I've written a piece about twice that I was going to put in the thread about LDS priesthood denial, where I tried to be brief and paint a comprehensive sort of picture. In it, in one version, I even said that when a significant number of Mormon leaders are beginning to think about changing an element of the belief set, there is always a rush from "Defenders of the Faith" to defend the challenged element, usually put out in fairly extreme form. . . . that there was a growing realization from years prior, that something needed to be changed.
I tried as well to put the old kernel on an understandable, which is to say, sympathetic, basis, too. Just too much for a thread. Maybe a book. I don't think we are going to change human nature, but we can set up a government and system of law that does treat people equally and fairly, and protect their individual human rights. Well, at least improve things some. It'll always just be necessary for people to learn things like compassion, understanding, and respect for those who are significantly different in any way, at least where it is possible to do so. Maybe not when the "barbarian hordes" are in full tilt breaking down your castle gate or scrambling over your city walls or borders, and you feel your whole world is under imminent threat and your life or livelihood is on the line. . . and you don't think you need to move the aborigines out of the way of progress, or need slave labor or cheap labor bordering on slavery. . . . .but at least when you are strong and secure enough to be nice.
I think that article is way above par for reporting, and demonstrates both intelligence and, in the last sentence, great wit.
I think George Romney had some good qualities. Good enough I even used to be proud he is also a descendant of my great-grandpa, at least according to family legend. I haven't actually looked up the genealogy. But Mitt just makes me embarassed. I'm even related to George Bush, and a British spy during the American Revolution, and witches who were hung by some pious folks, who were also my ancestors, and probably everybody else on planet earth if you care to look at things like that, criminals and idiots.
I might have been born a fool, but here I am yammering away to see if I can't overcome the disability. Probably only convincing myself I'm making progress while looking more and more like it's a quixotic tilt.
