Monday, October 27, 2008

Well, as long as *we* think so

I went to Church yesterday. Let's just say my tongue really hurts.

To review: to many of my fellow church members, by voting no (or even considering voting no), I am defying the Prophet and, by extension, God Himself. This is me being prideful and thinking I know more than God.

I've felt the barbs and guilt of those insinuations if not downright accusations.

There was much talk yesterday about the moral majority and hoping it comes out to vote (Heaven help us if they do! We'll have a President McCain - which I still don't understand the connection between moral and conservative, but I do intend to blog on that). They talk about how we'll be blessed for our obedience (even if the Prop fails), how sometimes we're asked to do hard things and endure persecution for Christ.

One woman brought up the online database of contributors (which points out who is LDS among them) to the Yes on 8 campaign and went on to describe how she felt this issue would be our Missouri. She seemed to believe we were on the threshold of modern day mobbings and tarring and feathering. She believed the people are again fearing a political Mormon uprising and are thus readying to drive us all from the state. Mitt certainly isn't on the ballot this year, after all.

I think we flatter ourselves.

Yes, there are protesters standing in front of temples - Oakland, CA specifically, but from what I can tell, it hasn't been violent. We act like this is new, but members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be used to this by now. If you've been to General Conference in Salt Lake City you'll know the signs well. If you've been to a new temple during open house or in its first weeks of operation, you'll know these signs well.

Yes, some of the signs are unnecessary and offensive, but let's suck it up and try to understand where the Prop 8 protesters are coming from. I'd be really, really, really hurt and angry, too. You would. You'd feel like next to nothing, like you didn't matter. You'd feel like no one cared about your feelings, just about keeping you and those like you from screwing up society.

But lest we forget, too many heterosexual marriages are hardly sacred. Let's strengthen those marriages and families and leave good people alone.

Let's promote good things. Marriage is good. Marriage, even heretical gay marriage, strengthens families.

But...isn't a domestic partnership enough? They're not, by present definition, getting "married," after all. And really, we have no problem with homosexual couples having rights. Isn't that a good enough compromise?

I used to say that, too - until I realized how condescending it is. Is it really up to us to say "yeah, you can have rights"?

How nice of us to think so!

If you think you wouldn't be irritated and hurt by all of this too, you're kidding yourself.

6 comments:

Amanda said...

Just a few more weeks...hang in there.

Lisa said...

Yep.

Part of me will miss this though. It's not often the topic is so open for discussion.

Pseudonymous said...

I appreciate your post. Our ward really hasn't run into any trouble with regard to disrespect. I just read an article in the Salt Lake Tribune that would have us believe this issue is destroying the church in California. That doesn't jive with what I've seen in our stake, but that's just a small part of the bay area.

I think I finally realized the problem I have with this issue in the blogosphere. I think more people are interested in being right than anything else. I've noticed this on blogs from both sides of the fight. Lefty's are condescending and mocking in their attacks on the rightys' POV and the rightys respond with vitriol regarding the righteousness of the leftys. I'm so excited for this election to be over.

I'm a centrist personally, it must come from being ambidextrous. I don't really have a dog in this fight, but my duty as a citizen is to vote, so I'll have to follow my conscience come next Tuesday.

Lisa said...

That surprises me that it wouldn't be an issue in the bay area (it really is a rather liberal part of the state).

I'm glad to hear it, though. There isn't much division in my stake, either. That said, only a few know where I stand...unless word has gotten out, haha. I'm pretty alone here as far as I can tel.

Thanks for stopping by, anon :) Hope you come back more often.

Natalie said...

I'm all the way out here in Pennsylvania, and I feel like the effects of Prop. 8 have crept in. I know there are definitely a few individuals who know of my stance and question my worthiness to hold me callings because of it. Splendid, eh?

Pseudonymous said...

I'm sure in the greater bay area there is strife and discrimination in wards etc, but I haven't seen it in my stake. My stake covers four cities in the bay area, so I doubt it's representative. Our stake presidency has been very proactive in making sure that everyone feels welcome.

Either way, I'm glad it will be over in a week.