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Once upon a time there was a farm family. To some they seemed unusual and different. They didn’t send their children to school, they didn’t immunize their children, and they put them to work on the farm at a very young age. One day, someone sent a letter to the local school superintendent. They didn’t sign their name. “They aren’t teaching their children anything and they don’t do vaccinations,” it said. “Someone should do something about it.” Someone else called the EPA. “I think they have turned a swamp into a lawn. Someone should do something about it. “ They didn’t leave their name. Another called the animal control officer. “Their horses don’t look very healthy. Someone should do something about it.” No one knows who made the call. Two men came to the farm on two different occassions. “We know you are selling bread to your neighbors. You don’t have the right kitchen for that. We think you should do something about it.” And “Do you have a license to sell these plants? They have bugs in them. We think you should do something about them.” And on and on it went. There was a court case, and newspaper articles, and TV, radio, and print interviews. Even the DHS began an investigation to see if the children should be removed from this unusual and different home situation. With all the publicity, people began to wonder what was wrong with this family? Pastors were suspicious – home schoolers went on TV and radio to reassure the public that “we are not like this family.” Others kept their distance, remaining uncommitted to any particular opinion. “Let’s see how this plays out,” they told themselves. “If they are okay, we’ll embrace them. If they turn out to be evil, we won’t have tainted ourselves by our association with them.” It was a no win for the family – our family. Once upon another time there was a religious group in San Angelo, Texas. To some they seemed unusual and different. They didn’t send their children to school, they lived in a closed community, the women all wore pastel prairie dresses, and had lots of babies, and the men had more than one woman that they had children with. One day someone named Sarah, called authorities and said, “I was forced to marry a 50 year old man when I was 16. Please come get me.” There was a raid - with weapons and protective body armor and automatic weapons, backed by an armored personnel carrier - a seven-day raid that involved police agencies from six counties, the Texas Rangers, the state highway patrol and wildlife officers. The people who seemed unusual and different were unarmed. Their weapon was prayer. There were children separated from their parents, and TV commentaries, and newspaper articles, and no one knew a Sarah and no one knows where Sarah is or if Sarah really exists. It was a phone call that was not investigated before authorities made their move. It’s like watching Waco all over again. Remind me never to move to Texas. There is too much abuse of power there. And, if they can get away with it there, others will think they can get away with it, too. This abuse of power could happen to any of us. There will always be someone out there who see us as being unusual and different and think they should do something about it. God be with us then. The news outlets are doing what they can to fan the flames of hatred and prejudice against these people. Something just doesn’t add up. What ever happened to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty? Where is the due process? Mothers are weeping tonight because they don’t know where their children are or if they will ever see them again. They don’t know why. No one has brought any charges against them . How do you begin to defend yourself, if you don’t even know what crimes you are being accused of, or who is your accuser? Yes, this group does seem unusual and different, but that doesn’t make them wrong. Not yet. They deserve due process and so far, they aren’t getting it. Pray for justice in Texas. You never know when you might need it. |
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