[Activism] Things are starting to get ugly out there. Somebody sent an envelope of white powder to the LDS Salt Lake Temple. Somebody else torched lawn signs critical of the LDS Church's support of Proposition 8. People are shooting out windows, engaging in acts of vandalism, calling names, issuing threats. And, in the midst of it all, Bill Marriott is standing there, pleading, "Please, don't boycott my hotels!"None of these things is helping.
Now, protesting is great. Free speech is what it's all about. But these kinds of acts are not acceptable.
(And, come on, Mormons. You can stop playing the victim. We've heard enough about how loving and compassionate your behavior was while you were busy ensuring that families you don't like can't get marriage licenses. We know you did that out of love--which is exactly why the gays are marching on your temples. It's because they love you. They only hate the sin of intolerance.)
You're not being victimized by anybody who criticizes you. Nobody's limiting your free speech by disagreeing with what you have to say. In fact, you are suddenly in the enviable position of having the upper hand. How cool is that?
Relax. We're pissed off at you. The white powder that got sent to your temples was harmless. You won the Proposition 8 battle. What do you have to complain about?
The courts will likely overturn California's unconstitutional amendment, but once they do, think of the possibilities! You'll be able to accuse them of "judicial activism," pretend that you're under attack from "militant homosexual activists," and, oh! all kinds of other things.
Utah is a powder keg and Proposition 8 is a lit fuse. Stop it now before somebody gets hurt.
(Brandon Burt)
