“But they are really nice people.”
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:56 am
Often after discussing the subject of homosexuality with other Mormons, someone would invariably say, “But they are really nice people.” This statement was apparently meant to soothe our consciences as we first denigrated and derided those “filthy gays”, and then tell ourselves that in the end they are really great folks
My thinking on this subject has changed a 180 degrees since leaving the Morg. I now recognize what a foolish position it was to take in regard to another’s personal sexual orientation. I have always liked women, no one told me I should, I have just always found breasts, great legs and a firm ass to be admirable qualities in the opposite sex. Yes, I am shallow, but the female form is evidence to me that there is a God!
This brings me to the next point of my post. When I have read statements and interacted with others not of the Mormon persuasion, most often they will qualify their remarks with the same tagline, “But they are really nice people.” Why is this even an issue? Does it make Mormonism less offensive, less fraudulent, less deceptive if in the end those Mormons are really nice folks?
There have been really nice people in all types of cults and political régimes through the ages, but does that excuse what they did and or taught? Stalin loved to ice-skate and serve tea and finger sandwiches with his “Tea with the Proletariat” luncheons every third Saturday. Hitler loved to dance the “Lindy Hop” and share stamp collecting ideas with foreign leaders and pen-pals throughout Germany. Genghis Kahn was world renowned for his good humor and artistic puppetry with the heads of his decapitated enemies. And of course Joseph Smith was known for his in depth “caring” and “compassion” for the women of his community. (I’ll leave it up to you to decide which of the aforementioned examples is actually correct.)
I have since found that I would rather people think me a bastard and a grouch with integrity, character and honesty, than a superficial, smile at your face while I smugly judge you behind your back cretin so often found in the ranks of the “NICE.”
My thinking on this subject has changed a 180 degrees since leaving the Morg. I now recognize what a foolish position it was to take in regard to another’s personal sexual orientation. I have always liked women, no one told me I should, I have just always found breasts, great legs and a firm ass to be admirable qualities in the opposite sex. Yes, I am shallow, but the female form is evidence to me that there is a God!
This brings me to the next point of my post. When I have read statements and interacted with others not of the Mormon persuasion, most often they will qualify their remarks with the same tagline, “But they are really nice people.” Why is this even an issue? Does it make Mormonism less offensive, less fraudulent, less deceptive if in the end those Mormons are really nice folks?
There have been really nice people in all types of cults and political régimes through the ages, but does that excuse what they did and or taught? Stalin loved to ice-skate and serve tea and finger sandwiches with his “Tea with the Proletariat” luncheons every third Saturday. Hitler loved to dance the “Lindy Hop” and share stamp collecting ideas with foreign leaders and pen-pals throughout Germany. Genghis Kahn was world renowned for his good humor and artistic puppetry with the heads of his decapitated enemies. And of course Joseph Smith was known for his in depth “caring” and “compassion” for the women of his community. (I’ll leave it up to you to decide which of the aforementioned examples is actually correct.)
I have since found that I would rather people think me a bastard and a grouch with integrity, character and honesty, than a superficial, smile at your face while I smugly judge you behind your back cretin so often found in the ranks of the “NICE.”