About what I saw on Anderson 360 tonight

I saw a disturbing debate on Anderson 360 tonight. I also saw a similar debate on the Colbert Report. I do not know who the man was with whom they spoke, but I was extremely appalled. He accused Mormons as being "bigots" and hating homosexuals. No actions demonstrate this allegation. In fact, the community that is protesting the Church's involvement is far more guilty of the slander that they place on the LDS Church and its members. Please read the following article that I believe portrays the point I'm trying to make: http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081110hate.html

The issue is not against people who identify themselves as homosexuals. The issue is redefining marriage. There have been limitations on what is marriage and what society recognizes as marriage since the beginning of time. One example is that close relatives cannot and should not marry. I think that this is in society's best interest. Anyone who has seen My Big Redneck Wedding could probably agree. I say this in jest, and do not wish to offend any who may identify themselves with this group. I think the one and only episode that I saw was of a brother and an adopted sister that were getting married. It was messed up. I couldn't watch the whole thing.

I do not wish to offend in any of my commentary, I do think that people are entitled to things and a loving family is definitely one thing that I hope for everyone. I just believe that a healthy family should be comprised of two parents, a mother and a father. I think that this teaches roles (This is not a sexist comment. I believe that women and men are inherently different and this is a good thing. I believe that women should be free to pursue their interests-ie. education, employment, and family.), engenders responsibility, and does not create confusion about identity. Many kids suffer enough with identity questions and crises; it is a sad thing to have an atmosphere that does not provide a foundation or give any structure to identity.

So, call me a bigot, but I think that marriage should be defined as a union between a man and a woman. I think that society has been wise to choose this definition, and there is obviously a reason why it has been so defined since, well, forever.

Here are a few more stats to consider as you witness Prop. 8 protests against the LDS Church:

• Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.
  
• Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.
  
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.
  
• The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.
  
• Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.
  
• The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.
  
• African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.
  
• The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).
  
• The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, and Muslims all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.