A Great Quote Turned Bad

I love the start of this quote, but you'll see how it degenerates into something really scary.

"Prostitution is a disgrace to humanity and cannot be removed simply by charitable or academic methods. Its restriction and final extermination presupposes the removal of a whole series of contributory circumstances. The first remedy must always be to establish such conditions as will make early marriages possible, especially for young men – for women are, after all, only passive subjects in this matter."

Yeah, kind of terrifying sentiments. As if marriage were the remedy to prostitution and--obviously--as if women were "only passive subjects" and not cognizant persons.

That's Hitler, by the way. Seems to be a common theme with him. Start of good, end up really, really wrong.

There's a First Time for Everything

Last night I went to the first meeting of the LDS Democrats of Idaho. Remember a month ago when I went to a meeting at the Democrat Headquarters in Boise and I thought it was going to be a person talking at the rest of us little people and it turned out that it was more of like an actual meeting and discussion? That basically happened again.

It was at (Stake) President Balukoff's house and I thought it was going to be a bunch of people milling around and meeting each other and shaking hands and then someone was going to stand up and say "Now we're getting started" and talk at us. I walked in and there were about five people sitting around a fire in the backyard, two women giggling together and some older men as well as a stoic-looking woman younger than the other two. But not as young as me.

Actually, I wasn't the youngest. There was a four- or five-year-old sitting there watching his dad's iPad for the whole time. His name was Kyler. But besides him, I was the youngest. One guy there talked about how he had voted for Barry Goldwater and then converted to liberalism in time to vote for George McGovern.

We basically sat around and people talked about how they decided to be Democrats and growing up inside or outside of the church. And of course we had refreshments, although nobody prayed. I recognized one guy from his picture on an article he had written and I knew the guy organizing it because he had asked me to go to that meeting a month ago and we met to discuss it, albeit afterward.

But one thing we all agreed on was that it was amazingly refreshing to be discussing religion and politics who viewed both similarly to ourselves and are intelligent, which is a hard combination to find all three.

I love being Mormon and I love being Liberal, so I'm okay with being a Democrat. I guess that's all.

Book Review: DEAD MAN WALKING

I just read one of the best books ever written, Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean (pray-zhahn, pictured above). It's a very blunt and forward depiction of one remarkable woman's relationship with two rapist/murderers on death row. (Actually, both denied doing the actual acts but because of circumstances were heaped with the greater condemnation than the real perpetrator, not to excuse their own participation.)

The story deals with mainly Christian Liberalism--particularly capital punishment--but also deals with themes of forgiveness and vengeance, blame guilt, action and charity. Sister Helen exemplifies all the good aspects and--I believe--what Christians ought to be. What a world it would be if all Christians loved as she does and then brought all from other faiths to love the same way! But it won't happen. Not that it can't, but it won't.

One thing in particular that I gleaned from the book is this idea, that there is no such thing as government "laissez-faire." There are only three options for government, to support actively or passively or to not support actively. There is no such thing as government not supporting something passively. In other words, if something is happening in the world--and something always is--then if government decides to do nothing, then they are supporting what is happening.

"Yes, I think domestic abuse is wrong. But it's wrong for government to interfere in relationships." You might as well say "Domestic abuse is right and good." Same inaction happens and same people are hurt. "Banks shouldn't be able to get away with all the bad business they do and stop screwing over homeowners and such, but let's just wait for the invisible hand to sort it out" is the same as "I support corrupt bad banking." "I don't like how Mexican farm laborers are treated, but they're illegal so we shouldn't have to do anything," is "I love how bad it is for them."

The same goes on a personal level and this really changed how I view charity and love. There is no such thing as passive bystanding. "I don't pick on other kids at school, but I just kind of stay out of the way" is the same thing as "I like how bullies treat and belittle other children of God." "I don't really support agribusiness, but it's just so inconvenient to buy anything else" is "Go monoculture farming!" And the biggest egocide: "I really do love these people, but I figure they just know it so I don't really have to let them know." You might as well be totally indifferent.

So the moral of Sister Helen's story--at least the one I got from it--NEVER let injustice continue without speaking out. I guarantee it will be inconvenient and uncomfortable. It might even be impossible, but you--I--need to do it anyway. Find a way.

1 Nephi 3:7, "Feed My Sheep"

Happy October Conference!

It's that time of the half-year again!

Saturday and Sunday this next weekend are General Conference for the LDS Church. If you don't know what that means, it's when the prophets speak to the world directly. Lots of Mormons show up in Temple Square (and lots of anti-Mormons as well) and lots more stay home in their pajamas and watch the sessions while playing with legos.

There are four main two-hour sessions, one morning and one afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday as well as one for priesthood holders on Saturday evening and one last weekend for the Relief Society.

More importantly, it's an opportunity for people to have their prayers answered. Six months ago I wanted to know about gender and priesthood roles and Elder Ballard--one of our apostles--spoke directly about what I was wondering and answered my prayer, at least for the time being.

So this time I'm gearing up with my questions and concerns and praying hard to get my answers. I strongly encourage anyone reading this to do the same, regardless of religion. They cover so many topics and give such great counsel, you're bound to find an answer if you do that, whether or not you believe it's direct from God.

Happy Conference Everybody!