The LDS Church and Civil Rights – in Utah and America

There is something wonderful in seeing a wrong-headed majority assailed by truth.  (John Kenneth Galbraith, 1908 – 2006)     Following the disingenuous statements by LDS Church officials last week – ostensibly supporting anti discrimination measures for members of the LGBT community in housing and employment – the focus has been effectively diverted and short-stopped.…

Intellectual honesty – and freedom of conscience

  In a return to the basics – Basic Intimidation and Coercion – the LDS Church has dropped the hammer on a couple of known troublemakers recently.  Dissidents – bent on the task of enlightening their fellow believers – and possible bring about what they had hoped could be, positive changes. Of course, once ecclesiastical…

Insults tit for tat with Pope Francis

  Since the murderous attack on those satirical cartoonists and their staff, at Charlie Hebdo’s headquarters in Paris, there have been any number of cries for more journalistic self-censorship. And by critics – often folded in with their condolences for the victims of this crime – concerned with what are viewed by many, as needlessly…

When humans get treated like vermin

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. In fact, December 7 falls on the same day of the week this year – Sunday – as the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor did, in 1941. But many folks living today, might understandably wonder at the United States Victory over Japan, that hinged on a pair of equally infamous…