by susana (Thu Feb 04, 2010)
OK,
enough with the book club bashing. Let's face it, the whole idea of a book club
is an excuse for overworked housewives to meet at a fellow book clubber's home
to drink free alcohol and discuss a book they may or may not have
even read.
Sounds fantastic to me. Unlimited wine, interesting
conversation, and a man free zone - where do I register? Seriously though,
I am part of a 10-year, maybe longer, book club that is all women but
not all overworked housewives. Some are underworked and some haven't even ever
been married. We are a diverse bunch and I've read books I never would
have even known about. For instance, we had a huge debate last week
over ‘The 19th Wife' by David Ebershoff about polygamy in America.
Amazing to
learn how a man named Brigham Young, the seminal Mormon leader of the mid 19thcentury,
could have had over 50 wives and still to this day have a well respected American
University (Brigham Young University) named after him. (If you don't want to read
the whole book, February's ‘National Geographic' cover story, titled ‘Polygamy
in America,' might pique your interest).
How is it common knowledge that polygamous
societies are thriving in Arizona, Colorado and other western States but we can't
do anything to stop it? Remember the raid and arrests on the polygamist sect in
Texas 2 years ago? That raid led to the American people voicing
their opposition to mothers and children being separated as
authorities intervened. If I feel the children of polygamists are being raised
in an unjust society do I have a right to order their guardians
to change? Are my tax dollars contributing to the success of this
society? How else are they surviving? Where do personal freedoms end and
the rights of taxpayers begin? Does HBO contribute to the acceptance of this
practice with its series ‘Big Love?'
Maybe we can all say ‘none of my business,'
but for one minute picture yourself not knowing any different
lifestyle and being wedded off at 17 to your 60-year-old stepfather and then
someday having to listen to your partner have sex with a ‘sister wife,' or
the lady behind door number 3. If we are in any way proponents of women's
rights why do we just accept this?
