HEADS UP: I'm talking about nudity, questions of social mores surrounding the exposure of the human form, and including illustrative pictures that could be construed as being inappropriate, particularly if you're of the younger variety. If any of what I mentioned here might bother you, I recommend you skip this one. Going Gaga In 2013, I went to Paris for the first time. While there, I went to the Louvre and looked at some of the most incredible artwork the Western world has created. I saw The Mona Lisa , enormous paintings by Jacques Louis David, and many other impressive, indescribable pieces--artwork that I'd only ever read about before. As I was bopping through the museum (as one does), there was an advertisement for a new, small exhibit by Lady Gaga. The ad had a person, lying in a bathtub, in the pious pose of The Death of Marat by David. I remember wondering what I was actually looking at, since, from a distance, it simply looked like someone had put together De...
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What flabbergasted me was the outcome of Utah's electoral vote in the last election, which I'm assuming was directly based on the popular vote. Republican, as always--why should I be surprised? Well, the majority of latter-day saints voted for John McCain, that's why. A non-progressive pro-war corporate monstrosity who played his campaign with no due respect to his opponent. But that's not the reason I'm shocked that people in Utah would vote for him.
If you ask any LDS voter "Would you say that personal morals in a candidate plays a huge part in who you vote for?" they would not hesitate to say yes. So why is it then, that so many saints voted for someone who's committed numerous adulterous acts in his lifetime? Returning home after being a POW, McCain discovered that his current sweetheart had become physically handicapped. Not only had he cheated on her before, but at the very sight of her being in a wheelchair, he left her. Even with his current wife, he's had a number of affairs. On the other hand, Obama is a very devoted husband and father. Now, I personally don't think that personal morals matters when choosing a leader, but the point is that Utah does. The only reason I can think of that a Utahn voter would choose an adulterer over a man like Obama is because the adulterer is Republican. I would tell you what my dad thinks about Obama's lack of approval in our community, but I'd imagine it would be very offensive.
I totally hear you guys. That's part of the reason that I put the shirt up, because it IS so true. It isn't, as Matt noted, simply a malady of Utah—it's a disease that affects everyone, it seems. The hypocrisy of the politicians (I can't just say GOP, even though they're having a rough time of it now) is really irking me.
As for WHY this is, I think a lot of it has to do with complacency—it's much easier to go with the crowd rather than stand up for what you personally believe.
When it came to the election last year, I was in a quandary. McCain made 0 sense on a number of economic and educational issues (one of his bright ideas: Forgo any licensure requirements for war veterans; let them return and become teachers sans training. Little surprise I wasn't a fan). Obama made 0 sense on a number of social issues that I simply don't agree with. In the end, I voted for Obama, though that isn't perfectly true, since Utah (as Stephen noted) voted for McCain. My vote did not help to put Obama in the White House.
One last note: Both of you guys should check out politicalcompass.org. It's a website that provides a very interesting look at one's political scale. It is designed to push your buttons on certain topics, so be aware of that. Let me know what your positions are according to the compass; I think you'll be surprised. Oh, and Stephen, I am neither horribly disappointed nor very impressed with my choice for president. I trust someone like you to give a logical reason for spouting out any sort of polemic speech, so feel free to lambaste.