polygamists and people’s Fascination with Other’s Pain
Every year I read Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club. It is part of my work’s Honors American Literature program. One of the chapters in the 3rd book is called “Magpies” Basically, when a person cried into this lake, a frog ate the tears and it laid eggs that eventually turned into this happy bird called the magpie. It is an analogy for people feeding off of other’s tears and sorrow to create their happiness.
This whole media coverage of the Polygamist cult that was raided in Texas reminds me of the magpie story. Even NPR is covering the story. Friends I know who still have TV tell me it is all the rage on the fake news stations. Why do we need to get happiness from other’s sorrows?
Let me make this real clear. I do not agree with under aged children being married off, raped, and having 3 kids by the time she is 16. But in the end, as much as I hate oppressive religions that brain wash people, who cares what others do and believe as long as they do not hurt you or innocents? Really, except for the sexual abuse for the children, do we really care what this cult does? They do not want the attention and what to stay isolated by themselves. Is it necessary to flaunt what most people would call weird practices? I even saw an article today that talked about Moron fashion and where this cult’s clothing style came from.
This is a lasting effect of the Puritans. These people of yesteryears got all up into peoples business. People are naturally curious, so when this is promoted in the most hurtful sense and given credence, others will follow. And boy does the USA do this now. All people care about is that you are like them. Crazy Christians of all sects, Muslins, Jews, Islamics, ect. They all think their way is the right way and everyone else is going to “hell”.
Who cares? If you do not believe in abortion… great… do not get one. Do not worry about others If you believe in monogamous relationships… great do that. Only worry about finding a mate that agrees with you. Hate pornography. Do not look at it. Let other’s choose what they want to view. Abstinence only? Only if you actually did that and keep it to yourself. And the list goes on. It is not anyone’s duty to pick on other people.
I see so many people who are out to hate others. It is quite scary. They put people down and then bask in the false happiness they think they are experiencing. The hallways of a high school shows this. It is a magnified version of society. The niceties are not required yet.
So as more and more is said about they polygamists. As their lived are looked on with a magnified glass, I hope you are feeling happy. Does it give you pleasure to know you are not that “weird”. Giggle that you are not that crazy? Be careful what you wish for. Karma is not all happy happy joy joy all the time. You might find yourself looking in the mirror (or the TV for that matter) and looking at yourself.
Tags: Mormon, Polygamist, Religion
April 21, 2008 at 11:25 pm
There is definitely a public fascination with others’ misery. It’s like when they talk about a rape story and they start going into detail…why in all hell do we need to know what was done? Are we that desperate to hear about someone else’s suffering? Then you get events like Columbine or Virginia Tech where they plaster the gunman all over the front of newspapers as though they are the new “in” rockstars.
I tend to think of it all sort of like how people react to a really dramatic movie. Some character is in this horrible situation, maybe they die, and by the end of the movie people suddenly feel great because realization strikes: “YES!!! That didn’t happen to me personally!”. Yes, yes, it was dreadful, but they’re still safe at home on their sofa. Really, I think that’s the public view. I can’t speak for them of course, but this is my guess.
Also there seems to be a primal connection to violence for any animal, humans included. I think this whole love of violence (especially in news where people know it’s the REAL thing), stems from that as well as the sense of relief that it didn’t happen to them in particular.
Honestly I see nothing wrong with living a different lifestyle than what is traditional. I mean, if 10 people want to get married to each other, then why not? I have no right to tell them otherwise. As long as they are all happy with the arrangement then I can see nothing but good coming of it. But I am against anything that isn’t consensual. Kids being forced into marriage, or even adults, or rape, or anything of that nature is absolutely wrong in my eyes. There’s nothing more pathetic than feeding on those weaker than you….
It’s unfortunate that the media is constantly showing the so-called “weird” beliefs in such a negative light. There are pleny of people in plural marriages who enjoy and benefit from it and who aren’t in any way abused.
And one note to the media who continually prove their stupidity with their complete lack of knowledge about what they are talking about: IT’S POLYGYNY NOT POLYGAMY. Polygamy just means plural marriage in general. Specifically if it’s one man and more than one woman: Polygyny. If it’s one woman and more than one man: Polyandry. Sorry, that’s just been annoying me like crazy….