Posted on 12/30/2009 1:32:39 PM PST by Colofornian
The Mormon Media Observer looks back at the year filled with LDS newsmakers. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tops the list, based on a newsmaker's frequency in the news as well as the significance of their stories.
1. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada
The Senate Majority Leader led the battle to push through health reform in the Senate. News coverage of Reid made a household name and the divisive debate made him out to be both villain and saint. He may still face a tough battle in his home state of Nevada to save his seat.
On Christmas The New York Times wrote:
"WASHINGTON -- It was the pinnacle moment of his political career. The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, on the verge of making history by shepherding through far-reaching health care legislation, was called upon by the clerk to cast his vote. And Mr. Reid, who had fought tirelessly for months to get the health care bill adopted, looked up from his desk and said, "No." ...Mr. Reid's oh-no vote capped one of the more remarkable stretches in what is shaping up to be one of the more remarkable careers in American politics, characterized in no small part by the sheer inscrutability of much of what he says and does. In the end, of course, Congressional leaders are judged on one thing alone: whether they come up with the votes. And Mr. Reid -- the miner's son from Searchlight, Nev., the amateur boxer who worked his way through law school as a Capitol Hill police officer, who has a knack for mumbling and off-the-cuff gaffes -- had the votes."
2. Stephenie Meyer
The release of "New Moon" attracted media attention around the world. Here's a sampling of the some of the worldwide headlines: "New Moon takes biggest bite," "Vatican denounces the 'deviant' Twilight Movie," "Mormon who put new life into vampires."
The Sunday Mail of London wrote: "Her teenage vampire books outsell Harry Potter -- but she's a devout Mormon who lives modestly in Cave Creek, Ariz., and eats at the local burger joint. For a woman who has sold more than 85 million books and has been hailed as the new J. K. Rowling, it is a remarkably modest home. Set down a dusty dirt trail, the four-bedroom property blends seamlessly into the desert landscape -- low and sand-colored with just a few cacti for decoration. Only a high-tech camera and newly installed metal gates give some hint of the occupant's desire for privacy."
3. Elizabeth Smart
The young woman endured brutality and came to court this year to face her abuser, Brian David Mitchell. After attending Brigham Young University, she is preparing to serve a mission in France. She was named Utahn of the Year by the Salt Lake Tribune. The excellent tribute by Trib columnist Peg McEntee reads:
"She had wanted to confront Mitchell with her eyes and words, but, predictably, he sang his hymns and was removed from the courtroom. When it was over, Elizabeth Smart strode, tall and straight, into the rest of her life. For so many of us, her astonishing homecoming restored hope when there seemed to be none, and the knowledge that even terrible times can end, and end well. And she taught us this: Faith, whatever its source, can make amazing things happen."
4. Jon Huntsman Jr.
President Barack Obama named Utah's former governor U.S. Ambassador to China. He took his post in August. Huntsman played host to Obama during a visit to China in November. Chinese media lauded Obama for the choice for Huntsman's understanding of Chinese language and culture. Huntsman previously served a U.S. ambassador to Singapore.
5. Orrin Hatch
Sen. Orrin Hatch was a key opponent to health care reform and taken on foes like the Bowl Championship Series. He also played a role in honoring the Sen. Edward Kennedy at his death. Over the years, the pair made an interesting senatorial odd couple. Along with speaking at Kennedy's memorial service, Hatch penned this piece in Newsweek. He also penned a Hanukkah song which was both complimented and parodied on "The Tonight Show."
6. Glenn Beck
The firebrand talk show host continued to attract attention on his national radio and TV shows, through his books and in the news media. The picture of Beck sticking his tongue out made it on the cover of Time magazine and parodied on several comedy shows. Here was Time's assessment:
"Glenn Beck: the pudgy, buzz-cut, weeping phenomenon of radio, TV and books. Our hot summer of political combat is turning toward an autumn of showdowns over some of the biggest public-policy initiatives in decades. The creamy notions of postpartisan cooperation -- poured abundantly over Obama's presidential campaign a year ago -- have curdled into suspicion and feelings of helplessness. Trust is a toxic asset, sitting valueless on the national books. Good faith is trading at pennies on the dollar. "
7. Mitt Romney
Emboldened by conservative supporters, Romney is keeping his eyes on 2012 presidential prize. Romney has been delivering a lot of keynoters and political endorsements around the nation and is getting ready to launch a book-promotion tour. A National Public Radio blog recent said this about who is a GOP frontrunner for 2012:
"Answer: No one so far. Mitt Romney, the venture capitalist and former governor of Massachusetts who ran a pretty good campaign in 2008, remains the class of the field but kept a low profile in 2009. Mike Huckabee led in some polls of Republicans that also found Sarah Palin popular. But Huckabee ended the year uncertain about running (and damaged by a clemency scandal from his days as Arkansas governor). Romney remains too much a general election candidate, a problem for the Democrats to be sure but far from the average Republican activist's cup of tea. His past positions on social issues were too styled to Massachusetts, and his Mormonism still leaves the party's religious base lukewarm at best."
8. Max Hall
BYU football quarterback Hall got his 15 minutes of national fame after the BYU-Utah football game when he said: "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them," Hall said. "I hate everything about them. I hate their program. I hate their fans, I hate everything. ... I think the whole university, their fans and their organization, is classless." He later issued an apology and was sanctioned by the Mountain West Conference.
9. John Yettaw
The Missouri man widely noted in international media for his Mormon faith was held for a time in a Burmese prison charged with crime related to a swim across a lake to one of the world's best-known democracy figures, Aung San Suu Kyi. He left Myanmar with a U.S. senator. Despite his good intentions, Yettaw gave an unfortunate impression of Mormons to the world.
10. Michael Otterson
He was the spokesman behind the LDS Church statement at the Salt Lake City council meeting in early November that appears to be changing the politics in Utah for gays.
"The Church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage. They are also entirely consistent with the Church's prior position on these matters. The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman. I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree -- in fact, especially when we disagree."
Yes of course there were other issues. You focused on the issue of the Mormons voting as a block, which was certainly true (how that condemns JS I haven't got a clue), but that only bolsters my case that the reason for the persecution was the slavery issue.
The Missourians (a slave state) saw an exploding population of Mormons, who were abolitionists (Joseph Smith gave the priesthood to a black man) and they voted as a block. If I recall correctly the first casualties were over voting where the Missourians tried to prevent the Mormons from voting.
It is very clear (to me at least ; ) ) that the Missourians saw the exploding Mormon (Northerners) population as a threat to their slave owning way of life. And they tried every way they could to limit the growth and influence of the Mormons in their midst. If they didn't stop the growth, the Mormons would have eventually had the voting power to eliminate slavery in Missouri.
What is interesting though, is that neither Mormons nor the anti's want slavery remembered as the issue. The Mormons want the issue to be their religion, and the anti's want it to be polygamy, not the mundane (to us now) slavery issue.
*sigh* well then it seems that I have posed a question that is unanswerable. I have only asked one question, not 20, and that is to point me to the scientific journals/articles/books that specifically link “life” to Einstein’s relativity equation. From the certainity that it was put forth, such a request should not have caused such consternation. I may take some time to search it out, but as it stands now such documentation is non-existant.
You focused on the issue of the Mormons voting as a block,
The Mormons want the issue to be their religion, and the anti’s want it to be polygamy, not the mundane (to us now) slavery issue.
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Wrong, I listed it along with several other issues. Primacy of place does not necessarily mean focus. There was no focus.
Actually, most “anti’s” focus on the crimes (theft and fraud, and assassination attempt against Gov. Boggs) of the LDS in MO, rather than polygamy.
Polygamy was much more of an issue in Deseret.
You mean the theft of the Mormon's land? Or the Extermination order? Nah those issues don't have much anti Mormon appeal do they?
Polygamy was much more of an issue in Deseret.
You are correct, but most of the anti's are ignorant and try to focus on polygamy in Missouri.
Unanswerable? I answered it very clearly. You are the one that seems to think that left is somehow separate from matter and energy.
I have only asked one question, not 20, and that is to point me to the scientific journals/articles/books that specifically link “life” to Einstein’s relativity equation.
And I replied by asking you what is different in 'life' to make Einsteins equation not applicable to it? Is that the unanswerable question that you can't find an answer to?
From the certainity that it was put forth, such a request should not have caused such consternation. I may take some time to search it out, but as it stands now such documentation is non-existant.
Consternation? On your part maybe. When you figure out what sets life apart from matter and energy let me know : )
You mean the theft of the Mormon’s land? Or the Extermination order?
but most of the anti’s are ignorant and try to focus on polygamy in Missouri.
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I meant the Mormon behavior that led to the extermination order. The taking of LDS land was done AFTER the extermination order which was after the LDS assassination attempt on Boggs. The theft of non-moromon goods and cattle by the LDS came before that even.
Both sides are guilty, but the LDS aggravated the situation and in many ways contributed to their being run out of MO.
Show me some sources where “anti’s” FOCUS on polygamy in MO. It is not a focus, although I can see it being a MINOR factor (since women were leaving their husbands to become plural wives).
Let me refresh the question I asked you - once again.
point me to the scientific journals/articles/books that specifically link “life” to Einstein’s relativity equation.
And I replied by asking you what is different in 'life' to make Einsteins equation not applicable to it? Is that the unanswerable question that you can't find an answer to?
That is not the answer to my question - see above. Your opinion is biased and all I have been wanting to review is standard scientific publications that make the linkage of life to Einstein's equation as you have inferred. The obfuscation and deflection I've been receiving in response indicates that contrary to what has been asserted - no such link is substantiated in scientific journals.
When you figure out what sets life apart from matter and energy let me know : )
My request is really very simple and non threatening (or at least should be non threatening if these journals, et al, have linked life to relativity) and would prevent me from wasting time any further with you and allow my own independent assessment of the science. How can that be so hard for you provide? Once I've done that assessment, then the definition of "life" with respect to relativity can be further defined and examined.
“Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada”
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I never knew...
You aren't very well informed are you? Have you forgotten that the anti Mormon vigilantes started it by driving the Mormons from Jackson County (and not allowing them to vote) and tried to restrict the Mormons to Caldwell county. They also never paid for the land they stole from the Mormons in Jackson County. This was years prior to their land being stolen when they were forced out under the extermination order.
Both sides are guilty, but the LDS aggravated the situation and in many ways contributed to their being run out of MO.
Nothing like blaming the victims, is there?
Have you forgotten that the anti Mormon vigilantes started it by driving the Mormons from Jackson County (and not allowing them to vote) and tried to restrict the Mormons to Caldwell county. They also never paid for the land they stole from the Mormons in Jackson County. This was years prior to their land being stolen when they were forced out under the extermination order.
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And AFTER the LDS were caught cheating, stealing and defrauding the “gentiles”.
Mormon victim card played again. The were perps as well as victims. There are no innocent parties in this.
Do your assessment and get back to me.
It isn't cheating, stealing or defrauding the gentiles to buy up big tracts of land.
It isn’t cheating, stealing or defrauding the gentiles to buy up big tracts of land.
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It wasn’t the buying of the land (when it was bought), it was outright theft, selling sick animals, stealing non-LDS owned livestock, scaring people into moving and fraud by members of the LDS church. They are not innocent in the least.
It sounds like you are accusing the entire LDS population of cattle rustling : ) and using that as justification for stealing their property, denying them voting rights and exterminating them.
I suppose that is one way to read the history. What is interesting to me is that you condemn the Mormons for doing far less than what the 'Christians' did.
Arguing with perfect people only entertains them, you should really stop, like me you are just not smart enough to argue with perfect people.
Shall I take that as an admittance that you have no scientific documentation incorporating "life" into Einstein's theory of relativity - after all, that is the only question I've been asking you information for. BTW, my assessment was after I reviewed the DOCUMENTATION you were to provide.
*sigh* Since you can provide none - your point is lost by default.
I don't bother with posters who admit to doing nothing more than attempting to provoke. Paying them attention feeds their "Attitude of Superiority" which seems to cling to some even if they do leave the mormon church.
One can expect that lurkers can see this....similar to "feeding the troll".
Perhaps, but then again there are times where the lack of substance in the arguement needs to be made evident.
Absolutely not. I am simply asking you for a clarification as to how life is separate from matter and energy (I define life as a subset of energy and matter) before providing you with the documentation. You seem to have some weird definition of life and it is pointless to try and point out what you haven't defined.
After you have done your assessment (I am assuming you know how to google), then provide your definition and get back to me.
Oh crickey! FOR THE LAST TIME, I am saying that both sides were at fault. One no more than the other. The LDS are not innocent as they claim and frankly I get tired of them always playing the victim card.
And I make no apologies for Christian Church history either. I never have.
The issues and problems of Christian Church History does not change who Christ is or His word. IOW, it does not affect my theology.
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