounded by fences on an old military fort and think of what lies ahead (months of legal proceedings) your heart aches for them.
Last night I started talking to man and soon found out he worked at the First Baptist Church in Eldorado. His church provided shelter for some of the first few dozen kids to be taken off the ranch. When I asked him if there was any memorable moment, he broke down in tears remembering a little boy who looked at him so confused and scared. The man, Charles Pfluger, told me he just wanted to hold that little boy and tell him it would all be o.k. He didn’t dare hold him though. And, in truth, he doesn’t know if everything is going to be alright.
I’m heading to a briefing with DPS … now that all the children have been removed, the real investigation into the compound can begin.
While we have been shooting video for television, some crews out here have been taking still pictures and I want to show you a few I’ve seen. These are from a Salt Lake City journalist.
2 responses so far ↓
Bretton // Apr 9th 2008 at 8:53 pm
Polygamy is illegal in Texas. Hiding behind religion to comit unspeakable crimes against children is barbaric. The adults involved in this situation, male or female, should be prosecuted to the fullest exstint of the law. It’s very sad the the illegal activities of a few can create such a large problem for social services and other departments when it comes to the children. Religion is not a free pass to ignore Texas law.
As always, the great people of this state, will open up their hearts and homes to help these children.
Fiftycal // Apr 16th 2008 at 9:37 pm
Gee, Jenny, I believe you misspoke today when you said the people at YFZ would have to “prove” that there was no child abuse. I don’t think that even CPS has the POWER to void the Constitution. And is there any evidence? I know what the “authorities” have been saying. And they have been saying it for years. And I still wonder where the PROOF is. The FBI was smart enough to BURN all the “proof” in Waco some years back. And now even Midland County has it’s own armored personnel carrier so they don’t have to “borrow” one from the U.S. Army. My how times have changed. Oh, has anyone found the “caller” that CLAIMED to have been married to a man that hasn’t been in Texas, yet somehow she had one kid by him and was pregnant with another? Has the First Baptist Church of Eldorado (first on the scene) started offering adoptions for these children yet?
I seem to remember that the U.S. was founded by people with “different” religious ideas. Could be I’m wrong, I was educated in government schools.
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