Giving Thanks

So I know that it's still more than a week to go before Thanksgiving, but I don't know what my schedule is going to be like over the next few weeks, so I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about a few of the things I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for:

the gospel, my family, good friends, good music, sunrises, fall colors, sunsets, good movies, snow on the mountains, a great job, college football, thai food, sushi, good books, soft beds, prayer, memories, the united states of america, freedom, korean food, love sacs, mexican food, pretty much most kinds of ethnic food, holidays, school (weird right?), the new computer I'm getting next week, electricity, my health, the fact that I have all my limbs and extremities, my iPhone, central heating, my talents, the talents of others, and the beautiful girl that for some reason enjoys spending time with me.

These are just a few of the things I'm thankful for. If there's something you're thankful for that I didn't write down, post a comment and tell me what it is. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Love and Hate

This will be a short post, but I was extremely impressed by an article that I wanted to share. The picture shown here is from the article and there are quite a few more, highlighting the violence of the riots around the Los Angeles LDS temple. It is very disturbing to me to see that so many people who claim to be oppressed and persecuted would turn so easily to persecute and oppress others. The violence that occured at these protests is very upsetting to me and I honestly feel rather frightened for what this will mean to members of our faith around the country. Truly, there are now those among us that call evil good and good evil, and they are defending their claims with violence.

I was very impressed by the article and I wanted to encourage anyone that reads my blog to find and follow the link and read it. I believe very strongly in tolerance and in every person's right to believe what they want and to peacefully assemble and protest as they feel it necessary. There was nothing peaceful about this protest.

Post-Election Musings

I'm sure this post will be very controversial to a lot of people, but in my mind it is our ability to express our opinions freely that makes this country so great. The past week's election both for our nation's commander in chief and in California for Proposition 8 has had me thinking quite a bit about the direction this country is taking.

As far as the presidential election is concerned I must confess to being rather disappointed in the people's choice for a leader. I do not see Barack Obama as the kind of man I want to lead my country. I do not agree with his policies, in particular his tax policies which of all of them is the one that affects me most directly. It worries me that we have elected a man who while professing that he will defend the rights and the income of middle America will in fact be gouging every one of those constituents with an increase in taxes that will leave each person with an increased financial burden, not a lessened one. Welcome to the United Soviet Socialist States of America... But, since there is nothing that I can do to change the outcome of the election, I guess we're stuck with him for at least the next 4 years. And we're going to have to deal with the consequences.
However, the passing of Proposition 8 in California has left me feeling better in many ways. For those of you that read my ramblings I wish to emphasize that I believe strongly in every person's right to live their life in any way they see fit. But I also want to say that that includes myself and my desires for a free America! The important thing to remember though is that while the extremely vocal minority is shouting that we need to separate church and state, that doesn't mean we should separate the principles we believe in from how we regulate our country. Whether for you those principles come from what your parents taught you, or from what you learned at church, or school, or wherever. It is our duty as citizens to get involved and support the principles that we believe in. It honestly does not matter where we learned those principles. What matters is that we support what we believe in and that we are involved. That is why I personally was a supporter of Proposition 8 (even though I couldn't vote for or against due to the fact that I'm not a California resident).

While it is true that my opinion in this matter comes in large part from what I have learned growing up in a very Christian home, the fact that I carry these values as a result of my religious beliefs doesn't make them invalid. I believe that homosexuality is inherently wrong, therefore I support amending our laws to specify that marriage is between one man and one woman. Call me bigoted if you want, but you'll be wrong. I have many friends that are gay and have chosen to live their lives that way. I will never reject them as my friends nor will I judge their value as people based on those choices; just as I would never reject as a friend someone that drinks and drives, or uses harmful drugs. I deplore those actions as well, but if a friend told me they had done one of those things, I would still love them and still be their friend. I will however stand up and say - to their face - that I believe that what they are doing is wrong, and is harmful to themselves and others around them. That is what makes a democracy. When every person - even those of us who happen to be in the majority - has a voice.

The biggest problem to me, and my biggest pet peeve with all of the press attention that has been given to Proposition 8 is when those opposed to it accuse those of us that support such laws as denying them their rights. I hate to break it to you guys, but when you tell me I have to buy into your ideas and I have to vote your way; that is you taking away my rights. I have just as much right as you do to believe what I want and to vote how I want. Even though i am not a California resident and had no say in how Proposition 8 turned out I am very relieved that it passed and hopeful that this is indicative of a strengthening of the moral fiber of our country.

I truly do not mean to offend anyone with my views. I am simply exercising my right to express myself in the manner I choose. The very vocal minority is always claiming that right. I think it's time that the majority echoed that sentiment and stood up more vocally for what we believe in.