You have so many people that lump all the polygamists into the same category. Most people think that all you people are old men looking for young girls for wives. Would you please comment on this and what would you suggest be done to change the public perception?
I walked into a shop in Cranbrook one day in time to overhear a giant of a man railing about the Catholics. He made a remark that all Catholic Priests were pedophiles and I voiced a disagreement. The giant turned on me and was not one bit happy at being called down on his theory. It is not possible nor reasonable to be so sure that that could be the case. Lawyers have a reputation for being slimy, dishonest, mudsucking ambulance chasers. Totally not true. Politicians enjoy the infamy of being not only polygamist by their lazy nature, but dishonest, money grabbing, bribe taking folk who only think of themselves. Not true either. The media have a reputation that they must enjoy, dishonest, sensational, intrusive, and you name it! That isn’t always true either.
But polygamy is just wrong sings the “your cheating heart choir.” Thats not true either. I really don’t know how to change the public view that all the groups of polygamists are not connected to me, or our group. I don’t even know most of those groups but maybe I should go meet some of them. Just the other day I had a LDS missionary call looking for some advice. Most of the non Mormon population in Canada thinks generally that I lead the Mormon population in our country. Not true Canada, but as one man that I corrected said, “those other guys aren’t Mormons. Mormons believe in polygamy! That is what my grandmother told me and that is what I have told my children.” How do you ever correct or argue with that?
I actually have come across people who wanted to convert to our faith just so that they could have more wives. There have not been many of them though and they soon get tired of hanging around and leave. I don’t know many old men in our faith, but the ones that I do know are not looking for any young wives. I know of some young women that want to marry some of the older men in the community. Any that have talked with me get the direction to go finish your school, help your parents, get older than eighteen and if you still feel the same way by then, come back for a talk. It just makes good sense. I also like the fact that Canada has raised the age of sexual consent to 16. It is wonderful knowing that no where in our country are children under the age of 16 engaging in sexual activity. I wish that Canada would raise the age of sexual consent to 18 and maybe add that you can’t have sex until you graduate from grade 12. Just think of the millions that could be saved on dealing with underage pregnancies, abortions, and health care issues.
Public perception will never change until the public makes a perception change. No, all Catholic Priests are not pedophiles, all cops are not crooked, all lawyers are not bloodsuckers, all polygamists are not abusers, all politicians are not unfaithful, all monogamists don’t cheat on their spouses and all ministers are not money grabbers. Oh yea, all Canadians don’t play hockey! ” Eh O, Canada Go! ” Go for gold you suckers and don’t you dare lose to the US team. My US hockey moms would have supreme bragging rights for the next four years! It would be a Canadian polygamists worst nightmare.