Oh the Double Standards We Live By...

I was just walking out of my Comparative Politics class today, when I heard two people talking behind me. They were talking about politics; one was a girl and one was a guy. The girl was talking about Obama and how great he was and the guy was somewhat downtrodden because he liked Romney, and he had just dropped out (to my chagrin also...). When the girl heard this she said, "Well good, no way we let a Mormon in the White House." The guy was confused and asked what she meant by that. She responded, "Well I mean he's a different f---ing religion...". When I heard this I turned around and just looked at her and shook my head, I think I also unconsciously gave her the stink-eye (I'm kicking myself because I wish I had said something, but really I liked what the guy was saying and I wanted to hear what was said next). When the male speaker hear this he was slightly taken aback and playing the devil's advocate he said, "well if you think being a Mormon is controversial, what about being the first black person running?" Apparently this was a stunning rhetorical question to the girl and she immediately responded, "How can you say that? You're so racist!"

Oh the double standards we live by... I was dumbfounded, I could not believe she would have the audacity to accuse him of being racist when she herself was being the prejudicial bigot. I mean he never said it was bad for Obama to run, he just was just trying to say it was also, like with Romney and Clinton, a first. I was at a loss for words, I just kept shaking my head. They must have known I was doing so because of her comments. How come it is okay to denounce religion and hate someone for their beliefs, but when someone even mentions skin color (with not an ounce of negative connotation) there is a huge uproar?

The world around us is so ignorant to what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes and what they are. I remember hearing a story told, after Katrina hit in New Orleans a news reporter was interviewing a man who had lost his home and almost everything he owned; he said it has been very difficult but he was so greatful for the help he was getting from volunteers. The news reporter asked what groups the volunteers were from and he said there were two: those from "the Mormons' Church and those from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". I always smile when I hear that but really it is so true. People really have no idea when it comes to the Church, they do not know the Church has over 13 million members, that they have active Missions in 162 countries, that the Book of Mormon has been translated into 105 different languages. This is a global Church, a global Christian Church, not a cult or anything of that nature, it is a legitimate church, loved by millions.

This might be news to the world, but guess what? The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) ARE CHRISTIAN. What?!?! Mormons are Christian, how?!?! I know, I know, it's a shocker, but they believe in the Christ of the Bible. In my opinion "Mormons'" practices and beliefs align most with the early Church, right after Christ's death and resurrection, than do other 'traditional' churches.

It's so sad to think that in today's world, where we pride ourselves on equality and fairness, people can still be so prejudicial to others' beliefs. I am going to quote something and its not scripture, it's from a little thing written a couple hundred years ago called the Bill of Rights, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". I know, I know that's talking about Congress, but I think it's meant just as much to Congress as it is to the individual, we should be accepting of all people not matter race, creed, or religion; none of us should ever "prohibit the free exercise" of religion.