DiscussMormonism.com

Watch the video. I understand how upset these guys were, as the protestors were vandalizing their sacred property, but this was probably not the wisest response. They claimed to be Mormon, and one would think they are because of how upset they were, but you never know.

http://www.latimes.com/video/?slug=la-m ... 8nov07-vid

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What an excuse to bring back the Danites. What an excuse to increase fear and hate and paranoia. "The Homos are coming! The Homos are coming!"

This is going to get a lot worse and no one comes out of it as decent, thinking people.

A couple weeks ago I passed out no-on-Prop8 fliers in a few LDS Church parking-lots and got some heated responses. Someone made a threatening gesture, motioning a throat slash. Another group chased us down, demanding that we remove the fliers from the cars, OR ELSE. An "elder" got in my brothers face and was so mad that his face was twitching. And all three wards started removing the fliers from the cars... but one ward stopped when we started video-taping their censorship. At least... they stopped until we left.

Well, at least you did something.

I wonder how many other Californians here did something about their convictions. Maybe Sethbag's "intellectual" approach to taking a stand without telling anybody is enough for most here.

One thing I'm certain of is that violence, or threats of violence, against LDS isn't going to work. Whoever starts the violence - loses.

Cold Steel on MADB has documented a disturbing mentality arising.

The Pacific-Islander-looking "security" (?) who used violence against protestors will also damage the LDS cause. But this isn't novel to me. I see it nearly every night. If people trespass on private property they have a right to be evicted. Physical assault, even from security, is illegal, but it happens. The Church might need some well-trained security to handle this, not reincarnated Danites.

So far I see no winners.

Mike Reed wrote:A couple weeks ago I passed out no-on-Prop8 fliers in a few LDS Church parking-lots and got some heated responses. Someone made a threatening gesture, motioning a throat slash. Another group chased us down, demanding that we remove the fliers from the cars, OR ELSE. An "elder" got in my brothers face and was so mad that his face was twitching. And all three wards started removing the fliers from the cars... but one ward stopped when we started video-taping their censorship. At least... they stopped until we left.

Weren't you trespassing? Is it censorship to remove fliers left on cars on private property?

dblagent007 wrote:Weren't you trespassing? Is it censorship to remove fliers left on cars on private property?

The sign outside said "guests welcome." Besides, since I am still on the rolls of the Church... so no, I was not trespassing. I am (for the moment) a member of the "private" organization (according to the rolls). Local wards have been more then willing to allow members to circulate "Yes on 8" material, but not mine against prop 8. So yes... I'd call that censorship.

Mike Reed wrote:

dblagent007 wrote:Weren't you trespassing? Is it censorship to remove fliers left on cars on private property?

The sign outside said "guests welcome." Besides, since I am still on the rolls of the Church... so no, I was not trespassing. I am (for the moment) a member of the "private" organization (according to the rolls). Local wards have been more then willing to allow members to circulate "Yes on 8" material, but not mine against prop 8. So yes... I'd call that censorship.

I'm not sure you would qualify as a guest since guests don't distribute fliers that are completely at odds with a position taken by the organization. Sort of like evangelical anti-mos showing up and distributing fliers about how all Mormons will go to hell. I would say that they really aren't guests.
As for censorship, it is beyond ridiculous to suggest that a private organization that is a proponent of a cause must allow its opponents to distribute opposing information on its own property or be guilty of censorship!

What an excuse to bring back the Danites. What an excuse to increase fear and hate and paranoia. "The Homos are coming! The Homos are coming!"

This is going to get a lot worse and no one comes out of it as decent, thinking people.

They looked like the sons of some of the Samoans who took my Danite training course when I was serving in LA. ;)

The reality squawkeye, is that you're just paranoid. Too much Kinks, Destroyer?

Mike Reed wrote:A couple weeks ago I passed out no-on-Prop8 fliers in a few LDS Church parking-lots and got some heated responses. Someone made a threatening gesture, motioning a throat slash. Another group chased us down, demanding that we remove the fliers from the cars, OR ELSE. An "elder" got in my brothers face and was so mad that his face was twitching. And all three wards started removing the fliers from the cars... but one ward stopped when we started video-taping their censorship. At least... they stopped until we left.

What they should have done was grab your head and drive their knee into your face. And its hard to be concerned over your video camera when your picking it out of your teeth.