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Among the Mormons Archive
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| December 13, 2011 |
Tonight in American Fork
After a long hearing in which more than 20 people spoke, the American Fork City Council tabled its proposed Housing and Employment Non-Discrimination Ordinances. Here's the mostly-untold story of how and why, plus my statement from the hearing.
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| December 1, 2011 |
A Practical Test of American Fork's Commitment to Freedom
In December the American Fork Council has an interesting and important opportunity to weigh competing principles and vote on the depth of our city's commitment to essential American freedoms.
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| September 11, 2011 |
September 11 Reflections
Our barbarian enemies think our being different means we deserve to die. We civilized folk have much more subtle and much less violent ways of abusing people for being different.
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| July 28, 2011 |
Nine Ways to Lose My Vote
Last time I described what I generally look for in candidates for local office, focusing on qualities more than issues. I also promised my readers a list of things candidates can do or say to encourage me to vote for someone else. That's today's topic.
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| October 6, 2010 |
What the Words Mean, Part I: Setting the Stage
A lot of what's being said these days in school board races and in the Alpine School District generally turns on the definitions of words with many definitions.
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| September 7, 2010 |
Civilized People Do Not Burn Other People's Holy Books
A pastor in Florida plans to mark September 11 by burning copies of the Koran. You may have noticed that Americans have the right to do some un-American things, even if they're wrong.
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| August 10, 2009 |
Three Utahans: The Nominee, the Religious Bigot, and the Racist
Thoughts on three Utahans who made the news last week in unrelated stories.
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| July 11, 2009 |
Excellent Readings
Climate change, Obamacare, Sarah Palin, Robert McNamara, a jobless recovery, American Fork, and more.
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| July 3, 2009 |
Miscellany
An assortment of curious tales from the national scene, a couple of local notes, and a weird Mormon moment.
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| June 8, 2009 |
Peggy Noonan Day (and Some Housekeeping)
Here are links to a few excellent, recent Peggy Noonan columns, and to some other things I've read lately, some as recently as today.
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| May 21, 2009 |
Craig Frank's Folly
Zeal without wisdom is a dangerous thing, even when all it does is open its mouth.
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| May 13, 2009 |
The Mormons Baptized Whom?
Barack Obama's mother, that's whom. Posthumously. Here's an explanation of why we do that sort of thing generally (though it should not have been done in this specific case).
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| April 26, 2009 |
More from the Convention: I Sided with Satan -- Again!
At least some of my fellow Utah County Republicans seem to think so. [Updated several times with more links, a made-up quotation about Satan Scanners (!), and a link to other blogs and some KSL audio. See the comments.]
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| April 11, 2009 |
Bureaucracies Don't Laugh. People Do.
. . . A good laugh is a terrible thing to waste.
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| April 11, 2008 |
Last Week an Angry Liberal, This Week a Right-wing Nut Job
This didn't turn out exactly as I planned. My original strategy proved to be too much like carpet-bombing some of my neighbors and relatives, so I shelved it. Something more surgical is indicated.
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| March 24, 2008 |
Famous Since July, Oblivious Until Today
I would think myself truly ungrateful if I didn't stand, I mean sit, here today and blog about an experience I had just this afternoon. As I was trying to find something for a friend, I found something about myself . . .
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| December 31, 2007 |
Christmas Music and Christmas Politics
The two don't really go together, but they coexist in my last blog post of the year, along with a bunch of Mormons, a former Southern Baptist minister, and some (other) really nice people.
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| November 6, 2007 |
Respect vs. Political Expediency
On respecting some places too much to take our politics there.
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| September 17, 2007 |
Anniversary Notes
Here are a few relatively quick thoughts on today's auspicious anniversary.
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| September 1, 2007 |
Local Miscellany
I brag a little, then I turn to broadband, Gandolfo's, 9600 North, college football, a very old skeleton, SOBs in American Fork, and a very intelligent discussion of Mormonism on the national stage.
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| April 7, 2007 |
Is Laughter a Form of Worship?
First, a bit about Mitt -- something to read, actually. Then something funny to read about Mormons generally. Also, I muse on Mormons who can't laugh at themselves.
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| April 4, 2007 |
Dorothy, This Ain't Panguitch Any More (Revised)
J C Penney wants to come to the Meadows in American Fork, along with some mixed-used development. This happy news prompts some more general thoughts about attitudes on the Wasatch Front.
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| February 21, 2007 |
Holly Mullen: Excellent Blogger, Almost in Town
My long-time favorite American Fork blogger, DaltonGirl, does not share many of my political views. Neither does a new favorite, Salt Lake City's Holly Mullen. What does this mean? (I don't actually answer this question in this post.)
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| February 13, 2007 |
Infinite Shades of Grey
Some of our horror at the bad things which happen in "good" places, such as Salt Lake City, is rooted in our preference for black-and-white categories, instead of infinite shades of gray. That preference is actually dangerous.
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| November 3, 2006 |
The Republican Rally and My Dark Inner Thoughts
How my political career ended yesterday before it even wanted to be begin, and my dark thoughts on the occasion of a Republican political rally.
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| October 14, 2006 |
Random Thoughts
Okay, so the North Koreans have nukes, the Iranians soon will have, we're having an epidemic of school shootings, and the words "Speaker Pelosi" have a shot at being used together quite a bit next year. That shouldn't mean we stop laughing, should it? Here are some mostly apolitical morsels to assist you.
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| October 5, 2006 |
Questions on My Mind
Here I muse on several questions of recent occurrence and dubious note, from the cosmic to the American Forkic. Watch for cameos by Oprah, Satan, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
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| July 21, 2006 |
Urban Musings
I spent the afternoon and evening in Salt Lake City and had a few thoughts along the way.
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| July 14, 2006 |
Israel and Its Enemies: The View from My Own 'Religion of Peace'
How many attacks must Israel absorb before fighting back? Here's my scriptural view.
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| June 19, 2006 |
Miscellaneous Notes, Mostly Local
A local blogger, gravel roads, possibly offensive movies, and a letter that got a guy fired.
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| June 7, 2006 |
Marriage Protection Amendment Dies on the Senate Floor
The Marriage Protection Amendment died today in a cloture vote. It will be back.
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| June 7, 2006 |
The Marriage Protection Amendment, Part IV
I support the Marriage Protection Amendment for two reasons. One is structural and procedural, and the other has to do with religious freedom itself.
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| June 6, 2006 |
The Marriage Protection Amendment, Part III
Here I discuss a recent letter from the First Presidency of the LDS Church, which doesn't say exactly what a lot of folks think it says, and list a host of reasons thinking people might cite for opposing both gay marriage and the Marriage Protection Amendment.
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| June 5, 2006 |
The Marriage Protection Amendment, Part II
This article examines a host of arguments for and against the amendment by discussing these questions: Is amending the Constitution something to avoid altogether? Is gay marriage good or bad for society? Is it wrong to legislate morality? Is gay marriage or homosexuality in general morally wrong? Is it a slippery slope?
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| June 2, 2006 |
The Marriage Protection Amendment, Part I
The first of at least three articles on the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment looks at the text of the proposed amendment, its apparent intent, and what may happen on Capitol Hill after the Senate debate.
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| May 30, 2006 |
How Many David Rodebacks Are Too Many?
Meet David Rodeback the Older, David Rodeback the Deadbeat, and David Rodeback the Halfwit Moral Cripple. None of them is me, I think.
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| April 14, 2006 |
Exceeding the Bounds of Authority
The Sutherland Institute wants the Utah Legislature to assert authority that no government rightfully has. The Mayor of Kanab and a senior local church leader in American Fork seem oblivious to the bounds of their authority.
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| February 13, 2006 |
Quick Thoughts on Religious Freedom
Three quick thoughts on religious freedom.
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| January 24, 2006 |
How Can Part of the Constitution Be Unconstitutional?
Some propose the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which provides for the direct election of US Senators by the people of their states. At least a few of them call the amendment "unconstitutional." This doesn't seem to make sense . . . but we'll follow it where it leads.
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| October 10, 2005 |
Newsweek on Joseph Smith and the Mormons
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| October 6, 2005 |
Rocky Anderson Has His Own Brand of Intolerance
Let's hear it for Mayor Rocky, whose campaign to become a major national political (cartoon) figure is going just fine, thank you, if his goal is to become the next Al Sharpton. . . .
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| September 10, 2005 |
Scrambled Eggs and Boiled Spinach (or Why Primary Elections Matter)
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| September 9, 2005 |
Post-Katrina Notes, Some Local
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| August 31, 2005 |
LaVaughn, LaVerl, Hurricane Katrina, and the International Community
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| August 18, 2005 |
Yes, I Would Vote for a Druid
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| July 29, 2005 |
4-H Talent Show at the Utah County Fair, A Year Later
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| July 9, 2005 |
Revising Doctrinal Classics, or Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
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| June 16, 2005 |
Goodbye, Joan, You Were My Favorite
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| May 19, 2005 |
That Billboard on Main Street, American Fork
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| April 8, 2005 |
Glam Rock Meets Home Teaching
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| April 5, 2005 |
Gambling vs. Investment
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| April 2, 2005 |
A Christian Hero, a Modern Giant Has Left Us
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| March 22, 2005 |
The Weird Arts in American Fork, Revisited
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| February 25, 2005 |
Zeal Without Knowledge
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| February 16, 2005 |
Petty Tyranny Loses by a Narrow Margin
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| November 17, 2004 |
Mormons, Abortion Policy, Harry Reid
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| September 21, 2004 |
A New Psychic in American Fork
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| September 6, 2004 |
If Modern Islam is a Peaceful Religion, Where's the Outrage?
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| August 19, 2004 |
It's Too Good to Be True If . . .
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| August 3, 2004 |
Mormon Satire: The Sugar Beet, RIP
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| August 2, 2004 |
The Dark Side of Universal Suffrage
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| July 30, 2004 |
The Arts in Utah Valley: A Microcosm
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