Categories
culture National politics

The Case for Telling the Truth

Perhaps it would be better to say that this is the case for tellling “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” After months and months of watching the various arguments for and against Proposition 8 in California – which would define marriage as being between a man and a woman – I finally spoke up. I could no longer sit silent while people on both sides of the debate obscured the truth of what was to be decided.

The way this is the case for telling the truth is that one side received all the benefit as both sides argued about related obscurities that were all false to one degree or another. Those opposing Prop. 8 claim that the measure was designed to institutionalize discrimination. They benefit from this because of the emotional reaction that good people have to the idea of discrimination. When the proponents of Prop. 8 focus their arguments on the secondary effects of legalizing gay marriage, using fear as their tool in place of truth the opponents can easily counter with the idea that the repurcussions of this action will not have a ripple effect citing the fact that gay marriage has already been legal for months (and naturally within those few months we would already be seeing the side effects of such a monumental social change as redefining the primary unit of society).

If the advocates for Prop. 8 would stick to publishing the truth of their position and defending themselves accurately against the false claims of discrimination their opponents would not be able to obscure the real issue as effectively as they have been able to do. The voters would be left to decide on the issue of whether marriage is a construct of man or something more eternal in nature. If the issue were decided based on the real argument then it would almost not matter the outcome of the vote – the people would be declaring where they stand on the issue and the debate would serve as an opportunity to teach the truth.

As it stands, the debate has circled around the central issue and been hijacked by half-truths and high emotions. The people of California will decide the issues based on viceral reactions rather than honest or clear belief. Many will make a choice that they honestly do not understand and cannot be fully held accountable for that choice which means the issue will undoubtedly be revisited without the benefit of so many people already understanding what it being decided.

Categories
life

Home Again

You’d think that after three days in Disney World (after the conference sessions each day, of course) that I would be disappointed to come home knowing that the menu would be items like macaroni and cheese and then being greeted by the news that Mariah was feeling sick. While all of that was true (about the macaroni and Mariah) I am very excited to be back home with the kids, being able to watch Isaac as he runs into the bathroom to lift up the toilet seat for me when he hears me say something about the potty. As far as I know he had never done anything like that before Laura and I left for Florida.

As nice as it is to get away for a while, I can’t believe that anyone would choose to be carefree all the time if they have the option of watching kids grow and surprise you instead.

Categories
life

First Snowfall

Earlier this week, knowing that I would be too busy this weekend, I though to myself that I might only have to mow my lawn once more this season. With the light dusting of snow that we got yesterday I knew there was a chance I would need to clear the driveway this morning of an inch or two before we left for church. When I looked out this morning there were six inches of snow on the driveway (and a little more than that on the grass). It took more than a couple of minutes to clear the driveway and I realized that it’s possible that I won’t have to mow the lawn again.

The kids have been loving all the snow – they went out last night and again this afternoon to play in the snow. I don’t think we’ll ever wonder in the future if we will be having a white Christmas. We also have been given an early reminder of all the things that we need to be snow ready (e.g. a better coat and snow-pants for Isaac).

Before we moved in our neighbors invited us to a neighborhood party so they could get to know us. At that time, back in August, we were warned that we would need a snowblower up here – a shovel just would not cut it. If this is the first snowfall of the season, piling almost as much snow early in October as the middle of winter managed to accumulate in our Lehi neighborhood, I’m thinking we are going to need a bigger snowblower – by Thanksgiving.

Categories
life pictures

Congratulations to Carl

I almost have a lawyer for a brother. The Colorado Supreme Court just posted a list of people who passed the Bar Exam and he’s on it.

Now all he needs is to be sworn in. What an accomplishment. CONGRATULATIONS!

Categories
life

Who Is That?

Conference was very enjoyable for me. For the first time in years I was not exausted for any of the sessions and I really connected with most of the talks, rather than just a few of them. I did manage to miss most of the Saturday Afternoon session as we got locked out of our own house (that’s the first, and hopefully last, time I had to break into my new house).

After the last session we started watching a recording of the Saturday Afternoon session. With that video playing in the background I worked on getting dinner ready while Alyssa was watching. Right after Elder Holland’s talk ended Alyssa called out to me, “Who’s that?” I asked her if she was talking about the last speaker or the person currently speaking. She pointed to President Eyring, who was conducting that session. I told her it was President Eyring and she told me that she had recognized him from church. It was fun to see her make the connection.

Categories
life

Excited for Conference

Things have been so busy around here that I have not really had time to look forward at all. In the back of my brain I have known that this was the weekend of General Conference, but this afternoon that realization came to me as if I had not known and I recognized a real excitemnet buried inside me. I am looking forward to this weekend and the opportunity to put the rest of the world on the backburner while I get some much needed nourishment of spirit.

Categories
life politics State

Starting Something New

At Pursuit of Liberty I have issued an invitation to join with me in forming a new group to encourage wider political participation.

The group I will be forming will be open to, even encouraging of, participation by people of all political perspectives. The only requirement for participation is a commitment to avoid the playground politics of name calling and guilt by association . The aim of the group will be to draw people out of the silent majority until the silent become the minority by fostering civil dialog between people of differing perspectives. We will not aim to come to a consensus except the consensus that wider participation is better than narrower participation. I would like the group to seek to engage other group members in public discussion of issues so that people who have been silent will have a chance to be exposed to various positions on important issues without the likelyhood of being personally insulted by those who disagree with them. I also would like the group, individually and collectively, to engage in discussing issues with candidates for office and elected officials with an emphasis on local candidates and officials and a balance of local, state, and national issues. (emphasis original)

I note it here in case there is anyone who reads here but not there who would be interested in this effort. If you are, please email me or comment on the original post.