Back in the summer of '91 or '92, my mom and us kids went to Logan to visit some of the old family friends from their college days. We hadn't seen each other in a while, so we were getting reacquainted. I had just found out that the oldest son (like 1 year older than me, so 13 or 14) had just gone to a New Kids on the Block concert. I retorted with something like, "You like them?" And he fumbled a bit and said, "Well, you know, Perfect Gentlemen were opening..."
His mom interrupted and said, "You don't have to justify yourself." She was pretty mad at how I'd acted. I, however, was pretty sure that my contempt was justified, I mean, I had learned only months earlier that my love of New Kids was completely uncool and that I shouldn't wear that shirt of theirs that I owned. I felt that my enlightenment and forced despite of their music allowed me to feel superior. BTW, Donnie was my fave.
Hah! What a hypocrite I was.
I've thought about that a lot and how whatever his name was didn't have to justify himself at all, and how out of line I was.
And recently I've been thinking about how I often justify my political beliefs to people b/c my temple recommend status is questioned, or my faithfulness to God or the gospel is supposedly in doubt because I'm a registered democrat. Or if someone says that I'm just a democrat because I wanna be different, as if I didn't have a head on my shoulders and were that flippant.
I'm done justifying myself. Giving reasons is one thing. But I'm done justifying myself.
Also, an interesting tidbit that I've been thinking of lately:
A lot of Utah Valley Mormons talk like Libertarians, expect things that a democratic government would offer, yet rail against big government, and vote like Republicans.
I've noticed this over the last couple of years.
So, yes, an experience with NKOTB led me realize that I don't have to politically justify myself to people.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
NKOTB, justification and libertarians
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5 comments:
I am so with you on this one. No more justifying!
Wow. Do people really question your temple recommend status just because you are registered as a democrat? That is too bad.
I am more of a conservative myself, but I think about half my friends must be democrats, and that certainly hasn't ever phased me or made me question their religious faithfulness.
Luckily most people (and members of the church) are normal like you. But there are some, errr, interesting people who mix testimonies and politics or something. [shoulder shrug]
as for the second part of you post, if i meet one more byu couple who rails against obama and his health plan or complains about taxes and democrats...then proceeds to go and use medicaid to pay for their maternity expenses? well, i just might punch them in their faces.
hah! hi annie. yes, I completely agree with you on that. or how about the claim that the dems are trying to bring in socialized medicine, so that will ruin medicare, and we can't destroy medicare.
do you like musicals? well then, you should visit this website:
http://www.billionairesforwealthcare.com/
my friend's a founding billionaire member.
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