Elections seem to get tougher every year. There is always some crazy person willing to make sensationalist claims, and there is always a reporter willing to pretend to take him seriously. For example, this election, we learned that Obama is a Marxist, and that gays might marry in Mormon temples. But that’s part of life in a democracy, I guess. You have to be able to laugh off the attack ads.
When people we know spread false claims, it hits much closer to home. I’ve talked to people that think it is OK to stretch the truth a little when the stakes are so high. One person justified a little bias by asserting that the other side was worse. When the negativity and loss of faith in politicians’ integrity affected some of our loved ones it made Elisa and I so sad that we felt physically ill. [Corrected from: “It is the negativity and disillusionment of our loved ones that has made Elisa and I so sad that we felt physically ill.”]
So I want to give a big thank-you to all those that took the time to do their fact checking this election season. Thank you to those that valued truth over sensationalism. Thank you to those that made their decisions with charity and not anger. Thank you to all those that scrutinized their opinions and listened to criticism. You all know who you are, because it has been a taxing couple of months for you. No matter what side of the issues you take, I hope your voices get more prominent every year like you deserve while your opponents become more marginalized.
No matter what the rest of the world believes, we owe it to ourselves and our causes to be fair and honest every time. It makes our positions stronger, not weaker. As voters we want to make educated decisions. We need to encourage others to make educated decisions by being straightforward. Otherwise we are undermining democracy and our own part in the process. Stretching and bending the truth may commonly be found in politics but they really have no place there. Maybe you’ll recognize this quote from A Man for All Seasons, which to me says that even our biggest detractors deserve to hear us treat the issues with integrity.
11 Comments »
Interesting words. Even though, as usual, it kind of leaves me going… “huh? Where is he coming from?”
I get the whole Obama thing. But as far as Garriage (gay marriage) I have to say you left alot of us saying “huh? Is he just playing Devils advocate or does he just not get it?” I’m going to assume you”get it.” In fact I have several explanations (some might call them arguments) about Garriage but I refrained from posting them for you because I figured you “got it” anyways (also I wanted the aggressive banter to cease between me and my friend Rachel- like that will ever happen).
Though, I really liked the discussion that went on on the marriagelogic blog. It was a good way for the people that replied to think things through (Because God is Reason!)
I can give them to you still if your interested. Posting them near the end of the election would have seemed like I was getting one last punch in before the end of the fight. And posting them afterward would have seemed like I was gloating.
And yah, I am going to publicly call you out (and anyone else guilty of this)on the subject of appropriate fact checking. Going to anti-Mormon (or “Mormons who think they are Mormon” but excuse themselves from following the prophet (aka they are NOT really Mormon)) websites is not what I call unbaised fact checking. Haha I am sorry dude, we love you way to much to let you get away with this- even though we know you are just pretending to be the Devils advocate. The beginning of every mondern day way-ward Mormon story starts off, “we’ll I was online and found all these stories…” Thats how my friend Rachel went Anti so I take it pretty personally.
Props to Tammi- I think she hit it right on the head with all that. Especially that we are a people of short attention spans- thats why you have to spew out the most appealing arguments as fast as you can. Otherwise the “undecided” will get swept up by the other side.
p.s. Just to clarify I am totally open to still discussing the important points of Garriage. mostly just so I can type the word “garriage” more.
Rachel, I sure appreciated that you had a blog for Prop 8 discussions. I have a lot of sincere questions about the issue. I support the church in its decision to take a stand. But none of the reasons that I read in support of Prop 8 were convincing to me. I’ll keep an open mind and keep investigating.
BTW, I’m glad you are concerned about me reading anti-Mormon literature. Don’t worry, I won’t go looking for reasons to disagree with the church. 🙂 The article that I linked to is http://mormonsformarriage.com/?p=33. Even though we both disagree with some campaigning on the website, the article itself is not heretical. I promise that I wouldn’t be asking you to read it if it encouraged hate or defiance of church leaders. Please read it and decide for yourself whether the “Six Consequences” are accurate.
I’m going to single you out with one more example, so I want to reiterate that I was happy you fostered a healthy environment for debate on your blog. I’ve already written to you that the Parker family video is a misleading piece of propaganda. Look at the comments on your own website: “I liked the video, that’s crazy that they threw that guy in jail.” It left people with the impression that 1) teachers at the school read a book promoting homosexuality to students, and 2) a parent was thrown in jail for disagreeing. Seeing misinformation like that being propagated among my own family members is so disheartening. I hope you can forgive me for passing judgment, because in my opinion the honest way to campaign for Prop 8 would have been to take the video down and replace it with a true-to-life story.
Chad,
I am more than happy to reopen the subject and eager to answer any questions.
I stand by the video completely and the responses.
The Parker man was so shocked and angered by the evilness (YEP! homosexuality is evil) allowed by the school to even bring up the subject to young children, I think it is understandable he would want to make a point. But the SHOCKING part is that the school/court did say he had no right to object to them even handing out the material.
Yes, it IS crazy they threw that guy in jail. Why couldn’t they apologize, let him know it’s the first time they’ve tried to do something like this, and in the future send a letter to the parents about said book with a permission slip to even have the book handed to the children?
The fact that this book isn’t offensive to you or the average person is irrelevant, the point is he was offended and he should have the right to completely shelter his children from that.
Instead, they prove they do have an agenda and let themselves be taken to court by this guy. There they make him out to be a bigot and someone who didn’t have the best interests of his child in mind by ruling against him.
If our argument had only people who were super passive to these kinds of actions (and who knows how many people have already been trampled on before Mr. Parker?) our rights would have been flushed completely long ago. This is evil and we need to put up a fight. And I think the Parker Father was being completely sincere in his version of the story. Why didn’t the school board simply appologize and make things right quickly?
I think where you and some of my other blog readers stray is that as you may disagree with homosexuality, but you don’t find it shocking.
Imagine Eden comes home with a book on “Ways to Recreate.” One page however, depicts two adults doing cocaine. At that theoretical time it may be legal, alot your friends might do it, but wouldn’t you make a stand -even go to jail to show how disgusted you are? ESPECIALLY if the school board said- “Nope, you can chose if and how you tell your daughter about coke, but we have EVERY right to place a book in her hands that shows other people doing it.”
Do you get my point? I’m sorry this seems outlandish, but I really think our society is going down the crapper faster than you realize. However, glad to have an eternal optimist in the family.
Which leads me to Mormons For Marriage. Yep, still stand by my given arguments. I could go through the arguments one by one, (and yes I am sure you will probably make me) but I think if I let enough time elapse they will each and every one prove themselves true. Seriously. They will.
I guess where we differ is that you don’t think the other side has an agenda and this is only the beginning…
Rachel, no one would argue that you have deep-seated and moral reasons for supporting Prop 8. I think that’s a great quality. I wish you had posted a video that says exactly what you believe, such as: “Homosexuality is evil. Homosexual marriage is offensive.” Instead you posted a video that only did a mediocre job of stating your opinions, and along the way included a lot of falsehoods. That doesn’t do justice to your cause.
I feel like you are more concerned with _whether_ I support Prop 8. I am more concerned with _how_ you support Prop 8.
These are the problems with the David Parker story that the video was not willing to admit:
* The book bags were optional.
* The school sent a list to the parents beforehand of what was in the bags.
* The teachers didn’t promote homosexuality to the children or read the book in class!
* The books were about families, and only mentioned that some families had two mommies without focusing on that.
* The parents were free to read the book to their kids, or not, as they chose.
* David Parker didn’t just want the school to apologize. He wanted them to sign an agreement with him but the school didn’t agree to his wording.
* Mr. Parker was stubborn enough to plant himself in the school offices for 3 1/2 hours until he was finally arrested for trespassing.
* The only reason Mr. Parker spent the night in jail was because he preferred to stay to make a point.
* The California Family Code is not similar enough to the Massachusetts laws to draw sweeping conclusions.
* Prop 8 affects the definition of marriage, not the issue of gay parenting that was raised in the book and the video.
* Prop 8 does not change parents’ rights to prior notification or to opt out of controversial school subjects. Parents hoping to gain more of those rights are supporting the wrong legislation.
* Prop 8 does not bar schools from talking about homosexual marriage. School curricula are still planned with local parents and school districts.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Parker_controversy.
Hey Tammi, I really appreciated your comments. I definitely think there are people on all sides doing whatever it takes to convince the world they are right and the opposing candidate or platform is wrong. It is the “whatever it takes” that worries me.
The issue of Proposition 8 has been the most troubling for me. It has been difficult to see that some opponents for the proposition have pointed fingers at the Mormon community and temples. It makes me sad that ads have been run vilifying missionaries and church values. It makes me sad that after so many years of a positive relationship with the community the church is being seen as a place for bigotry and discrimination.
I believe that marriage is sacred. I believe children need a loving father and mother. I believe God made man and woman to complement each other. I believe that the ideal and most fulfilling relationship is that of man and wife. I believe that the best way to raise any child is in a home with a mother and father who respect and honor their marriage covenants. I also believe that within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a family can be strengthened like no other place and that a marriage between a man and woman in a Temple of God is divine. It is a temple marriage that can bring the joy God intends for his children now and forever.
I do not believe every temple marriage is nurtured as it should be. There are temple marriages that are inferior to marriages not sealed by the power of God. There are marriages between men and women that result in adultery, abuse, divorce, and apathy that to me are clearly inferior to a relationship between two people who truly love, honor, and respect each other. There are homosexual couples who have more commitment, love, and respect for each other than many marriages. There are many homosexual couples or even singles that have an abundance of love and would offer a more caring and nurturing environment for children than many traditional marriages and homes provide.
Let me clarify that I believe that a homosexual relationship does not have the same potential as a heterosexual relationship, nor can it provide or offer the same blessings in this life or in the eternities.
I do not agree with the focus of the Prop 8 campaigning. Many of the points are “What ifs” or are concerning issues that have less to do with marriage and more to do with teaching about marriage in schools. It is my understanding that leaders of the Mormon Church have encouraged its members to do whatever they can to support the proposition to preserve the “ideal” of marriage. It would benefit us all if our focus were on strengthening marriage and teaching the positive things gained from traditional marriage rather than disparaging good well-meaning relationships of homosexuals.
The best way to promote traditional marriage values is for each of us to strengthen our own individual marriages and teach our children in the home the ideals of home and family life. Above all it is important that we not forget that this is a tender subject for homosexuals and their families; this is about people. No matter our moral and religious beliefs it is important to me to show as much sensitivity and compassion as possible.
Elisa,
Thanks for the reply. One of my very dearest friends in the whole world has a son who has chosen a homosexual lifestyle. While the process of acceptance and dealing with this has caused much turmoil, they are amazing! I love their son. However, it does not change how they feel about his choices. . . Hmmm a novel idea, unconditional love is what I think it is called. You don’t have to like what someone does but it doesn’t mean you don’t like them:) Much love to Eden!!!
“It’s the negativity and disillusionment of our loved ones…” What’s that suppose to mean???? Not sure they are truly “loved ones” if you’re comfortable saying that on a blog you’ve invited “loved ones” to read….
Rozie, if we sounded like we were calling family members negative then we misspoke! Sorry! We tried to make the post very specific about what we don’t like in elections–namely, that sometimes people purposely spread false information. Please don’t take that personally in any way, because it wasn’t meant as an attack.
I am totally fine if Chad and Elisa don’t like the Parker video. I feel the video portrays the other side as they are. I can see how “good” gay families would want to be protected from that kind of attitude though.
Anyways, the real videos that the church produced are on my marriage logic blog. There are roughly 6 of them. Now… if anyone has a beef with those- then we will talk. The Parker family video was the first video I found in my blogging journeys, and is definately not my favorite. The Dee Garrett video is not church produced also, however and it is the bomb.
ok… now I will stop….. now.
Yeah, I make a concentrated effort to ignore all television ads during election time. I do lots of research and try to pick the candidates whose platforms align with what I would like to see happen. Most of the television ads I’ve seen are totally ludicrous.
November 8, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
I appreciate the sentiment. I am left wondering who, if you believe it to be one-sided, you feel was underminding and sneaky. I happen to believe BOTH parties and ALL sides of issues market in a biased way. . .because our country has become a country of people with short attention spans and instant gratification is better than long term satisfaction. I personally became very tired of the ads, biases etc. The best part of the election was the concession speech by John McCain and the acceptance speech by Barack Obama. Although Obama’s acceptance speech was not truly in line with the democratic party. . .Hmmm I hope he does what he says, holding individuals accountable. . . that would indicate to me that my tax money would not continue to support those families on welfare generation after generation. Mostly, I am sad that some people admitted to voting for Barack Obama because he was black, instead of the best candidate. What does that really say? I am also sad about all the hate being spewed at those who oppose gay marriage. Both sides are entitled to their opinion and beliefs. Perhaps they can look at the graciousness of McCain’s speech and understand that disagreeing doesn’t have to become hate filled or unkind.