DiscussMormonism.com

Tom Hanks Says Mormon Supporters of Proposition 8 'Un-American'
Friday, January 16, 2009
By Hollie McKay, Fox News

Tom Hanks, Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.

“The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he told Tarts. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here's what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed and people can see who's responsible and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting constitution and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So lets have faith in not only the American, but Californian constitutional process.”











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What is un-American about this?? If anything, it followed the democratic process and showed just how American we can be!

Just because the Mormons gave more money doesn't mean they were the only ones to give money. Why should all these other religions get a free pass just because they came in second as far as money contributed. Does that mean they shouldn't be criticized??

To hear these reports, you would think the Mormons were the sole contributors to pro-8 campaigns.

Actually, I tend to agree with a good friend of mine who is gay. His view on the whole Prop 8 issue is that those who didn't want it to pass were too complacent. They simply assumed that because gay marriage had already been legalized once before, there was nothing to worry about. In his own words, "They chose to party on, and didn't see the benefit of actually voting. Surprise, surprise. When you don't vote, your voice isn't heard."

Scottie wrote:What is un-American about this?? If anything, it followed the democratic process and showed just how American we can be!

I think he was referring to stripping away a consitutional right from a targeted segment of society.

Just because the Mormons gave more money doesn't mean they were the only ones to give money. Why should all these other religions get a free pass just because they came in second as far as money contributed. Does that mean they shouldn't be criticized??

I think all should, but the LDS Church chose to take a leading position in the fight, which is why it is now suffering the backlash.

To hear these reports, you would think the Mormons were the sole contributors to pro-8 campaigns.

They certainly weren't the "sole," but perhaps the most public because of their prominent position in the campaign.

Rollo Tomasi wrote:I think all should, but the LDS Church chose to take a leading position in the fight, which is why it is now suffering the backlash.

I think it's simpler than that. I think saying "the Mormons" is shorthand for "the Mormons, the Catholics, the Protestant church on the corner, the ___________ (fill in the blank with whoever else was in tht coalition)."

When it comes to determining who or what is un-American, I regard the Hollywood elite as uniquely qualified.

Hanks isn't the first and won't be the last to detect that, under the surface, Mormons are Mormons first and Americans second.

Meanies like him have been labeling us un-american ever since we fled America and institutionalized a blood covenant to pray for the destruction of America, and to teach that to our children and grandchildren.

Go figure!

Daniel Peterson wrote:When it comes to determining who or what is un-American, I regard the Hollywood elite as uniquely qualified.

In addition to executive-producing "Big Love", it should be noted that Tom Hanks helped bring "From the Earth to the Moon", "Band of Brothers" and "John Adams" to the screen.

I might not agree with all of his political views, or even his views on prop-8 and the Church's involvement, but I think he has certainly put his money where his mouth is when it comes to love and respect for this country. Then again, no one is more aware of the dubious value of his own opinions as he is. He might actually agree with you.

But I guess this means he won't be getting reactivated anytime soon :(

Henry Jacobs wrote:Meanies like him have been labeling us un-american ever since we fled America and institutionalized a blood covenant to pray for the destruction of America, and to teach that to our children and grandchildren.

ROTFLMAO!

I think the political process itself was very American, and the fact that people were able to choose and support the side they wanted was American. It was, as someone mentioned previously, the fact that what was being supported was the stripping away of a right from a persecuted minority that appears to many, including myself, as fundamentally un-American. I'm not sure when I've ever seen a fundamental right, essential to full equality of that minority with the majority, stripped away by constitutional amendment before. It's unsettling.