I am working on a theological case against guns. Not so much for gun control, but against guns. My thinking keeps coming back to a recent appearance by Jeff McMahan on the podcast Philosophy Bites. You can listen to the podcast here. Philosophy Bites can also be found on iTunes. Take a listen. I would love to hear your thoughts. McMahan makes a similar argument in more detail in the New York Times. Gun advocates and criminals are allies in demanding that guns remain in private hands. They … [Read more...]
Meg Lanker-Simons is my friend.
May 2, 2013 By 9 Comments
Surviving Wyoming is no longer about surviving the brutal weather and climate (like it was the pioneers) but it is about surviving the brutal and cruel people. Meg Lanker-Simons is my friend. I am her friend. I stand by her for that very reason. I know what it is like to be thrown under the bus by an institution of higher education that is willing to spread vitriol and lies in order to cover itself. I know what it is like to deal with law enforcement in Wyoming. Not the most … [Read more...]
LDS Church Supports Move to Include Gay Scouts
April 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released a statement in support of the shift by the Boy Scouts of America that will allow gay Scouts to fully participate within the Scout program. I want to share part of that statement: "While the Church has not launched any campaign either to effect or prevent a policy change we have followed the discussion and are satisfied that BSA has made a thoughtful, good-faith effort to address issues that, as they have said, remain 'among the most … [Read more...]
Community of Christ Extends Marriage to Same-Sex Couples
April 22, 2013 By 1 Comment
In their National Conference held April 19-21, The Community of Christ (formerly The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) moved to extend marriage to same-sex couples. The specific recommendations of the Conference to the Community of Christ First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are as follows: The 2013 USA National Conference recommends the sacrament of marriage be extended, where legal in the USA, to persons of the same sex/gender. Thus the 2013 USA National … [Read more...]
Why do bad things happen to good innocent people?
April 15, 2013 By 7 Comments
Why do bad things happen to good innocent people? Again, I consider this question today in the aftermath of the bombings in Boston. As I did in the aftermath of Aurora, Newtown, Columbine, Mumbai, and 9/11. I still do not have an answer to this question. I have yet to hear an answer that satisfies me. Many attempts to answer this question are more maddening than no answer at all. I do not think anyone really knows. … [Read more...]
Happy Tax Day!
April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
George Harrison and Eric Claption perform the Beatles classic Taxman: I was going to write a post about viewing ourselves as citizens rather than taxpayers. Since that will have to wait, I hope the above song and video will bring you joy on this Tax Day. :) … [Read more...]
NFL, LGBT, and Me.
April 12, 2013 By 1 Comment
Sports seems to play a big role in our conceptualization of gender. American Football is particularly heavily connected to the American conception of masculinity. As a result, I am very interested to see how football, more specifically the corporate entity of the National Football League, addresses and handles the matter of homosexuality as American society itself rapidly evolves in its attitudes. Corporate American, for all of its failings, has been ahead of the curve when it comes to … [Read more...]
Discussing Hillary Clinton and the Death Penalty on HuffPost Live
April 4, 2013 By 1 Comment
I briefly commented on two stories today on HuffPost Live: Hillary Clinton and her new book deal: The Death Penalty and the Craiglist Killer: My most recent appearance on HuffPost Live, before today, was on March 20. It can be viewed here. Check out my Feb. 28 Huff Post Live appearance HERE. My March 14 can be viewed HERE. … [Read more...]
Go Orioles! Opening Day, Baseball and Erin O’Doherty #campaignchronicles
April 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
It is Opening Day! Okay, yesterday was opening day but the Orioles open their season today. Yesterday didn't count. Baseball is an important part of my family's Spring and Summer…and hopefully Fall. I am an Orioles fan. I was raised in Maryland. I started following baseball shortly after the Orioles won the World Series in 1983. I grew up in the Cal Ripken era. Shem (11) and I started following Major League Baseball together last year. Shem also plays in our city youth baseball … [Read more...]
R.C.: A Rock and a Rockstar! #campaignchronicles
March 28, 2013 By 4 Comments
I didn't go to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last year However, my friend R.C. Johnson, the chair of the Natrona County Democratic Party, was there and she was even at a meeting of Mormon Democrats (see this article in the Daily Beast which features Grant Hardy). R.C. is not a Mormon, but she was fighting for me and Wyoming. Notice her LDS button! R.C. Johnson, above, from Casper, Wyo., while not a member of the LDS Church, came to the meeting of LDS Democrats to … [Read more...]
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