Like Calfs in Stalls

Ladies Be Counted

Anyone interested in wearing the latest in Texas Anti-Polygamy fashion should contact Mandy at 830-329-6358 or Pisslejane@gmail.com.

A $20 donation includes shipping in the contiguous states, and anyone in the Texas Hill Country can arrange for pick up.

The back reads "Polygamy is Abuse Triple AP. Org"

Texas Women and San Jacinto

The Battle Flag of San Jacinto

I am humoring myself, lately, with pondering the Battle Flag of San Jacinto.

When I returned to Texas in 2008, I met in Austin with the assistant to Representative Hilderbran. I remember showing the documentation I'd returned with and saying, "Eldorado was like an Alamo for the future of women's rights in Texas, and if we don't get a San Jacinto we're going to be in trouble".

Over a year later, I took the time to look up the San Jacinto Battle Flag, and found myself amazed at the prescience of the characters of the women who were behind it, and their remarkable story.

http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/sylvesterjames.htm

"Thousands are said to have waved the company off as they departed by steamer from Cincinnati on the Ohio River. Legend says that Private James A. Sylvester was given a long red glove (a white glove in some accounts) by the daughter of the host at a departure dance just before leaving for Texas which he tied on the flag staff. It was said to be a "talisman" and inspired the ranks at San Jacinto."


"I take it as a pledge of victory, and shall die before I surrender it to a foe."
~Private James A. Sylvester

As I ponder this revealing historical information I wonder about things.

I wonder what a group of officer's ladies in Kentucky in 1836 would have thought of a religious leader who proclaimed the color red to be completely banned from all public or private settings.

Would this have been a case of the ladies of Kentucky Vs. The Grinch?

The Grinch is, after all, the only other character in recent history who has successfully banned the color red from the sight of children. Even if it was only a bad fairy tale, and not the stuff of every day life, as it is for FLDS children, one has to wonder about this person's genuine spirituality...

The battle flag has captured more than my imagination since taking a good long look at it, and the history, which brought it to the field in Texas where our liberty as Texans was so decisively won. It was here the stage was set for the Mexican-American war and gave The United States the northern half of Mexico. This area later became the U.S. states of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

And there was our gift back.

Everything about the Battle Flag of San Jacinto is the ultimate antithesis of Warren Jeffs, and indeed, polygamy.

After all, if someone can document, historically, one incidence of an FLDS lady presenting a long red glove to her man as a talisman of good luck, or designing a flag for him to carry into battle, which features a bare breasted woman wearing a red skirt, raising a sabre, and holding a banner that says "Liberty or Death"...well, I will be glad to eat my hat for anyone who can produce such historical evidence.

She was called by the women who sent it to us, "The Goddess of Liberty".
Only Texas women have the pleasure of such a history.

We do not come from Utah and Arizona where the liberty of their women is so lightly removed in the criminal practice of the human rights abuse of polygamy.

We are free women.



It was gift from our sisters in Kentucky and Ohio, who seemed to understand their own liberty was a gift from the creator, and no man could take it way from them in a civilization where human liberty was to flourish as prolifically as wildflowers.

We are free women.

Someone else can tell my Cherokee or Hillbilly friends in Tennessee, that Texas has decided to lay down the power to protect its women and children.

I will deliver my sisters there no such message.

Someone else can go tell the Mississippi Girls that we have laid the banner down and will be quiet now that we have a group lobbying our legislature, hoping to form a "Safety Net" style Committee here in Texas.

I will not.

Someone else can go tell the Alabama women, where they are proud to declare "We dare defend our rights", that polygamy will be normalized and accepted here in Texas as long as the children here are raised to believe doing it is their only means to eternal salvation.

I won't be making that call to Alabama either.

Nope, I don't plan to pick up the phone and make any such report to anyone in any state.

We are free women.

When we take a husband he is our only living equal. The law supports us and protects us in this right. We will be appealing to our laws.

After all, aren't our laws what make us civilized?

Men are good at killing people and breaking things but only women can build a culture worth living in on top of the ruins.

I like my civilization, here in Texas, just as it is right now, thank you very much.

I should really go get a copy of this flag.

Eldorado needs this flag.

Potential Witness Intimidation Attempt

I'd like to thank TexasBluesMan for his excellent coverage in his blog, Coram Non Judice http://coramnonjudice.blogspot.com/, of a potential witness intimidation attempt in San Angelo yesterday morning.

Carolyn Jessop, author of "Escape" was in San Angelo Sunday night in preparation for the hearing in Judge Walther's court Monday, in her child support case against her ex-owner, FLDS Bishop Merril Jessop of the YFZ.

Merril Jessop is claiming to have no income. Documents retrieved by the Texas Rangers in the 2008 rescue conducted at the YFZ, indicate Warren Jeffs ordered Merril Jessop to divest himself of all assets in preparation for a child support claim against him by Carolyn.

The unidentified pick up reportedly drove by the residence where she was staying early Monday morning, without head lights on, and several shots were fired.

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/sep/28/police-investigate-gunshots-on-twohig/

"We are a peaceful people"
Willie Jessop

Oh Canada, What Have You done?

Below is a letter, from my friend Nancy Mereska in Canada.

If you are concerned about the future of women's rights in North America, please follow her example and compose a letter asking the Canadian government to take immediate action against the human rights abuse of polygamy taking place within a supposedly free and democratic society.

Word is that the Province of B.C. has the option, and may yet appeal Judge Stromberg's decision. We need to insist our voice is heard.

Americans Against Abuses of polygamy is proud to stand strongly behind the efforts of Stop Polygamy in Canada. We support and encourage the Province of British Columbia to appeal this bad decision. We ask all freedom loving Americans to let their voice be heard, and to demand the Canadian government step up to protect the human rights of their women and children.

VIA EMAIL
premier@gov.bc.ca

September 23, 2009

Premier Gordon Campbell
Office of the Premier
Legislative Building
Victoria, B.C.
V8V 1X4

Honourable Premier Campbell:

Re: Appealing the ruling by Judge Stromberg today that quashed the charges of polygamy against Winston Blackmore and James Oler

The Stop Polygamy in Canada Campaign respectfully requests that your government appeals the ruling by Judge Stromberg today, September 23, 2009, whereby the charges of polygamy against Winston Blackmore and James Oler have been quashed.

We wish to remind you that:
• Canada is the only country in the world that has all the legal ammunition it needs to prosecute and stop the practice of polygamy.
• Canada has a Criminal Code wherein Section 293 makes the practice of polygamy illegal.
• Canada has a Charter of Rights and Freedoms wherein sections 15 and 28 speak for gender equality—there is no gender equality in polygamy.
• Canada has signed and ratified many international conventions that speak to the rights of women and children including The International Convention for Human Rights, The International Convention for the Rights of the Child, and The International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women—wherein section 5 speaks to the harm polygamy does to women and children.
• The women and children caught in the clutches of polygamy cannot speak for themselves. Their lives and salvation depend on them adhering to the dictates of their male leaders (and abusers).
• All aspects of polygamy are harmful and abusive: there is no freedom of choice, there is no education on rights and freedoms, there is abuse in all forms—mental, physical, and sexual.

The Government of British Columbia dismissed charges of polygamy against Winston Blackmore and Dalmon Oler (now deceased) in 1991 saying Section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada was unconstitutional and did not apply to British Columbia. Where was the logic in that decision? How can a Province overrule a Federal Law? Now history has repeated itself to the shame of British Columbia.

A canwest news story appeared in the papers on March 25th of this year claiming that the “Harper Government is prepared to defend the constitutionality of Canada’s criminal ban against polygamy, arguing the practice of polygamy represents a ‘clear challenge’ to Canadian values, newly released federal documents show.” (The Edmonton Journal, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, Ottawa braces to defend polygamy ban by Andrew Mayeda, Canwest News Service, Ottawa).

Please use your powers to launch an appeal to Judge Stromberg’s ruling. The world is watching Canada. The world is educated on the powers and legal ammunition Canada has to Stop Polygamy in Canada.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. A favour of your response to this email letter would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Nancy Mereska, Coordinator
Stop Polygamy in Canada
Box 136
Two Hills, AB T0B 4K0

The Ironies of the Civil Rights of Preston Barlow

Four days ago, former Colorado City police officer Preston Barlow filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Arizona Attorney General and the Arizona Police Officer's Standards and Training Board, insisting that his civil rights have been violated, because of his decertification.

I find this especially ironic, because in 2006 I had occasion to have a somewhat tense encounter with Officer Barlow in Colorado City, Arizona, right outside the Hildale Health Clinic.

Flora and I had gone up to Saint George to attend the initial hearings of Warren Jeffs in the Elissa Wall case. Flora brought with her a trailer load of clothing, books, toys, food, furniture and other items for distribution to women and children who had escaped polygamy. Her Suburbans power steering went out right outside of Kingman, so we were forced to abandon it and attach the trailer to my truck for the trip up there.

We spent the three days delivering the goods, meeting with the families in need and attempting once again to locate Flora's mother. After a long day of hearings in Saint George, where Flora went inside to observe, and I stayed outside schmoozing with the national media, we set out for Colorado City.

Since my truck had Texas plates, we knew it would draw some serious attention in Colorado City. At that time, most of the FLDS residents there were in serious denial that Warren was abandoning them and moving "the elect" to Texas. Many residents at the time refused to believe there was even a settlement there, claiming we were all liars.

We visited the cemeteries first, documenting the baby cemetery in Hildale with photographs.

As it was starting to get dark, we headed for the health clinic, which was the last known residence of Flora's mother, since she had been last 'reassigned' as a concubine to the doctor who lived in the house behind the security gates attached to the clinic.

Flora drove, since she was familiar with the area. We pulled into the driveway and she followed the instructions on the sign, which were to turn off the vehicle's engine and press the button on the call box.

Flora asked to speak to "Mother Pat" and there was a long pause before a voice responded, "Who is this"? Flora laughed and said, "You know damn well who this is. This is Flora, and I want to speak to my mother. Is she in there? Is she still alive?" She was instructed to wait. So we did. By this time it was dark.

A few minutes later a Colorado City Police vehicle pulled up, with lights flashing, blocking us into the clinic driveway. The officer got out of the vehicle and began to approach my truck. At that time both Flora and I exited the vehicle. As the officer approached us, I said "Howdy, sir!", opened the back door of my truck, and out came the network newsman with camera rolling we had brought with us.

Officer Preston Barlow froze where he stood, and it was all I could do not to blurt out as I stood my ground, "Donut"?

Flora walked around the truck to speak to him and said it was nice to see him, calling him "cousin". She explained that she was attempting, again, to ascertain whether her mother was inside and still living. She explained to Officer Barlow that she wished to file a missing persons report on her mother and he refused to do it, insisting she was fine.

Flora asked him if he liked his new job as a police officer and he expressed that he did indeed enjoy it, then called for back up from Washington County. A Washington County Sheriff's Deputy car arrived, shortly thereafter, to block us in as well.

The camera man milling around the driveway, with tape rolling, was obviously making officer Barlow quite nervous. After his repeated refusal to fill out a missing persons report for Flora, she looked at him and said, "Well, Cousin Preston, I hope you have enjoyed this job because you're not going to get to keep it, I'll guarantee you that much".

The Washington County Deputy was very cordial and told Flora he would take the missing persons report for her, since Colorado City's Officer Barlow refused.

We were asked to clear the driveway for an incoming vehicle with an emergency and we complied by pulling the truck out and to the side of the road, where the W.C. Deputy took her report.

The clinic in Hildale receives public funding from the state of Utah and is listed on their state health department's website as a location where one can receive AIDS testing, WIC assistance and flu shots. It is, however, set behind a tall security fence, stretching right out over a road maintained by Washington County and they refuse treatment to all but loyal members of the FLDS in good standing...thus creating a 'religious test' for treatment.

Has anyone bothered to ask about the civil rights violations of the FLDS apostates who are denied medical care by this state funded medical clinic?

How ironic that Preston Barlow believes his civil rights have been violated.

A Change of Venue

If anyone has wondered where I've been or what I've been up to, well here it is.

I've moved back to the Texas Hill Country as of this week.

2 Hours from Eldorado
1 Hour from San Antonio
1.5 Hours from Austin

I think that's a lot better than Dallas.

More info on what is going on with the YFZ Cemetery case should hopefully be posted soon.

The new place is great, chicken and dumplin's last night for dinner and one less rooster to get on my last nerve at O'dark thirty...