This is one of my stronger posts. I’ve already used two disturbing images, and now I’m about to use some fairly strong language as well: It pisses me off that Ms. Spears’s song “I’m a Slave 4 U” did so well. Not only is it obscene, but it twists the sick practice of human slavery (one of the ugliest scars on the face of mankind), and seeks to portray it as sexy and attractive. “Appalling” is an appropriate word for this situation.
“It’s just a song!” some may say. Whoever says that is ignorant and foolish. Violence is not okay. It should not be part of our world, and it certainly should not be part of sex. The song is trash. The video is trash. The whole yellow snake dance was trash. The entire concept is TRASH!
I relate to Emma Stone’s character “Skeeter” a lot: We both are writers, we both interview women, we both are unmarried, we both have bad hair days, we both care about certain social causes (and sometimes worry about what our female counterparts are doing!), we’ve both witnessed boys do and say dumb things, but most of all, we both are awesome!
and I completely validate many of the common concerns that go along with it! Unfortunately, history has shown that many evil and abusive deeds have been done by those professing to act in the name of God. Imperialism/forced conversion, mistreatment of women, acts of terrorism (of a range of means and magnitude), twisting of doctrine for one’s own purposes (the Book of Mormon refers to this as priestcraft), that kind of thing. So I don’t think people who “swear off religion” are necessarily bad people AT ALL (unless they are unkind and blatantly mock others’ beliefs).
But we are all looking for truth.
More to come.
PS. I use such images with intensely great care and NEVER intend to be flippant about abuse of any kind. Just wanted to express that yet again because I simply cannot emphasize it enough. Also, I know that there are many good people in the Catholic Church.
we can proclaim our emancipation from the slavery of trials and sin,
and thus (re)gain the freedom that is rightfully ours.”
~Katherine Wilkinson
Read more here about how I became emancipated from a kind of slavery
through an expression found in a John Mayer song.
¡Enseñando (teaching)!
1. What things have you enslaved (figuratively or literally)?
2. What ideas, resources, people, awesome blog(s) can be a Christ-figure and help emancipate you (figuratively or literally)?
*Slavery of any and all connotations (but particularly institutionalized racial slavery) is something that makes my heart heavy with pain. Please know that I never intend to be flippant or insensitive concerning these issues (read more here about how racism is absolutely 100% NOT compatible with true Christianity).
Also, I in no way mean to compare myself to Abraham Lincoln or to the Savior. And still I am expecting a thunderbolt of blasphemy…
“Racism still lifts its ugly head, and that is unacceptable. I remind you that no [wo]man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ.”
[H]e inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness;
…he denieth none that come unto him,
black and white, bond and free, male and female, Jew and Gentile…
(this is an excellent resource about racial equality within the Lord’s Kingdom).
And ya’ll just to close this post, let me say that I know that unfortunately there still is some racism lurking within our society (duh!), and sadly even within some of the members of the LDS Church (or any others who identify as followers of Christ, or perhaps even simply the human community). But I also know that with the Savior’s help we can do better. So I encourage you all to consider what parts of your actions, speech, and thoughts (Mosiah 4:30) you can improve to make sure you are living more fully in harmony with these sacred gospel principles. Sound good? Peeeeerfect 🙂
said a new friend to me recently. Again, I’m a WASM woman, so I won’t pretend to understand. But I feel for you bro. And you always have a friend in me…
Look, I know I’m a WASP woman, so I’m a teensy bit scared about posting it, but in this case, Don Lemmon has ethos that Katherine does NOT. So I’ll stand behind him. Cool!
15% of me wants to see “The Book of Mormon” musical,
while 85% of me does NOT:
Pretty simple which one will win out.
People have strong feelings about “The Book of Mormon” musical. A ton has been written about it. Here are (in my intelligent opinion) 3 of the best insights:
Official LDS spokesperson. I simultaneously admire and envy this man (and his career) so much.
Plus I could listen to him read the phone-book.
The writers of the musical (South Park guys) said they researched the faith for 7 years. Brother Otterson talks about all the things the Mormons actually DID in Africa in those 7 years. Cool!
He is a Jewish writer for the NY Times whom I admire very much. He talks about how only strict doctrinal religions (like Mormonism!) can survive. All other half-heartedly, generic attempts don’t really do any good.
This piece points out that it shouldn’t be acceptable to ridicule Mormonism.
#we’re all a little curious
#the percentages might change a little bit if someone paid for my theater ticket, airfare, and lodging to NY. I could write a review of it and put it on this blog. just sayin’
First of all, I’m not as cocky as this might make me look. That chocolate man sang first, then it was my turn, so I sang my signature song! Also, see that little pink thing on my neck? bathing suit. Laundry is not my strong point.
said a good friend once who helped me a lot in my faith journey. I like that a lot. I am not suggesting that we go dig through every piece of dirty laundry we can find. But I’m no longer afraid of the big, tough issues. Polygamy, Mountain Meadow’s Massacre, blacks and the priesthood, Salamander letters, that kind of thing. I still don’t have all the answers (but have definitely gained some!), but I no longer feel anxiety.
It’s NOT HOT, you fool!
