Google should be considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. Type in one simple subject, and it will bring the world to your feet-or your fingertips.
This search engine has always held a special place in my heart, but my appreciation for all it could do peaked on Tuesday. While trying to think about how to write the column about polygamy, (checkout this week's centerpiece by Rekha Muddaraj on pages 6 and 7), I decided to turn to my favorite search engine for additional research.
My stubby fingers typed in "polygamy" and the first thing that popped up was www.polygamy.com. The summary of the site says it is " ... for people who wish to move beyond present day monogamy and to promote plural marriage by encouraging honorable individuals wishing to pursue polygamy ... "
A pro-polygamy site? That was compelling enough to deserve a click of the mouse.
Not only does polygamy.com promote plural marriages, but the site also facilitates the practice. They post personals for those who are looking for families looking for more wives. Instead of hearing about single, white males who like long walks on the beach, the personals on polygamy.com read more like this: "Me and My 5 wives have 32 children. We want one more wife to come and live with us so we can have more. We love God and the outdoors. We have 3 ferretts and 4 dogs."
Wow! Seven pets? That must be some crazy household.
Oh, yeah. Five wives and 32 children must add to the chaos.
I spent and good 45 minutes exploring the Web site and trying to delve into the inner thoughts of people who endorse polygamy. I gasped. I laughed. I told my friends about the site during lunch.
And while I got some entertainment by examining a social oddity, polygamy isn't always amusing. Polygamy.com might color the relationships these families have as loving and God-fearing, but most of the time, women in these communities fear everyone and everything-child abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse and persecution.
I was so fascinated because even though I had read about polygamy in the news, I never heard what it was like on the other side. This week you have the opportunity. Google may be able to bring the world to your fingertips, but in this week's centerpiece, Rekha is bringing a story of a woman who escaped the horrors of polygamous society. It won't be as quirky as reading the personal ads from people seeking "sister wives." It does, however, expose how real, and at the same time, how far away we are from understanding such a culture.
Reach the reporter at spmag@asu.edu.
