EarlJibbs

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Posts posted by EarlJibbs

  1. @ Estradling:  I'm afraid I don't quite follow you.  Can you rephrase?

     

    @ EJ:  I can see at least two differences. 

     

    First, the mortgage house is not a state actor like the county government is; so the First Amendment doesn't apply to the mortgage house's employment practices.  (Other doctrines or statutes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 might; but it's not a constitutional issue.)  I'm pretty libertarian on this sort of thing; I would submit that the mortgage company owners' individual right to free association and to pick their employees at will should come up trumps.

     

    And second, the entire point of working at a mortgage broker is to make mortgage loans.  If I'm a general service financial institution and the employee is an otherwise good employee who is willing to work in some other department, and I won't make an allowance--frankly, I'm just a bigoted jerk-face who's out to ruin the livelihood of anyone who disagrees with me.  I submit that individuals should be free to be that way, at least in running their own business enterprises; because I believe that the free market of ideas (and commerce) will ultimately sort it out.  But when governments act that way; we've got a problem because there is no competing institution or free market to offer recourse.  (Oh--and, because the government has the power to imprison and kill people.)

    No dispute from me. It is hard to find another example that would be a perfect match, and I do admit that my comparisons have flaws. My parallel is however, that each one checks off a list. There is nothing on the list to check off that when approving something that  says "Do you personally think these two should get... [a loan/get married]?"

     

    And, I say all of this supporting marriage between a man and woman. 

  2. Actually, the Clerk of Courts approves or denies an application for marriage license. The Clerk's signature indicates that she approved the marriage. The Clerk also performs the marriage when asked to do so. This is way beyond selling Steve and Joe a hammer. It is giving Steve and Joe approval to use the hammer to bash someone's head in (let's say for the sake of theoreticals that bashing heads with hammers was made legal after she was elected) and selling them the hammer.

    But this particular clerk is not stopping these people from getting marriage licenses. They can get licenses anywhere.

     

    By the way Anatess, I love your posts. This is just a rare time that I do not agree. 

     

    Can you clarify what you mean by  "approve or denies" actually entails? How does she approve or deny of a marriage? I assume this doesn't meant she actually approves (EG "I've known you for years and this is a good decision" or "I read up on your past and notice that you are abusive, so I don't approve this marriage") that they should get married, but that she signs documents based on a list of set requirements set by the state. What things are checked before she approves the marriage? 

     

    I just want to see where directly her religious beliefs are challenged. Let's say you work in the mortgage industry. I underwrite a loan requested by a couple that state they are married. Their names are Jim and Leslie and their genders are Male and Female. They qualify under the guidelines to get a loan so I give them a loan. Now the same scenario, but the couple on the application, although identical in every way on paper, says the name Leslie and Margie. They have both put their gender and female. How can I in good conscience, being a God fearing person approve this loan. Are my religious beliefs being challenged? Am I taking a direct part in what I believe is immoral? 

  3. I have no love for the law that was passed and how it was passed. I would have much respect for this lady if she stood her ground stating that it wasn't passed legally or that the persons that created the law overreached their authority. From elected officials, I would have hoped for something like that. 

     

    The fact that when she was elected this wasn't a law, has nothing to do with it. Laws change all the time; abortion, divorce, marriage, speed limits, talking and driving while on a cell phone.... Some could go against our beliefs and the rest do not. This was, in the eyes of law, and her job, another change that could happen. Her position is not to give the opinion that "I think you should be married or not",  it is a clerks position, to make sure qualifications are met and issue a piece of paper. The definition of a clerk in general is "a person employed in an office or bank to keep records and accounts and to undertake other routine administrative duties:"  Administrative duties

     

    I am not pacified, I am simply just not convinced that her job to service gays and lesbians pieces of paper infringes on her belief. The paper doesn't say she morally supports gay marriage. She doesn't have to attend the wedding. This has as much to do with her beliefs as it does me selling a hammer to Joe and Steve as they hold hands. 

  4. http://northtexasmormon.org/

     

    This is a website maintained by the stake public affairs representatives for the Dallas, Texas stake. 

     

    It's purpose is to archive news pieces (et al) published by newspapers in North and Central Texas that discuss the church, with a primary emphasis on items written by actual members. (disclaimer: a few of my pieces are up there as well.)

    Not South Texas? :) 

  5.  

    That's like saying that if you catch your daughter making out with her boyfriend, rather than saying anything about it, you should go spend time in a brothel and be thankful she's not that bad.

    Get back to Peel's Principles, and we would see a huge improvement in the situation.

    Respectfully speaking, I don't like your analogy. It has nothing to do with not "saying anything about it" and I never mentioned that we just keep our mouths shut. I have an appreciation for our law system (even if flawed) due to the time spent overseas and seeing in broad daylight the corruption and cruelty of another nations police. So yes, if I see my daughter making out with her boyfriend and then I see a brothel... what is wrong with being grateful that is not my daughter? If I see that she is heading down the same path that would lead her to prostitution, I can address that. The same way, I can address society issues if I feel that they are heading down the path of other cruel nations.

     

    What I say is this; I live in Houston, although I love Utah, the police in Utah have no affect on me in Houston. I will focus on my own City/Town/Neighborhood and protest here if I feel it necessary. I won't go badger the police here because of national media portrays an entire system bad. The police are made up of our own, not some busybody in a different state, Not some murderer in a different state. The national Media has created a frenzy, which has, as a result escalated to the point where now, people feel entitled to murder police on the streets. Or at least, that is what they would have us believe. 

  6. I think anyone that complains about the Police in general in the United States, needs to visit somewhere like Venezuela. Those guys are intense and corrupt. That doesn't mean that some agencies don't have issues though. 

     

    Can all of the cop shootings that are reported in the media really be a wide spread collaborated event nationwide? The media would surely have us think so. The thing is, when you turn off the TV and live only in your community, does the world seem so bad? Media makes the US feel like one big city IMO. So now, what is blown out of proportion (or not) on the opposite side of the US, someone on the other side decides to take it out on their local police, which has/had nothing to do with it.

     

    Seriously, I feel safe in my neighborhood (very racially mixed by the way), and I am in Houston, where a cop was just gunned down the other day at a gas station. We all have to place this "national crisis" into perspective. Why was this police officer killed? Does it really have to do with a national outrage that is fueled by the media? Maybe so.  

     

    In the end, are police heroes? Well, the ones from MY community serving ME certainly do a lot that I never hear about. and again, in my opinion, this is when you know they are doing a good job. What happens in a different City or State, although concerning, shouldn't affect my community. What concerns me is my community.  

  7. I agree with Pam. The same small things that help us slowly grow roots in the gospel and become more firm to move on to larger commitments like Baptism and the Temple, if not done on a regular basis can lead to the opposite - Slowly degrading our roots from the base so much that the entire tree topples over. The fact that there may be a trend of not paying tithing before going inactive can be tracked, but there is nothing that tracks personal prayer, scripture study...etc.  I am afraid that what they think they have found is nothing more than a late alarm on an already degraded root system.

  8. I have always thought the stock market a form of gambling. Sure, there is a lot of research that should be done to place your money in the best spot, but in the end...gambling IMO. 

     

    I invested in a silver mine a while back based on the assumption that silver prices would rise. I did my research and the trend was after an election year silver prices go up. Also, the company was doing well. Shortly after I got in they found main silver vein and I was up at +55% at one point. The temptation was to get out since I was that far ahead. Hmmm, sounds like gambling to me. 

     

    An environmental group illegally blocked further exploration and I was certain the company would overcome the issue but the stocks went to -20% of my original investment. So I doubled down and bought it even cheaper. They regained their ground to the point that I basically broke even and I cashed out. 

     

    Short term or long term, there is a lot that can happen and most of it is completely out of your control. We invest based on best guess and research. In the end, you cross your fingers and hope for the best outcome. Gambling. 

  9. Just looked up Faded Paper Figures on Spotify and really liked the cover of the Smiths Hand in Glove. 

     

    They remind me of Chvrches then other times remind me of The Shins or Death Cab for Cutie or The New Pornographers. Good stuff!

     

    Definitely remind me of Death Cab for Cutie, with a more video game vibe to the tunes. I will have to check out the others you mentioned. I have heard the Shins and I like them.  I think I have heard of Chvrches but will have to see. 

  10. I used to listen to a lot of punk. I have toned it down but still do enjoy me some MXPX and Mr T Experience. 

     

    In the last 5-6 years I have been into some folk with the Avette Brothers. My all time favorite music is from the Faded Paper Figures (check there early albums out) and Regina Spektor (check her later albums out). 

  11. I didn't mind speaking in other wards when I was on the High Council, but I was about 20 years younger than most other members. My Stake had myself and another 33 year old on it and I think that we presented more animated talks. I think that if you are going to be speaking so much, and to members that you don't always see, it would be good to study up on public speaking and ways to keep an audience awake and alert. 

  12.  Neither of us are willing to break our rules that prohibit exclusive dating...

     

    Sounds like you do know what to do. 

     

    There are a lot of people who prepare faithfully to go on a mission, only to stumble shortly before they are age eligible to go on a mission. Don't place yourself in a situation that you will regret. 

  13.  

    I want a big family-he doesn't

    I like order and clean-he is a slob (doesn't shower, change his clothes or brush his teeth unless I ask him to, will wear dirty clothes around the house, but will wear un-ironed, clean, clothes to work and church).

    I like to be active, clean the house, go camping, etc.-he hates the outdoors and sleeps all day on the weekends (I even have to mow our lawn).

    I don't like to read much-he spends all his time reading, which is good, but won't do much else.

    I like to exercise and be healthy- you guessed it, he doesn't (his doctor, our family and even the bishop tell him he is going to die young if he doesn't do something).

     

    Good traits about him:

    He loves God, me and our kids, is very likable at work and church.

     

     

    I like the other comments made. I just wanted to add that although I know that your post is about the negative issues with your husband and the list you provided is not all inclusive, that list of good items is pretty small, but pretty powerful. 

     

    From your list, if he could change the hygiene/health, I think everything else should be workable. 

  14. What truly sickens me is the mob mentality of social media. So let's say this guy killed an animal illegally. Sure, he should pay a price and that price should hurt enough that he doesn't do it again, but that should be determined by the country that this happened in first off. 

     

    This guys life might be ruined because of the media on this. So now the internet will serve justice to this man (which affects his family) without any rules of law being followed, we judge and destroy people on minimal facts. Social justice seems to be in full affect in the US. 

     

    I truly hope that I or anyone I love never makes a mistake that ends up on social media. Cyber bullying at it's worst!!

  15. Yes, please talk to your Bishop. I wonder if the technology available is appropriate for such matters. Smart phone apps have some good translating technology behind them. You could even prepare and print out what you want to say before hand in the native language, just to make sure the Bishop understands completely why you are there and what has transpired.