The Embarrassment of Hate

[Snow]

I stand corrected.

My experience indicates that the bulk of Utahans are not 90% ignorant buffoons.

[talisyn]

I doubt it.

I doubt that Christ really thinks that thinking about adultery was actually the same as committing adultery.

Neither does the Church. Go confess to your Bishop that you thought about adultery and see what happens - nothing, except maybe he'll tell you to stop doing that. Now go confess that you actually did commit adultery and then compare the consequences.

Actually....I had to find the article but here's a good one Your kids will imitate you. Use it as a force for good. - By Alan E. Kazdin and Carlo Rotella - Slate Magazine

Mostly it's about kids mimicking parental behaviors, but I'll quote the passage that caught my eye

Brain research has demonstrated that there are special cells called mirror neurons. When we watch someone do something, our mirror neurons become active in the brain as if we ourselves were engaging in the same behavior we are observing. This suggests that learning consists of making connections not only in a figurative way (as we assemble sequences of behavior) but also in a literal way, as observation of a behavior forges the same neural connections made from practicing that behavior.

So if you spend many hours imagining yourself romping on the beach with Jessica Alba or Orlando Bloom parts of your brain really think you did! The implications for those who claim pornography is harmless....scary.

[RachelleDrew]

I'm not convinced Buttars is getting a fair deal regarding his recent comments (I haven't followed the issue closely, but the Trib's reporting in particular seems to be cherry-picking quotes without providing context);.

There is no "context" that could possibly make those comments okay.

Saying that all homosexuals are mean people is idiotic, calling a black person a "darky" is racist. I don't care what the context is, you can't in any way make those type of statements not insulting and vile.

[john doe]

I didn't read anywhere where he called a black person 'darky'. If you could point me to that, I will be happy to retract that statement, but that is my understanding, My understanding of that comment is he was debating a bill on the floor, opposing it, and said, as I recall, something to the effect of 'this one is dark, this is a black one, baby' or something like that. The way it came out, I can see how perhaps he inadvertently said something that was unfortunate, that it just came out wrong. I was willing to let those slide, because it was conceivable that his choice of words was not what he meant. But now it appears that the guy just can't control himself.

But this time things are different. I looked, but could not find the entire interview on youtube or the TV station that broke the story. From what I've heard though, the clips that have been released, by themselves, I could see how some LDS might say that they can't find a whole lot wrong other than the way he said them. After all, the Bible does teach that homosexual relations are an abomination. And yes, there are a few militant individuals in the gay rights movement. However, from what I understand, there is a lot more to what he said, it is being reported second-hand that he said some things that claim to indicate that the LDS Church is endorsing some of what he said, and that he revealed some things that go on or went on when he was a bishop. There was other stuff on the tape from what I understand, which would turn the stomach of most LDS people, both in his interpretation of things and his views of homosexuals. He stepped way over the line, and while he has the right to his views, he does not have the right to push those views as typical of or endorsed by the State of Utah or the LDS Church.

[pam]

This is what Senator Buttars said....

In regards to the bill, Buttars said, “Senator Stephenson, this baby is black I tell you. This is a dark, ugly thing.”

He was referring to a bill on the floor. Never said darky...JD is correct.