One Utah

originally wrote this as a response to other comments. But the more consideration I gave it, the more I thought that it might deserve its own space. Many of the notions here are important to the traditional structure and style of American politics, and yet they are being thrown away, ironically by the “traditionalists” or “conservatives.” Take it as you will……

The original discussion began on the first day of something that resembles the social contract, a day lost in the mists of time. The most recent discussion to which I respond began here:

http://oneutah.org/2008/11/18/the-mormon-war-on-gay-people-is-also-a-war-on-eros/

Consider this an open letter to conservative America specifically on the issue of gay rights, but more importantly on the issue of the values and traditions of the nation in general, as illustrated by the example of gay rights.

“We are not here to fight the Taliban, but to make them irrelevant.” Head of Dutch Forces, Afghanistan

I was listening to a commentary on Spanish separatist terrorists the other day, which in turn triggered a quote from The West Wing TV show. “What strikes you most about terrorism?” a student asks one of the [...]

Re-Posted from July 2006
Asking the opinion of the executive director of Evergreen International if there is scientific basis for homosexuality is akin to asking a chicken farmer for proof eggs are bad for you.The beguiling nature of the entire article is betrayed in the first sentence “the simple ‘born gay’ theory has faded from the [...]

Check out Andrew Sullivan’s blog for a rundown of today’s nationwide rallies in support of same-sex marriage and civil rights for all– including Salt Lake City. Sullivan writes:

When every gay person and every friend or family member of a gay person really, truly believes that the status quo is unacceptable, we will win. Today, [...]

A disturbing report. Hate crimes reported in Utah jumped from 35 in 2006 to 55 in 2007. See SL Trib and KSL.
Nationwide, hate crimes reported were down about 1 percent. But in Utah they are up a whopping 80 percent. Some of this may be accounted for by increased willingness to [...]

McCain’s gay Q&A
‘I hope gay and lesbian Americans will give full consideration to supporting me’
By WILLIAM R. KAPFER | Oct 1, 1:06 PM
Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told the Blade in an exclusive written interview this week that he appreciates the Log Cabin Republicans’ decision to endorse him, and he hopes “gay and [...]

Senator McCain is fond of saying in just about every speech that, unlike him, Barack Obama “wants to raise your taxes.” This is not true unless you make over $600,000 a year. But what about McCain’s tax increase proposal? What, you didn’t know?
Joe Klein wrote:

John McCain wants to tax your employer-provided health [...]

Originally published on OneUtah June 2007.
Morris Berman, a distinguished professor and writer is known as an innovative cultural historian and social critic. His most recent book, Dark Ages America, is not pretty. I first saw him on C-Span book TV. It was interesting because even among the predictably liberal sympathetic crowd in attendance, some got [...]

…with Obama.
This is last segment (part 4) of the Bill O’Reilly, Obama interview in York, PA.
Bill already in love with Barack and falls still deeper throughout until I at the very end, it seemed like Bill wanted to hug him.
Back in the Fox studio, O’Reilly has of course watched on the monitor and [...]

As I continue my desultory series on the four freedoms, I find myself, in the face of the seemingly endless sludge of bad economic news pondering the idea of freedom from want.
FDR’s original line was:
The third is freedom from want–which, translated into universal terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy [...]

Seemingly endlessly litigated and legislated around, the First Amendment reads simply:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
For [...]