This is a "work-in-progress" type of post; an experiment, so to speak. As "new" information or pertinent opinions become available I will be editing and updating as I want to explore how my personal views may morph. Since I laid the foundation of this post, hundreds of articles, personal opinions and the like have flooded the inter-web. I have barely made a dent in reading them all. Consider this a sort of highlight reel.
A few weeks ago my co-host and I had the pleasure of "interviewing" Vyckie Garrison of No Longer Quivering. In some sense the explosion surrounding the Duggar debacle IMO is vindication for all her work and having her as a guest now seems fortuitous. For me, there is a bit of justification for my obsession with the topic of the Quiverfull movement and its surrounding issues (some of which our first guest, Renée Davis-Pelt, addressed).
Although I was well aware of
But it is now obvious, that this is not "stealing a first kiss" (before it was confirmed some of his sisters where victims) or a "case of playing doctor". I still stand by my belief that due to the religious abuse and indoctrination, "none of those kids will know right from wrong when they've spent their lives being told every natural urge is wrong;" although there is some wavering as I am digesting more information as it becomes available.
For example, Vyckie in her most recent article makes this point (and do check out her sources, the demon one is mind blowing).
#3 - The Duggars frame dysfunction, abuse, and psychopathology in terms of sin, repentance, forgiveness, and grace … oh, and DEMONS.
Obviously that is NOT the case if he can make jokes about dating his sisters (see below).I’ve written before about the way popular Christian teachings about love and relationships actually provide chapter and verse justification for “dysfunctional game playing and crazy-making head trips.”
Like the majority of fundamentalist Christians, JimBob and Michelle harbor a grave mistrust of pretty much every respected, evidence-based approach to behavioral issues: secular psychology is “spiritually dangerous,” modern medicine, therapy, and pharmaceuticals are equated with “witchcraft,” and abusive, criminal behavior is often attributed to “a heart issue,” or even demonic influence or possession.The sad fact is, the Duggar family called Josh’s sexual abuse of minor girls a “teenage mistake” and they naively believe that because the boy repented, humbled himself before God, and asked forgiveness, God’s “grace, mercy, and redemption” have changed Josh into a new man who can be trusted not to molest minor children.
In discussing this debacle, my mind harkened back to a posting I made two years ago. It was a response to a Steven Hassan video in which he refers to techniques used within a cult setting - "thought stopping" and the implanting of phobias (making people believe something is dangerous when it is not).
Starting at the 6:25 mark, listen to how Hassan explains it, paying particular attention at about the 7:21 mark we he talks of how his family in some cases drove him deeper because of his programing, "I was already programmed to expect persecution."
At the 8:05 mark is where he speaks of thought stopping which is like a mantra they are taught when faced with conflicting evidence regarding their brand of dogma
Now compare that to what we know about the Patriarchy and Quiverfull movements specifically the Duggars. One only has to look at the Reich's response to understand what I am implying. Anna Duggar's initial response is very telling:
"He continued to do what he was taught. [I know] who Josh really is – someone who had gone down a wrong path and had humbled himself before God and those whom he had offended," she says. "Someone who had received the help needed to change the direction of his life and do what is right."In other words he experienced even more "forced" indoctrination.
Cognitive dissonance much? How could she not get creeped out by this?
One point over-looked in regards to Anna's initial statement and should be a cause for concern, how truthful was Josh in his disclosure. Let's say the reports concerning the Hutchen's are correct, "that Jim Bob told him about only one incident of molestation and that, in part, is why he decided not to report Josh to the abuse hotline." Wouldn't it be safe to assume that Josh, taking his cue from daddio, did the same during his courtship of Anna; that he vaguely told her he made a mistake(s) without getting into what he actually did? Does that make her collateral damage, or a willing a accomplice?
Anna is now married into this cash cow machine. She is expected to toe-the-line for the good of "the family" and stand behind her husband. She's also pregnant with 3 small children, no job skills and married to a man steeped in patriarchal values. A man who has been publicly humiliated is now unemployed and (one can only hope) unemployable. All of which puts her at risk.
One can only hope that she and her family are taking a serious look at all that has transpired. The disconcerting aspect of all this is we may never honestly hear what the "girls" have to say.
As a foreshadowing of what is to come, think Michael and Debbie Pearl, To Train Up a Child and blanket training. How does cultish tactic not fuck with a child's mind?
Currently TLC is mulling over what to do, 19Kids has not, as of yet, been cancelled; just pulled of the air for now. According to reports, TLC is considering just removing Josh and continuing with their cash cow. I believe the whole show needs to go.
Speaking of TLC, are these to incidents comparable?
The former star of another TLC reality show is angry about the apparent double standard the Duggar family is enjoying despite revelations that they covered up their son’s molestation of young girls – including his sisters.
“Mama June” Shannon, who appeared in the cable network’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” said she is considering a lawsuit against TLC – which promptly canceled her popular show in October after she began dating an accused molester.
Let's keep the pressure on and Tell TLC To Stop Supporting A Child Molester By Canceling 19 Kids And Counting. No advertising no show, "[t]he advertiser backlash against the Josh Duggar molestation scandal is growing into a tidal wave as 14 more companies have publicly refused to run ads on 19 Kids and Counting."
Interesting to note, and this is from The Guardian,
It remains to be seen whether TLC will suspend 19 Kids & Counting or cancel it. The network has recently thrown significant marketing weight behind a show featuring the Bates family, another large Christian family who has been friendly with the Duggars and appeared on 19 Kids. They may have been TLC’s backup plan in case the bloom went off of the Duggar rose.I would be curious to know just what the Bates' are thinking about now. First would they want to be compared to the Duggars? And second, would they want to be in anyway associated with 19Kids or TLC
1] As WaPo reports, Mama clown car has stated in her book, "The onus to protect your purity is on you. If someone steals your purity, you are a ruined bicycle with warped tires and a ripped seat. Your value has been stolen. Your parents’ dreams are ruined. You are used and cheap and valueless." As well as comparing an individual who deviates from their idea of "purity" is no better than a cup of spit.
A point echoed by Garrison:
According to the Duggars, female bodies are a source of irresistible temptation to boys and men. Upon learning of their oldest son’s fondling and groping of the younger girls, JimBob and Michelle’s first reaction was undoubtedly to question the girls’ - as well as their own - culpability rather than immediately believe it was Josh himself who has a problem.As I have been pondering all that has transpired, my mind keeps going back to the above. Specifically the mind-set and how it influences much within our culture and cultures world wide. Sierra over at The Phoenix and Olive Branch refers to it as "the modesty doctrine".
,,,
Was 14-year-old Josh actually responsible for his behavior? Strange as it may seem, JimBob and Michelle would definitely have had serious doubts as to whether or not their son could help himself. Rather than recognizing immediately that Josh needed professional help, the Duggars were more likely to believe that demonic forces were at work … the Devil made him do it.
,,,the belief that women need to cover their bodies to prevent men from being attracted to them, because sexual attraction is lust that leads to sin and death for both. The modesty doctrine is not the same as wearing conservative clothing. You can do the latter without believing the former. The modesty doctrine is found in fundamentalist Christianity, Judaism and Islam, with milder echoes in mainstream Western culture.Sierra continues further,
,,,
The modesty doctrine frames this idea in terms of clothing to preserve the veneer that women are somehow to blame for this, and that there’s something they can do about it. There isn’t. The modesty doctrine revolves around the assumption that a man has a right to sex with every woman he finds attractive. In Christian fundamentalism, he only has a right to sex with his wife. Therefore, other women who are attractive to him seem to taunt him with something he can’t have (extramarital sex). That’s why certain women get singled out as threats, despite trying their hardest to be “modest.” It doesn’t matter what they wear; if men find them attractive and can’t marry them, they must be punished. This disproportionately happens to curvy women because their sex is impossible to erase. [Emphasis mine]
Feminists will probably find all of this annoyingly familiar. What am I saying, after all? The modesty doctrine is rape culture. It is inseparable from patriarchy. It is the very means by which patriarchy reduces women to mere flesh. “If I can see it, it’s mine” is the motto of a thief. If a woman’s body is the “it,” it’s the motto of a rapist. “If I can see it, she’s defrauding me” is the motto of Christian patriarchy. The Christian patriarchy movement attempts to obliterate a woman’s sexual agency in several ways:If this sounds familiar, it should, it is the exact same ideology that drives the misogyny prevalent in Islam. And as one source puts it in response to a question I posed - do have a good article/source that discusses the Islamic idea of modesty? The reply was, it's so prevalent that he didn't know of one source that summed it up neatly.
First, it demands she cover up to keep men from wanting what they see.
Second, it sanctions sex with a woman based not on her consent but upon marriage vows (“it’s impossible to rape your wife because her body is yours”).
Third, it places control over marriage vows in male hands through courtship (father and husband). Consent is therefore farcical.
Fourth, it demands that women, not men, face the consequences of sex: either the guilt of adultery for the imagined sex a leering man has with a woman he finds attractive, or the perpetual pregnancy resulting from marital relations, as birth control is forbidden. [Emphasis in original]
What I did find I think is even worse, where as momma Duggar is just gross, Islamic beliefs border on justifying death (if one were to read between the lines as to what happens to "rabid" animals):
Islamic scholars consider modesty to be a quality that distinguishes human beings from animals. Animals follow their instincts without feeling any shame or a sense of right or wrong. Hence, the less modesty a person has, the more he resembles animals. The more modesty a person has, the closer he is to being human. Islam has mandated certain legislations which induce this sense of modesty within humans. These legislation range from seeking permission before entering any room and distancing one from others while relieving oneself, to mandating certain manners of dress for men and women alike. Another way that modesty may be attained is by associating with modest people - people in whose presence a person feels embarrassed to do anything shameful,,,Both sources cited, it is to be noted, are excellent examples of Hassan's "implanted phobias" as well.
What mommy and daddy espouse.
2] The so-called counseling center, was controlled by none other than Mr Perv himself, Bill Gothard.
Jim Bob Duggar told Springdale detective Hignite in 2006 that he sent his son to a Christian ministry in "the old Veteran's Hospital in Little Rock." Duggar said he couldn't remember the name of the program, but it involved "hard physical work and counseling."
Michelle Duggar told police that the place her son was sent "was not really a training center" but that Josh went to work for a "guy they knew in Little Rock who is remodeling a building." Asked whether the guy was a mentor, Michelle Duggar replied, "kind of."
Pulaski County assessor's records show the nearly 500,000-square-foot former VA hospital building was purchased by Hobby Lobby in 1998.
The craft-store company then donated the building in 2000 to the Institute in Basic Life Principles, an Illinois-based ministry founded by televangelist Bill Gothard.
Shortly after the institute acquired the building, Gothard began renovating the space, saying it would be used for the Little Rock Training Center, which would house "court-referred youthful offenders in the organization's Bible-based rehabilitation program," according to an April 2000 article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Oh and I am not buying that he didn't stay there, the Duggar clan has been trying to distance themselves from Gothard since last years revelation of his 34 sexual mis-deeds. Although a bit over simplified, The Guardian makes this observation:
For people who had never pried beyond the Duggar persona presented on TV, the news must have come as a tremendous shock. But for those of us who have been following the family’s ascent over the past few years, it is not completely unexpected. The family is known for their support of Bill Gothard, a hyper-conservative Christian who has advocated for homeschooling, modest dressing and living debt-free. Many of his followers, including the Duggars, belong to the Quiverfull movement, which is based on a Bible verse about God filling “quivers” with “arrows”, interpreted to mean “wombs” and “foetuses”. Each Duggar child who got married – in addition to Josh, Jill and Jessa Duggar both had televised weddings in which they spoke of their “purity”, or virginity – said they would trust God with the size of their family.3] Get a load of the home school material used, Advanced Training Institute, a program run by cult figurehead Bill Gothard.
Although Gothard’s name was never invoked on-air, his philosophy was everywhere on 19 Kids and Counting. Jim Bob bragged that his family stayed debt-free by living frugally and “buying used and saving the difference”, even though in later years it became clear that the family’s affluence was largely bankrolled by TLC and by the byproducts of their fame, including multiple book deals and paid speaking engagements. The Duggars also attended Gothard-sponsored events around the country like the one in Big Sandy, Texas, where Josh met his wife. Gothard was brought down in a scandal of his very own recently, accused of sexually assaulting more than 30 women. The Duggars may be the world’s best-known Gothardites, but they somehow survived the scandal unscathed and unimplicated. [Emphasis mine]
4] The there is this, if Oprah "knew" in 2006 when exactly did TLC find out? And who is actually complicit in this crime?
5] Something to ponder in all this, and why I am hesitant to put ALL the blame on Joshieboy; although that is changing as information comes out.
A boy grows up in a controlling, cultlike family that rejects Enlightenment values and closes off much of the outside world. He is deprived of any conception of morality separate from a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible. His intellectual and ethical development is stunted by reactionary, dogmatic views about gender and sexuality. He is told that women were made to be subservient to men, to be obedient to their masters. How should we react when it comes to light that this boy repeatedly molested young girls?In other words, the real perps are JimBob and Michelle for indoctrinating all their children. Josh was the weapon with the girls being the ultimate targets.
,,,
The leaders of the Duggar clan are undoubtedly hypocrites of the highest order. Josh’s heinous crime merits our utmost moral condemnation, and his victims deserve sympathy and compassion. But it would be shortsighted to treat Josh with nothing more than mocking, scornful ire. Josh may be a monster—but as 19 Kids and Counting demonstrates, his path to depravity was lighted by the twisted beliefs of his parents. [read the second citation in (#1) for better context]
Now I have heard some say that Josh should have been able or should be able to reason his way through the public's reaction to these accusations. I would tend to agree if this mind-set wasn't so prevalent. Not only was he engrossed in it at home but his job as well.
Again referring to Vyckie's article, she sums it up well.
One just needs to examine the responses of some of theirAccording to the “eternally happy ending” story which the Duggars are telling themselves, the little girls whom Josh allegedly groped and fondled are not victims or even survivors of sexual abuse, but are instead equated with the “highly favored” Old Testament Joseph whose brothers sold him into slavery: What Satan meant for evil, God used for good.
Suffering in this life is insignificant - even trifling - compared to the faith-strengthening and soul-saving purpose of trials which will be richly rewarded with eternal life in Heaven … so praise the fucking Lord for whatever misery He sends to you and your children.
The Duggar delusion is so deeply ingrained that even in the midst of this horrifying revelation, JimBob and Michelle are hoping that the onlooking world will be inspired by their family’s witness: “We hope somehow the story of our journey — the good times and the difficult times — cause you to see the kindness of God and learn that He can bring you through anything.”
Michael Brown, writing at The Christian Post:Since the scandal became public, the Reich has circled the wagons to protect one of their own from facing the consequences of his actions and hypocrisy.
Most of us have done things we wish we could take back, and in some cases, the consequences of our bad choices and sinful actions last for decades. Yet with the Lord, no matter how great the stigma of our sin, if we will humble ourselves before Him, He can take those stumbling blocks and turn them into stepping stones, to the point that the worst things that ever happened to us become the best things that ever happened to us.Carrie Hurd in response to an OP posted on Vyckie's Facebook:“When I was a kid, it was often called “playing doctor”, there were just as many girls initiating this kind of behavior as boys. Most of those never went on to perp horrible things. The Duggers, who I have never watched–am not a fan, did it properly and the 14 year old boy should probably be left alone to live a good life, just like girls who do the same thing.”Dino Jr, aka Eric Hovind, writing for his Creation Today Ministry:
Honestly, I am blown away by the incredible double standard that is applied to Christians. We don’t claim to be perfect; we claim to be perfectly forgiven. We don’t claim to be better; we claim to be better off. We can forgive because we have been forgiven. And yes, we do use Christian morality to judge. Haven’t you noticed that everyone is using Christian morality to judge people?
Isaac, when a Christian admits his sin, goes to the proper authorities, pays the penalty, repents of his actions, is up front and honest with the world, and has made things right with the victims, then he has done exactly what God has commanded him to do. Why would you say that Christians are applying a double standard?In reality, it is evolutionists who apply a double standard. If evolution is true, then there is no absolute right and wrong. If evolution is true, Josh should not have admitted his faults over a decade ago because what one evolved bag of molecules does to another bag of molecules just doesn’t really matter. If evolution is true, there is no ultimate Judge who will hold every man, woman, and child responsible for their actions. And if evolution is true, you will not give an account for every idle word you speak.
The truth is, we all use Christian morality to judge people. The very idea of judgment comes from Christianity.
BUT,,,
There is this to consider, Josh would have been 19 when this action took place:
The Josh Duggar molestation case did not end when Springdale, Ark. police closed their investigation in 2006 because the statute of limitations had run out, In Touch Weekly is reporting exclusively.What's that old saying, "actions speak louder than words,,,
Police referred the matter to the Families in Need of Services agency, which has jurisdiction over minors. The Department of Human Services (DHS) was then brought into the case, In Touch has learned. Nine months after those agencies entered the Duggar molestation case, Josh Duggar sued the Arkansas Department of Human Services. A trial was held on August 6, 2007.
The results of the investigation into the Duggars and Josh’s trial are sealed. But a source familiar with the Duggar investigation told In Touch it was likely that Josh “appealed the DHS decision or finding from their investigation.” The source notes that DHS had the authority to apply “restrictions or stipulations about him being at home with the victims.
“Josh would be considered an in-home offender, giving DHS the authority to do an investigation. As part of your appeal rights you can request a DHS hearing to challenge what they found and their ruling.”
6] And then there is this, Mike Huckabee, one of many whose influence will be wielded.
A few things in all this, if I or any everyday citizen of this country were to have committed these acts as a 14 year old we would have been put into the juvenile justice system until the age of 21. Because of their celebrity (pre and post show), and the notion that this family is considered a bastion of purity and a moral example for all of us to aspire towards, they were able to use their contacts in law enforcement and local government to avoid any public mention of this all the while parading on TV to condemn others for their sins. But yet "we" are the ones being demonized for asking questions and demanding that a full accounting of what transpired be undertaken.
Second, I am still wavering on the culpability of Joshieboy. There is his age to consider, he was 14 when he molested his own sisters. And, as many comments have pointed out in various forms (this paraphrased from an acquaintance):
Such actions from an adolescent, are indicative of their own molestation unrecognized and untreated, which the adolescent attempts to process by "mirroring" the abuse onto others. Since there was no investigation (regarding Josh's actions) the original child molester is free and clear and most likely still offending.So who exactly started all this?
The current debacle was initially hidden for a year, with none of the children getting any legitimate counseling. That being the case, it makes all of them victims likely to repeat the cycle as statistics show.
Updated 5/27/2015
Updated 5/28/2015
Updated 5/29/2015
Updated 5/31/2015
No comments:
Post a Comment