Regarding the “black on black” crime question: that was just crazy. Why not a question about opportunities for job training or the feasibility of creating an urban job core or a question regarding the success of empowerment zones or even no child left behind. No one has a simple good solution for ending black on black crime – certainly not the republican candidates. Has Barack been asked the question?

What we should be most concern is questions(in the last Youtube debate) that were levied against Romney and Guiliani regarding Black on Black crime. How can they answer such a question when it is partially our failure to address personal internal pathological behavior which is the root cause-not JUST the political power structure.

I think you’re going to see Romney trying to avoid doctrinal discussions because it’s a slippery slope. It’s ironic though, that Romney is getting bad press for this embarrassing feature of Mormon history. His father was perhaps the most prominent Mormon in that generation and he was very vocal about his opposition to the pre-1978 policy. Most Mormons I know were terribly uncomfortable about the policy and relieved when it changed; but also believed it was not their place to try to change it. George Romney was very much an exception–now his son is taking heat for everyone else who sat on their hands.

“…and this is what is wrong with basing your life on beliefs you do not come to on your own and maintain and interpret solely by yourself…” Succinct and to the point. Frankly, if Romney had said to Russert, “Tim, it was not wrong. As you see, it has all worked out as God intended it to.” I would have at least respected his devotion to his church. But, by saying “I hated discrimination…but..but…but…” he calls into question his independence from church doctrine.

It’s funny, by pointing out that Romney will not acknowlege what you just did, some white people push back. They think naming discrimination as what it is, is somehow an affront. Romney wants to be President of the entire United States. We should all want to know that Romney is capable of saying his church…not his faith…is comprised of human beings and capable of making mistakes.

One of the reasons for conflict with Mormons in Missouri was their opposition to slavery. Joseph Smith’s platform in his campaign for president in 1844 called for the abolition of slavery by 1850.

I personally believe as a Mormon that the restriction against black priests would have been lifted much earlier if the white folk in the Church could have been able to countenance change of any kind. You might be interested to read essays on these subjects from a book titled “Black and Mormon” edited by Newell Bringhurst and Darron Smith. It cuts through a lot of the folklore on the subject of Mormonism and Race.

From it you can learn of the ancient battle of Cumorah, which occurred at a site conveniently near Joseph Smith’s home in upstate New York. In this legendary engagement, the Nephites, described as fair-skinned and “handsome,” fought against the outcast Lamanites, whose punishment for turning away from God was to be afflicted with dark skin. …etc

i dont care if this is called “religion,” to me it is a good storyteller who helped thousands of people who came after him/her to hate on the Brown™. period. no “god” of my world/cosmos would ever exhibit such disgusting traits and harbor such earthly and mundane and white supremacist beliefs. sheesh. what fools we be to imagine such small deities.

And it is this kind of dilemma that true separation of church and state would avoid. But in Romney’s case, what if the elders have a new revelation next week? What if the vision is that blacks once again bear the stain of Cain and must again be excluded from leadership in the church?

and this is what is wrong with basing your life on beliefs you do not come to on your own and maintain and interpret solely by yourself, but instead swallow from the hand of someone “above.”

“Any man having one drop of the seed of [Cain]…in him cannot hold the priesthood and if no other Prophet ever spoke it before I will say it now in the name of Jesus Christ I know it is true and others know it.”

ooh. how novel. the One Drop Rule adapted for Mormons.

its just a mire of grossness. relying on people like brigham young or mitt romney for leadership.

great catch on the fake recollection. too bad we can’t get your question to mitt, o tearful mitt.
and you make a great point, of course, about the separation of church and state.