More Prop 8

I am amazed at the hatred that many pro-same sex marriage advocates have with the supporters of Proposition 8, especially toward members of the LDS church. From vituperative comments in all forms of media, to protests in front of temples and churches, to multiple cases of vandalism, the anger and hate seems to be getting worse. Now there has been a complaint to an organization in California, The California Fair Political Practices Commision, that is going to investigate whether or not the Church properly reported all donations toward their support of Proposition 8. I am really getting tired of these people (but that doesn't mean I am going to vandalize their property!).

But I just read about something that was like a breath of fresh air. An organization called Abovethehate.com is circulating a letter/petition to President Monson in support of the LDS church and it's contribution to protecting traditional marriage in California. The full text can be found at http://abovethehate.com/, and the petition can be signed there. I also include it here, because it was so nice to read something positive and supporting about the church. Here it is.

November 15, 2008

President Thomas S. Monson
Office of the First Presidency
Church Administration Building
47 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

Dear President Monson:

We write firstly to express our deep gratitude to you and the entire LDS community for the large and impressive contributions of your church and its members in protecting marriage in California and Arizona.
Anyone who participated in this process has come to admire the competence, diligence and moral courage that so many members of your faith community displayed as part of this coalition effort—as Catholics, Evangelicals, Mormons, and people of other faith communities all came together to fight this great battle for marriage.
But we write for an even more important purpose: to express our outrage at the vile and indecent attacks directed specifically and uniquely at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members because of your courage in standing up for marriage.
It is deeply unfair, and contrary to the best American traditions, that any faith community, much less a minority one, should be singled out and attacked in this way by powerful, well-funded political forces determined to “make them pay” for participating in the normal political processes of democracy.

These attacks include:
Large organized protests designed to disrupt places of worship; [1]
Public calls to investigate and “dig up dirt” on Americans of a particular faith who donated to a political cause; [2]
An outrageous television ad campaign crudely and deliberately designed to incite fear and hatred of a minority religious community. [3]

None of these things should happen in America, but they are happening right now to the LDS faith community. We urge more and other responsible voices to say “enough.” These attacks are shameful. This is not the way Americans behave towards each other.

The coalition for marriage in California and across the country includes people of different theological views. But let us here make one thing absolutely clear:
We, the undersigned, utterly condemn and reject the ongoing unprecedented efforts to incite religious hatred and bigotry towards members of the LDS Church because, as American citizens, you have courageously exercised your core civil rights to speak, to vote, and to donate to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
We pledge to work with you and for you not only to protect marriage, but to protect the rights of all religious citizens, including the LDS Church, to participate freely (without threats of retribution or retaliation) in the political processes of this country in defense of the Judeo-Christian values—and the common good—we hold so dear.
Sincerely,

How nice it is for those outside of our faith to stand with us to support those values upon which our country is based. As this letter points out, there is much that can be said about our rights as Americans to participate in the political process, to vote, and so on. These violent activists are attacking our right to do so at the same time they are defending it for themselves. It is unfortunate that they are so short-sighted and egocentric.

Well, enough for now. Hopefully the courts will leave Prop 8 alone, and these protests will calm down