Pax Rasmussen created this photo for a project on which he is working.
I knew it was just a matter of time, but I just couldn’t believe this (Salt Lake Tribune post):
Buttars takes aim at stores waging ‘war on Christmas’
Sen. Chris Buttars wants Utah’s Legislature to declare its opposition to the "war on Christmas."
The West Jordan Republican is sponsoring a resolution encouraging retailers to embrace Christmas in their promotions rather than the generic "holidays."
"It would encourage the use of ‘Merry Christmas,’" Buttars said of the non-binding statement that is still being drafted. "I’m sick of the Christmas wars — we’re a Christian nation and ought to use the word."
Oh my god. Where is separation of church and state in such legislation? This is just as bad as the passed legislation (now Utah law) that mandates that public schools put "In God We Trust" in a "prominent" place in the school building or face a stiff fine for non compliance (I’m not kidding).
Civil Rights Attorney Brian Barnard is quoted in the article:
"Our country was not founded by a bunch of Christians," Barnard said. "They were people concerned about religious freedoms."
"If [Buttars] wants people to say ‘Merry Christmas’ because it’s the Christian thing to do," Barnard added, "then it becomes a violation of First Amendment rights."
I really hope my tax dollars are not wasted on this type of activity on the Hill in the upcoming legislative session.
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Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2008 elections, gay issues, gay marriage, lds church, politics, Utah
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged gay issues, gay marriage, government corruption, lds church, politics
Mike Thompson, Executive Director Monday, November 10, 2008
Cell: 801.879.8880
Stephanie Pappas, Board Chair
Cell: 801.450.0660
Other Contacts:
Senator Scott McCoy – Cell: 801.809.3566
Representative Christine Johnson – Cell: 801.661.3489
Equality Utah announces Press Conference for Noon Monday
Equality Utah will ask the LDS Church to demonstrate its conviction on rights for same-sex couples.
Time: Noon
Location: Equality Utah Office
175 West 200 South, Suite 3001 – third floor, Salt Lake City
Throughout the recent election cycle, the LDS Church has demonstrated its willingness to participate in political issues by asking its members to do all they can do, including donating their means and their time, to support California’s Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution and eliminated same-sex couples right to marry by defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
The LDS Church has articulated it is not “anti-gay” but rather pro-marriage and it “does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights.” On November 5th, Elder L. Whitney Clayton stated the LDS Church does not oppose “civil unions or domestic partnerships.” In response to these statements, Equality Utah is drafting legislation for the 2009 General Session of the Utah Legislature to address each of the issues mentioned by the LDS Church.
During this press conference Equality Utah will be asking the LDS Church to demonstrate its conviction on these statements as well as its willingness to secure such rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Utahns.
Today we have a great opportunity before us to begin to bridge the divide between the gay community and the LDS community and to seek out common ground. I take LDS Church leaders at their word that they are not anti-gay and that they sincerely understand that gay and transgender individuals and their families are in need of certain legal protections and basic benefits. I appreciate their statements that they do not oppose legal protections for gay people like those already enacted in California law that do not conflict with their genuinely held beliefs about marriage. This is our chance to come together and work to enact basic legal protections for gay Utahns. I am hopeful that the LDS Church will accept our invitation to heal our communities by bringing its considerable social and political influence to bear in support of laws that prevent discrimination and provide for the legitimate needs of all Utahns and their families.
~Senator Scott McCoy
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References
California and Same-Sex Marriage
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Newsroom
June 30, 2008
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/california-and-same-sex-marriage
The Divine Institution of Marriage – Introduction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Newsroom
August 13, 2008
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage
Church Responds to Same-Sex Marriage Votes
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Newsroom
November 5, 2008
Mormon Leaders Urge Respect for Foes in Gay-Marriage Debate
The Salt Lake Tribune
Brooke Adams
November 5, 2008
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10907306?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
LDS Official Lauds Work for California’s Prop. 8
Deseret News
Carrie A. Moore
November 6, 2008
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705260852,00.html?pg=2
According to a study summarized in the Times Online:
Cleverer children are more likely to vote for the Green Party or the Liberal Democrats in a general election than other parties when they become adults, research suggests. The study, by the University of Edinburgh and the UK Medical Research Council and published in the journal Intelligence, indicates that childhood IQ is as important as social class in determining political allegiance. The IQs of more than 6,000 subjects were recorded at the age of 10, before any secondary schooling. Twenty-four years later they were asked about their voting habits.
(Thanks to Babette Hogan over on Facebook for posting this item)
Today’s Deseret News has a piece on the Utah Senate race in West Jordan in which incumbent Butt-arse (my pet name for Chris Buttars) is fighting to retain. According to the article, A Dan Jones poll reveals that the race is statistically a tie.
Butt-arse has demonstrated, through his words and actions over the years, that he is against anything that involves people making choices for themselves. His mission is to have as much government interference in peoples’ private lives as possible.
Butt-arse’s past positions resulting in proposed legislation include anti-gay clubs in schools, anti-gay marriage or gay rights, and anti-evolution and pro-creationism theory ("Intelligent Design" – an attempt to refute evolution), as well as tuition tax credits (the precursor to vouchers).
Here’s a quote by Butt-arse that I found on the website linked below:
“Well, there’s a lot of things we vote on that we don’t understand, but I would rather stand on the principle of ‘let’s go for it.’ “ — Salt Lake Tribune quotes Chris Buttars
Be sure to check out this site and encourage everyone in District 10 to vote against Chris Butt-arse!
Save Me From My Senator – Chris Buttars Scares Me.
It was started as a result of dire frustration by a constituent of his. It’s chock full of really useful information, including
101 Reasons to Get Rid of Chris Buttars, Tools for Citizens to use in the Fight, news and blog articles, and lots more.
See my past posts on this candidate: Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged chris buttars, education, gay issues, gay rights, human rights, politics, Utah, utah legislature
Rosa Clemente, Green Party Vice Presidential Candidate
Mass Civil Disobedience around the environment
Using the Patriot act to prosecute protestors as domestic terrorists
http://votetruth08.com – http://www.rosaclemente.com
Shot by
Craig Seeman
Patrick Dwyer
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2008 elections, Activism, cynthia mckinney, Green Party, key values, patriot act, politics, rosa clemente
Rosa Clemente, Green Party Vice Presidential Candidate
Which media is not really progressive
HipHop activists co-opted
A new way of thinking, what we believe in
Katrina and the failure of the Democratic Party
http://votetruth08.com – http://www.rosaclemente.com
Shot by
Craig Seeman
Patrick Dwyer
Craig Seeman
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2008 elections, cynthia mckinney, Green Party, key values, media, politics, rosa clemente
Rosa Clemente, Green Party Vice Presidential Candiate
Shared sacrifice with those who caused the economic crisis
How her family has been effected by the subprime mortgage crisis
Green Party strategy post Obamamania
Green Party fighting election theft
Defending non Greens on various issues
Who’s really progressive?
http://votetruth08.com – http://www.rosaclemente.com
Shot by
Craig Seeman
Patrick Dwyer
Edited by
Craig Seeman
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2008 elections, cynthia mckinney, economics, Green Party, key values, politics, rosa clemente
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 