Women’s subjugation in polygamous sect troubling

BARBARA WARNER Columnist

When you thought that women had made some progress, a story blazes across the nation about the bizarre polygamous sect in Texas, in which women have subjugated themselves to men drunk with power, even to the point of denying their basic child protection instincts. On the one hand, you have those women who have been born into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints group, headed by Warren Jeffs and other men who style themselves as prophets. On the other hand, you have a lesser number of adult women who have freely entered such compounds. Both have been brainwashed, but the latter presumably have a stronger sense of self. In either case, one is left wondering if you can be brainwashed to the point where you no longer know right from wrong. The only rationale I can think of for adult women to join such an enterprise is that they totally lack a sense of self, community, structure and purpose. In exchange for a twisted version of these, the women in this sect apparently agree to give up the - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

State will support higher education

KIM HENDREN State Senator

LITTLE ROCK — The state Board of Finance will lend $80 million to the Arkansas Student Loan Authority to make sure college loans are available next school year. The loan is a temporary measure to support the agency through the national credit crisis. Student loan authorities in other states also face financial uncertainties because of turmoil in the credit market. The country's largest investment banks have been forced to take enormous losses in their housing portfolios. One factor is that many homeowners are defaulting on subprime loans and other types of loans with adjustable rates, and housing prices have declined in many areas of the country. One consequence of the credit crisis is that some government agencies face difficulties selling bonds, which is a form of borrowing money. - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

LETTERS

Thanks from United Way The United Way of Northwest Arkansas recently conducted their annual Day of Caring on April 17. There were several non-profit agencies that had projects completed due to the large outpouring of volunteers from our community. I want to say “thank you” to all those that helped make the Day of Caring meaningful. There were many local manufacturing companies, banks and businesses that allowed their employees to take time off from their jobs to spend time working to help make a big difference to others. It was greatly appreciated by the agencies and United Way. Jerry Cavness United Way of Northwest Arkansas Community hepled Head Start recover Siloam Springs Head Start had the opportunity to experience the generosity of some of its businesses and churches May 2 in the aftermath the storm that went through earlier that day. Although we did not have trees fall as many of our neighbors did, we did experience not having access to electricity for 14 to 15 hours. We had three freezers with food in - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

EDITORIAL : A welcome change

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced last week, during a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas, that military personnel, as well as civilians, will no longer have to reveal previous mental-health treatment when applying for security clearances for sensitive positions. The exceptions are if treatment was ordered by a court or was related to violence. The change is a welcome one. Especially in light of recent studies that indicate large numbers of military men and women who served in Afghanistan and Iraq suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and other mental and emotional problems related to their service. The studies also revealed that few sought treatment. The main reason was a fear that a record of mentalhealth care would have a negative impact on their careers. The move has the support of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the major military and civilian intelligence agencies. Secretary Gates also promised that better care and treatment options for soldiers with mental-health issues will - Wednesday, May 14, 2008