Jan 17 2009
Participating In The Political Process Is “Un-American?”
From FoxNews.com: At the recent season premiere party for the HBO series “Big Love,” executive producer Tom Hanks had this to say about the Mormon Church’s involvement in California’s Proposition 8:
“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. 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 let’s have faith in not only the American, but Californian, constitutional process.”
So exercising your Constitutional right to participate in the political process is “un-American?”
Not exactly.
Ironically, it would appear from Hanks’ reference to “the next go around of our self-correcting Constitution” and the “Californian constitutional process” that he’s in favor of the various legal challenges to Prop. 8; after all, that’s part of the “constitutional process.” But wait; wasn’t the passage of Prop. 8 also part of the same “constitutional process?” Why is it “un-American” for Mormons and others to stand up for their beliefs by engaging in the political process, but it’s perfectly fine to try to overturn the will of the people of California?
You know something’s out of whack when even those who are critical of the Mormon Church defend their right to speak up for their beliefs. Bill McKeever, founder and director of the Mormonism Research Ministry, had this to say about Hanks’ comments:
“Personally, I find it un-American to tell people that they shouldn’t vote their conscience. Hanks said he doesn’t ‘like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.’ Considering that just about every law discriminates in some form or another, makes this comment ridiculous. Hanks’ comment shows that he very much believes in discriminating against people with whom he disagrees. I may not agree with Mormon theology, but I certainly defend their right to express their opinion.”
Exactly!
You don’t have to agree with Prop. 8 or with the Mormon Church. But don’t tell American citizens they don’t have a right to participate in the political process when the process doesn’t go your way.
