Wow, that's great, man. Comparing valid complaints about a secretive cult with a shady history to racism. I get it, man, you can't really defend Mormonism. So conflate distrust of LDS (a cult with a history of racism) with racism. BRILLIANT. Totally dodging the question.
How about telling me why my concerns with Mormonism are wrong without actually comparing it to something that is actually wrong. THat would impress the shit out of me.
What you basically just said is that hating someone for their race is unacceptable but hating them for their religion is perfectly justifiable. I mean you want to talk about destroying yourself with your own argument, Joe? I didn't even
bother to read the rest of your post because you shot yourself in the ass right out of the gate.
Uh, no.
Race is genetics.
Religion is a choice.
That's the difference. At some point, as an adult, you are handed a bill of goods and asked, "Is this what you believe?" And if you say, "Yup, I totally believe that my underwear is magic and black people were cursed by God with dark skin!" you get held accountable for that. Or you should.
If Romney was a Branch Davidian* or a Scientologist, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Just because his whacky cult's been around a little longer doesn't mean I'm ready to let them at the grownup table.
(*-The difference between Joseph Smith and David Koresh? Original and Extra-Crispy!)
You know, I hear people say how terrible it is for conservatives and the religious right to use religion to make political decisions; how religion has no place in the political process. Interestingly, the one I see doing that most of all is you. You are using Romney's religion to make a political determination. Now if you could provide me with a few specific examples of when Romney's Mormon faith has negatively impacted his ability to govern, you might have a point. I would sure love to see them because I can't find any. So you are doing the very thing that liberals cry and accuse the right of doing; letting religion interfere with politics and that goes against the very fabric and principle of what this nation was founded upon. Pretty damned hypocritical of you if you ask me.
I could point them out to you, but you are pretty blind. And then you'll whine about how I'm being a big meanie for picking on his religion.
Of course, since Romney's governing experience was all of four years before the folks of his state realized they made a horrible mistake, it's not a lot there. But the one thing I've noticed about Mormons is that they have an attitude that they take care of their own and screw everyone else. So Romney has no compunctions about firing all the "Gentiles" at AmPad, but he'll shut down Bain when one of his fellow LDS's daughter stays at a rave too long. He'll shut down GS Steel to make a quick buck, but he'll move heaven and earth to save the SLC Olympics after his fellow Mormons fucked it up and bribed the IOC into giving them Olympics they weren't ready to host.
Now if you want to allow bigotry and hypocrisy to do your thinking for you, fine. Knock yourself out. But don't expect me to take you seriously anymore, and don't expect me to waste my time attempting to establish "meaningful political discussion" with someone who chooses do that. You are to religious bigotry what Salt Jones is to racism. You can recognize that and move past it, or continue to watch your credibility trickle away.
I have had my say on this matter and wish you luck.
First, guy, it's not like you say anything all that intelligent, and that I deign to actually talk to you is charity. Otherwise, you're just another boring sell out who is backing Romney because you hate the black guy. So I think most of your screaming about "bigotry" is kind of projection.
Secondly, no bigotry involved. Religion is a choice. You don't think Joseph Smith was talking to God any more than I do. So treating that like it's a valid belief is just kind of a cop-out. The thing is, I think you hate Obama so much, Romney could be a Branch Davidian, and you'd be embracing him.
