The boring details...
The Deseret News published my letter under the heading Strangled by
faith. Here it is; the
|
|
I complained about this to Deseret News. The paper deleted my notion of what faith is, and censored the idea that educated atheists should look towards bringing the unfortunate, naive faith-based brethren up to intellectual par. These were the main points of my submission to the Letters to the Editor. In return, a Deseret News censor and apologist, J. Johnson, criticized my "spirit" and "tone". (It's common for Mormons to find fault with form instead of substance -- to avoid thinking about the substance.)
It's my opinion from this experience that the people who transcribe the letters to the editor also judge them for fitness -- for congruence of views with the ideology of Mormon Church. After all, my two main points were censored -- my statement of what faith is, and that a certain analogue of "white man's burden" exists vis-ŕ-vis the faith based true believers and the opposing science basis of atheism.
From the immature response that I received from the newspaper's editors, I think that these people are young and inexperienced missionaries of the Mormon church. For example, Mr. J. Johnson thought that my letter had to do with racism. You can see the reply I received from the Deseret News below.
To: Deseret News
In future, I forbid you
to censor my message. Print it en toto, or not at all. I don't
care what your policy is. In this case, my policy,
trumps your policy. You should act as if we readers had given some thought
before submitting our words to the LDS official mouthpiece. [signed] |
The Deseret News is owned by the Mormon church (Church
of Latter-day Saints of Jesus Christ).
The paper often acts as an
apologist for Mormonism .
Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 09:54:52
Your "white man's burden" remark was understood perfectly. It was Kipling's
comment about the "brown man is the white man's burden" that
capsulized the
folly of British Imperialism
[*]. The remark has an
inflamatory tone, however,
and it was felt it would simply distort and muddle the essence of your
argument -- like a gun-shot in a melodrama.
(sic) You were equating your position
with the racist policies of England in India. Most writers, who are not
tone-deaf, could see that
(sic).
We edit and trim most letters, but then most
letter writers read our disclaimer before going in. |
They censored me again...
The Deseret News published my letter under the heading
Romney seems disingenuous. Here it is; the
|
|
* Rudyard Kipling, poem, "The White Man's Burden" McClure's Magazine 1899.
|
|
||
[ link ] |
The bad parts of the White Man's Burden
are congruent with Mormonism. JOSEPH SMITH the Inventor of Mormonism, first prophet and president of the Mormon Church:
MARK E. PETERSON of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles shows a kindly disposition towards Blacks.
|
On the next day, I wrote one last time, hopefully I will not get a reply.
To: Deseret News
You should not carry your
agenda to the letters to the editor column. You job is to transcribe the
letters and touch up the typos, not to judge them for congruence of views
with the ideology of Mormon Church. My two main points were censored -- my
statement of what faith is and that a certain analogue of "white man's
burden"
exists vis-ŕ-vis your faith based true beliefs and the rational, science
basis of atheism. [...] Ellipsis indicates platitudes which I censored :) |
Note: Emails received will be posted here, usually with name and email address.
Subject: Re: Edited letter
--- Carol J Cook wrote:
I wrote a letter to Deseret News and the meaning was completely changed. I complained.
As far as you go, You are the Bigot, not the Church.
What is wrong with being a descendent of Cain?
I'd rather be that than from the KKK cross burners and athiests!!
--- Kevin T [...] wrote:
I like it, most I like the part of that the news openly admits to censorship and expect that those who are writing in openly accept this censorship "We edit and trim most letters, but then most letter writers read our disclaimer before going in."
--- Summum Ra [...] wrote:
If you think yours is censored, our direct complaints on articles they write about us never get past the delete button.
Example; Every time DN prints Stories about our Ten Commandments cases we win they describe us, ("Summum, the Church that believes in aliens and makes wine") Then in the same story they say the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comes to the rescue and put the Ten Commandments monument on their CHURCH property in Provo.
Why not the Church that believes in Salamanders, angels talking humans, many wives in heaven. These statements would be just as valid to state, as what they say about us, neither statements, having anything to do with the story.
Corky Ra
SummumMr. Ra is the "Chief Visionary" of Summum. Here is a more detailed report.
Editor,
Robin Jackson, in her letter on the erection of Christian crosses on public highway property, asks: “Explain how that hurts you?”
It hurts me to live in a world where most think that an invisible man or trio lives in the sky with which one can talk or bargain and to which one channels thoughts. It hurts me to think that I live in a world where people believe, for example, that praying works. Try it, Robin: Pray to make the pope Mormon!
As for a religious slogan emblazoned on our money, Jackson laments, in the same breath, “If they don't want to honor the people who have died protecting others […] don't try and take that right from others.” Isn’t Jackson cross-treading her idioms? Trusting in Jehovah or Quetzalchoatl or Allah has nothing to do with one’s ability to honour “dead people who protected others” or their memory. Did Jackson have Allah or Quetzalcoatl in mind when she advocates a god-slogan on my money? No. As James Rost points out (Forum Letter 04/05/08) -- she and the government are thinking: Christianity. State Endorsement of religions hurts in many ways. Mixing State and Church causes our legal system to be biased inquisitionally against those without religion. Furthermore, it causes tax exemptions for Church property, vehicles, income, for the clergy and for the plebs who plop their tithing into the plate each Sunday. Such missing tax revenues must be recovered by increasing the tax burden for everyone. In Salt Lake City, utility bills are higher because churches refuse to pay sewer taxes for the water runoff from acres and acres of church roofs and parking lots. Space here is short, but I could go on…
Who is this... friend or foe?
"When our leaders speak,
the THINKING has been
done." |
Your email is welcome. All correspondence received becomes the property of the recipient and may be published en toto. Thank you!
Do these things suck? ~~ Unpleasant experiences with companies and organizations. Scams.
Page updated
2013-11-03