Every time I see pictures like this or here of new protest stories i get a mix of sadness and anger. I'm sad that people would graffiti on our temple walls, I'm sad that people would send envelopes of "white powder" to both SLC temple and LA temple within an hour of each other( how scared must have those people been thinking they have just been exposed to anthrax), I'm sad that people could have so much hate and disrespect. I'm angry and in awe that people could be so hateful. Some may think were the hateful ones protesting on the streets. I'd say just well organized and peaceful. If you are going to get so upset about Prop 8 passing why don't you do something before the elections instead of after. I'm angry that there are people trying to protect our church ( that aren't even members) 
and they get beaten up for it. We didn't do anything wrong. We stood up for what we believe in and by we I mean as an individual. Sure the church has it's views but we as people have the right to choose for ourselves. I'm sick of hearing this is the same as black and white because it's not, I'm sick of hearing that were bigoted because were not, I'm sick of our temple being vandalized, I'm sick of the "hate crime" card being pulled, I'm sick of the double standards. I am really sad that this is all happening. It's not just in California, but all of the country these hateful acts are being pulled. So yeah I'm kinda angry but am I going to go vandalize your property? NO. Am I going to yell obscenities at you? NO. Am I going to throw a fit because things don't go my way? NO. I'm going to move on with my life and let things rest the way they are.
3 comments:
you said it tori! :)
It's sad that they feel discriminated against so they decide to discriminate against other people. All of it is so lame!
Hey girl.. I agree that there is reason for feeling anger and sadnesss. I do not support vandalism in any way. I do not support name calling and targeted mean spiritedness-especially against things that are sacred to many. I do try to understand that this particular demographic is constantly trying to get a voice. As such, even before this critical vote, they were and are commonly involved with protests. There is an energy among them that is pretty powerful. This issue will continue to be controversial and as time rolls on, I believe it will eventually pass.
Neil Maxwell gave a talk in 1979 where he said "Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive.. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."
It is no accident other religious leaders have supported us. It is no accident the first presidency came out with the proclaimation on the family almost 10 years ago. Both sides are fighting over family, a topic that generates a lot of emotion. This group wants a right to define, legalize, and accept their own type family. I do not agree with all the issues, but I do understand why they feel justified in what they do. There is a lot of emotion, they want to be accepted, many have had emotional struggles and require therapy along the way to deal with the rejection. They cling and rally with others in the same situation. It is their family.
We have a lot of emotion, too. We want to maintain the sanctity of marriage and the definition of a whole and most healthy family. The destruction and defacing of holy things very sacred to us and potentially hurting people is pretty low and triggers deep emotions. These hateful acts tell me that there is a minority in the group that are so emotional that irrationality is acceptable to be heard. It IS frustrating. I know that there are some that are among us that do not behave kindly to this demographic. We are also at fault with them feeling rejected. This is wrong. We must love. This does not mean we have to endorse what they do, but I do believe it is best to err on being kind. They are human beings and need to be treated as such.
I believe we need to be firm with our stance with regards to this issue because it will come up again. A lot more people will be desensitized to the righteous choice as morality is continually compromised in our nation. It will be more controversial than it is now as the rising generation becomes included in the vote. Best prepare ourselves.
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