Tolerance...

I read this on a blog column (http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/orson_scott_card/?id=4740) by the author Orson Scott Card a few weeks ago - "Tolerance implies disagreement -- it means that even though we don't agree with or approve of each others beliefs or actions, we can still live together amicably." He was writing about this regarding Proposition 8 in California. I thought that he said that in a very wise way. It saddens me to see and hear so much of what is going on in the aftermath of Proposition 8 being passed.


I am not normally one to get political. In fact, I cannot stand politics, but I do try to support our leaders and elected officials. I don't always agree with them and what they say, but that is one of the beauties of life. What I am writing about is not intended to be a political point of view. It is meant to be a human point of view. There is so much in the world today that everyone disagrees on - politics, religion, family values, what is wrong versus what is right... the list is endless. We all have been given the right to our opinions. That is part of our free agency that was granted to us by our Father in Heaven. We can think and act for ourselves... and disagree with others. There is nothing wrong with that! However, when the disagreement turns into something other than a disagreement - there is a problem.


I've read this last week about many LDS churches being vandalised throughout the country. I've read about protests going on outside of LDS churches and temples. I read today about a Book of Mormon that was found burning at a church in Littleton, Colorado. I watched a commercial on youtube that portrayed LDS missionaries in a very negative way. It's truly awful to hear about these things because they have gone beyond disagreeing. On the other side of the coin, if I heard about members of our church vandalising homes of those against Prop 8 or missionaries actually doing what was portrayed in the commercial shown in California, I would still think that was a terrible thing that I would not be supportive of because that would be taking it beyond the disagreement. There would be no tolerance in those instances. Negative attacks, no matter which side they came from, could not be something I would agree with.


There is a letter circulating the internet right now that was very educational for me. It prompted me to write this post. I am going to repost it here because I thought it was a very informative letter with verified facts in it. Believe it or not, I did research the numbers presented in this letter because I was not going to post something that was falsified.


I have friends that I grew up with that are gay. They are still my friends. They know that I don't agree with their lifestyle, just as I know they don't agree with mine. We understand that and don't let that come between us. It has always been that way and I'm sure that it will continue to be that way for us. We are (get ready!) tolerant of each other and our own personal views. That's the only way that we can be friends and not let our differences come between us. I have not and will not bash anyone and because of that I expect the same courtesy. I just don't have to agree and condone the things that I don't agree with. There are ways to get along without hate.

Again, this is not a hate post. I'm not bashing anyone at all. I'm just trying to make sense of some unsensible acts. As a member of the church I understand what it is like to be bashed and thrashed. My only hope is that all this negativity will end - that we can all learn that we can exist together in this country - this world - and not agree with each other, but respect each other.



Kevin Hamilton's Letter on Proposition 8 and the Mormon Church


Dear Friends,


In the aftermath of the recent election, we may find ourselves oddly on the defensive regarding our support for the Yes on Proposition 8 cause. Our young people have been especially subject to mean-spirited comments by high school friends and teachers. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We did nothing wrong. In fact, we did everything that a civic-minded American can and should do. I have put together a few facts that help me to appreciate our position better. For example:


1. Mormons make up less than 2 percent of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.Mormon voters were less than 5 percent of the yes vote.

2. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6 percent of the yes vote and 2.4 percent of the total Proposition 8 vote.

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.

5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.

6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.
7. African-Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70 percent of black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.

8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).

9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims -- all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.

10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or herself. Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.

11. The church did not violate the principal of separation of church and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States' Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof?" The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The church as always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.

12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak outon an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars and worse.

The fact is, we simply did what Americans do -- we spoke up, we campaigned and we voted.Hold your heads up high -- you did a great job on this most important cause. We will have more opportunities in the future to participate in our democratic process. Let's remember the lessons learned and do an even better job next time.

These are my personal opinions and thoughts; any errors are mine and in no way reflect official church policy or doctrine.


Thanks,
Kevin Hamilton