Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 4/18/07
Anderson and Erica are blogging during the program tonight – but as you know you are the most important part of this post, so please watch and start posting at 10p ET.
Check out a post that may be helpful if you wonder why some comments get posted while others do not. LINK TO COMMENTS POST
And be sure to check out our live web camera from the 360° studio. The shot features a behind the scenes look at the set. We’ll turn the camera on at 945p ET and turn it off at 11p ET. LINK TO THE BLOG CAMERA
We’ll start posting comments to this blog at 10p ET and stop at 11p ET.
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I don't quite understand how does 33 years old woman can do that? That's piece of the interesting history.
oh my gosh a long weekend would be nice. We have to wait until May for Victoria Day for our next long weekend
How did this 33 year old know where the compound was located? How did she know about all the things occurring there. Regardless, justice is being served, which is whats most important.
Well, if this 33 year old Rose really made a fake phone call, you can't help but wonder why she did. Yes, I agree, it's just plain weird.
this is so horrible. can you imagine having little contact with outsiders, being brainwashed and being raped by your own father.
Has anyone noticed that when the FLDS moms are interviewed, their voices sound very immature and child like? I wonder if the control exerted on these women includes using a very submissive manner in speaking. As I watched the interviews in earlier in the week, I was shocked. If the faces were covered, I don't believe the voices would be distinguishable.
Yes Jacqueline, Anderson does appear to have sun in his eyes and the silver moon in his hair LOL, and Erica is a star.
"I just saw the picture of Black woman suspected of making the hoax phone call. Are there any Black mormons or FLDS people?"
I hear there are Black Mormons in California.
I don't know about the FLDS – considering what they believe about black people...
This FLDS case gets more and more interesting, especially now with this new development concerning the phone call from "Sarah".
Judi, I don't think there were any outside doctors. I think everything was handled in the compound.
Yes! Rebecca!
snow is so crazy day!
It seems so bizarre, how did that woman know what was going on in the FLDS?
What makes me angry is that only children under 18 can be protected. What about all the other people who are brainwashed and forced to marry older men? Though 18 or 20 is legal, it is still young... and many of them are probably foreced to be married too (or have been in the past).
Evenin' bloggers – and Happy Friday.
Tracey, a 3 day wkd in Mass in April can only mean one thing... Patriots Day, perhaps?
It is amazing in this day in age that we even talk about polygamy! I feel truly sorry for all those children; I don't think what's done is necessarily in their best interest – how can it be in a child's best interest to be taken away from the only family he/she knows?
While the state surely has an obligation to ensure the well being of all those children and get to the bottom of what has been going on for years on that ranch, it is sad that in the end it is the little once who really suffer.
Anderson,
This story is heartbreaking. I see the FLDS women asking for their children but where are the -- men? Are they hiding?
Hi everyone. So, we're the most important part of the post? Ted, you flatter us.
If the mothers are able to get their kids back–how can they be sure she won't take the kids and go back to the cult a few years down the road.
It was a drowing in the kids room and the woman show it to the camera, I think that picture reveal the situation though the kid's eyes.
in all of the thousand of pre-natal check-ups that must have occurred over these years; did any medical practioner ever put forth a concern to the law authorities about the possible "rape" that must be occurring to some of their underage pregnant patients?
did the doctors have any "legal obligation" to report to authorities?
Hey everyone, this webcam thing is very invasive; i just saw AC face being powdered. LOL
Tracy, there is no anti-cult law here (that might violate the 1st Amendment prohibiting infringement of the free exercise of religion – if it was too broad). However, religion cannot be used as a defense to breaking other laws that are deemed to further a legitimate gov't interest. Examples of this are probition of polygamy, incest, and statutory rape (sex with minors).
EJ – Doesn't he always?
Speaking of sun, Anderson always appears to have sun in his eyes? Are the lights too bright for you, Anderson? or do you look that cool naturally?
Even if the original call was a hoax the State had to investigate it just as they would have investigated any other call they receive. Once they get there and see what is actually happening they are obligated to take action regardless of the legitimacy of the original source. If they found abuse they had to act regardless.
"Oh, please, let’s hope that 33 year old woman wasn’t playing a prank. That’s terrible."
Or... maybe she ended up saving lots of children – regardless of what her motive was. (??)
Infertility is one of reasons they have so many wives.
If a woman can't have children, maybe they would just use her as a nanny. She'd probably be happy that way.
Yes, Lilibeth
I agree with you! that so unbelieve! over again since christmas!
I still haven't been able to wrap my mind around this sect/cult. It's 2008 and these women and children dress like they live in the prairie days (like Little House on the Prairie)! It's so sad they don't truly think for themselves!
EJ when is he not??
Anderson, don't let Flora Jessop play you for a fool. I smell a rat and wouldn't be surprised if her group was behind the staged/fake phone call(s) that started that mess in Texas.
I just saw the picture of Black woman suspected of making the hoax phone call. Are there any Black mormons or FLDS people?
ac . . why don't they just remove those underage who are at risk of danger of sexual assault or rape and return the remaining children to their mothers . . . are there other issues of imminent danger for the young children?
Good evening all, looking forward to seeing where Hillary learned to shoot duck and all. By the way nice shirt, Anderson.
Tracy, Colonial Heights, VA> Thats such an interesting question about what defines a "cult" and what defines "religion". I think its determined by the degree of consent among members which differentiate the two.
This whole thing is just very hard to understand. How can something like this happen?
I do hope some of the parents go to jail. If the DNA tests prove that 50 year old men are fathers and 16 year old girls are mothers, hopefully it can provide the evidence to put these men behind bars. Nothing in the freedom of religion allows for rape of children.
If some of the adults are incarcerated, won't there be trauma then too? Effects on the children has never been an defense
when incarcerating criminals
"Hey Anderson, If a women in the FLDS couldn’t have children what would happen to her?"
I bet they'd assign her to cook, clean, care for other children, etc.
I don't think all of them are capable of having kids now since several are older. I would think they would be in a similar situation.
While I understand how it could be a tragedy for some of these kids to be separated from the only families they have ever known, the underlying issue remains in the fact that if they are returned to these abusive homes/lifestyles, that this will be significantly more detrimental than the experience they may have in foster care. Such a fascinating case, with so many ramifications for truly innocent youths at the hands of damaged "adults."
I do believe in the motherly instinct, but I also believe some women just don't have it. Maybe their motherly instinct isn't there because they were brainwashed to be subordinate? That the will to protect...the "mother bear" instint Carolyn Jessup mentioned, is destroyed?
Why would this 33 year old woman make a call to the police. Was she in the compound? It's a very odd turn of events.
Megan & Lilibeth ~ this snow is craaazzzzyyyy!!!!
Jo Ann, I agree... don't let these kids fall through the cracks of our legal system.
Anthony- that's a good question
what does happen to the women if they can't have children?
Hi Anderson and Erica, Can you tell us – where are the fathers of these children and why aren't we hearing from them?
Oh, please, let's hope that 33 year old woman wasn't playing a prank. That's terrible.
These childern are afraid of their abusers how will they want to identify them unless they know they are safe forever.
Anthony a very good question!!!
I bet the become nannies like the one doing the tour. Anderson ask about that if you can...rejigger it.
Hi Megan, yes it is snowing here in Edmonds, and I'm sure the same is happening in Shoreline! Isn't this unbelievable? It's like Christmas all over again!
Good question Anderson. I had been wondering how it works – If it even mattered if the initial call was a hoax.
the problem is a 3 year old today will be a 16 years old in the future and the time spent getting drilled into their head that you get married when your told to, to whomever you are told to marry is a scary prospect
I apologize for my ignorance, but are there any laws in America that regulate cult activities? In France, there's apparently an anti-cult law... would that be considered a restriction of these people's religious freedom? Or an effective way to prevent another mess like this from happening again? How would we define a "cult?"
Ick, I hate the shades of grey.