Posted on 12/30/2009 1:32:39 PM PST by Colofornian
The Mormon Media Observer looks back at the year filled with LDS newsmakers. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tops the list, based on a newsmaker's frequency in the news as well as the significance of their stories.
1. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada
The Senate Majority Leader led the battle to push through health reform in the Senate. News coverage of Reid made a household name and the divisive debate made him out to be both villain and saint. He may still face a tough battle in his home state of Nevada to save his seat.
On Christmas The New York Times wrote:
"WASHINGTON -- It was the pinnacle moment of his political career. The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, on the verge of making history by shepherding through far-reaching health care legislation, was called upon by the clerk to cast his vote. And Mr. Reid, who had fought tirelessly for months to get the health care bill adopted, looked up from his desk and said, "No." ...Mr. Reid's oh-no vote capped one of the more remarkable stretches in what is shaping up to be one of the more remarkable careers in American politics, characterized in no small part by the sheer inscrutability of much of what he says and does. In the end, of course, Congressional leaders are judged on one thing alone: whether they come up with the votes. And Mr. Reid -- the miner's son from Searchlight, Nev., the amateur boxer who worked his way through law school as a Capitol Hill police officer, who has a knack for mumbling and off-the-cuff gaffes -- had the votes."
2. Stephenie Meyer
The release of "New Moon" attracted media attention around the world. Here's a sampling of the some of the worldwide headlines: "New Moon takes biggest bite," "Vatican denounces the 'deviant' Twilight Movie," "Mormon who put new life into vampires."
The Sunday Mail of London wrote: "Her teenage vampire books outsell Harry Potter -- but she's a devout Mormon who lives modestly in Cave Creek, Ariz., and eats at the local burger joint. For a woman who has sold more than 85 million books and has been hailed as the new J. K. Rowling, it is a remarkably modest home. Set down a dusty dirt trail, the four-bedroom property blends seamlessly into the desert landscape -- low and sand-colored with just a few cacti for decoration. Only a high-tech camera and newly installed metal gates give some hint of the occupant's desire for privacy."
3. Elizabeth Smart
The young woman endured brutality and came to court this year to face her abuser, Brian David Mitchell. After attending Brigham Young University, she is preparing to serve a mission in France. She was named Utahn of the Year by the Salt Lake Tribune. The excellent tribute by Trib columnist Peg McEntee reads:
"She had wanted to confront Mitchell with her eyes and words, but, predictably, he sang his hymns and was removed from the courtroom. When it was over, Elizabeth Smart strode, tall and straight, into the rest of her life. For so many of us, her astonishing homecoming restored hope when there seemed to be none, and the knowledge that even terrible times can end, and end well. And she taught us this: Faith, whatever its source, can make amazing things happen."
4. Jon Huntsman Jr.
President Barack Obama named Utah's former governor U.S. Ambassador to China. He took his post in August. Huntsman played host to Obama during a visit to China in November. Chinese media lauded Obama for the choice for Huntsman's understanding of Chinese language and culture. Huntsman previously served a U.S. ambassador to Singapore.
5. Orrin Hatch
Sen. Orrin Hatch was a key opponent to health care reform and taken on foes like the Bowl Championship Series. He also played a role in honoring the Sen. Edward Kennedy at his death. Over the years, the pair made an interesting senatorial odd couple. Along with speaking at Kennedy's memorial service, Hatch penned this piece in Newsweek. He also penned a Hanukkah song which was both complimented and parodied on "The Tonight Show."
6. Glenn Beck
The firebrand talk show host continued to attract attention on his national radio and TV shows, through his books and in the news media. The picture of Beck sticking his tongue out made it on the cover of Time magazine and parodied on several comedy shows. Here was Time's assessment:
"Glenn Beck: the pudgy, buzz-cut, weeping phenomenon of radio, TV and books. Our hot summer of political combat is turning toward an autumn of showdowns over some of the biggest public-policy initiatives in decades. The creamy notions of postpartisan cooperation -- poured abundantly over Obama's presidential campaign a year ago -- have curdled into suspicion and feelings of helplessness. Trust is a toxic asset, sitting valueless on the national books. Good faith is trading at pennies on the dollar. "
7. Mitt Romney
Emboldened by conservative supporters, Romney is keeping his eyes on 2012 presidential prize. Romney has been delivering a lot of keynoters and political endorsements around the nation and is getting ready to launch a book-promotion tour. A National Public Radio blog recent said this about who is a GOP frontrunner for 2012:
"Answer: No one so far. Mitt Romney, the venture capitalist and former governor of Massachusetts who ran a pretty good campaign in 2008, remains the class of the field but kept a low profile in 2009. Mike Huckabee led in some polls of Republicans that also found Sarah Palin popular. But Huckabee ended the year uncertain about running (and damaged by a clemency scandal from his days as Arkansas governor). Romney remains too much a general election candidate, a problem for the Democrats to be sure but far from the average Republican activist's cup of tea. His past positions on social issues were too styled to Massachusetts, and his Mormonism still leaves the party's religious base lukewarm at best."
8. Max Hall
BYU football quarterback Hall got his 15 minutes of national fame after the BYU-Utah football game when he said: "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them," Hall said. "I hate everything about them. I hate their program. I hate their fans, I hate everything. ... I think the whole university, their fans and their organization, is classless." He later issued an apology and was sanctioned by the Mountain West Conference.
9. John Yettaw
The Missouri man widely noted in international media for his Mormon faith was held for a time in a Burmese prison charged with crime related to a swim across a lake to one of the world's best-known democracy figures, Aung San Suu Kyi. He left Myanmar with a U.S. senator. Despite his good intentions, Yettaw gave an unfortunate impression of Mormons to the world.
10. Michael Otterson
He was the spokesman behind the LDS Church statement at the Salt Lake City council meeting in early November that appears to be changing the politics in Utah for gays.
"The Church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage. They are also entirely consistent with the Church's prior position on these matters. The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman. I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree -- in fact, especially when we disagree."
I'm sure you have a scientific article, reference or link on this.
Sometimes it’s a slow night on FR and boredom kicks in....
I have certainly falsified the Christian concept of God : )
Tell me, why are you so interested in disproving God and trying to dissuade people from believing in Him?
Have you noticed that with rare exceptions (regarding religion anyway) you only see me on Anti-Mormon threads? I simply enjoy having fun at the expense of anti Mormon Cabal members like yourself : ) As for dissuading people from believing in God, that is not my intent nor do I think that has occurred, at least I hope not anyway.
What’s it to you whether people believe or not? How is it hurting you any?
It doesn't bother me at all. In case you haven't noticed, I am generally defending a certain belief in God (Mormonism) by pointing out the ignorance and inconsistency of the anti Mormons. The vast majority of my family, friends and neighbors are Mormons and except for differences in religious beliefs I agree with them in most other things especially conservative political views.
I happen to believe that faith in God is a good thing for most people. Atheism provides no answers or strength when things are going bad. Atheism's only solace is scraps of truth, a meager fare indeed.
That’s presuming a lot.....
No, you haven't, but you're entitled to your opinion anyway, even if it is wrong.
As for dissuading people from believing in God, that is not my intent nor do I think that has occurred, at least I hope not anyway.
You sure go to great lengths to *prove* that He doesn't exist, from what you call logic to trying to demonstrate that prophecy hasn't been fulfilled for someone who claims to not trying to dissuade people from their faith.
If you're not trying to convince others that God doesn't exist, then who are you trying to convince? Yourself?
In case you haven't noticed, I am generally defending a certain belief in God (Mormonism) by pointing out the ignorance and inconsistency of the anti Mormons.
No, I haven't noticed. Likely, neither has anyone else since what you are claiming you are doing isn't coming across that way.
So, how is claiming that you falsified the concept of the Mormon god defending the belief of Mormonism? And how is claiming that you falsified the idea of the Biblical God pointing out ignorance and inconsistency of the "anti Mormons" (who don't exist except as a construct in the anti-anti's minds.
If any God doesn't exist, why defend the belief in one over the belief in another?
What about the inconsistencies of Mormonism? Why not point out them as well?
If you want to point out the inconsistencies of those you label as *anti-Mormons* then you need to provide concrete examples of how their behavior is inconsistent with what the Bible teaches. Claiming that falsifying God or the idea of God or the concept of God, doesn't accomplish what you claim you are trying to accomplish.
Sometimes it’s a slow night on FR and boredom kicks in....
- - — — -
Or a slow week even....
H¥=E¥ or the familiar m = mo/√(1-v2/c2) it is just the standard fare. Is there something in particular that you don't understand?
But and this is an interesting but :) my examination (I also had total access to all church records) vindicated Smith more often than not. But it deviated greatly from the 'official' history. For example, the Saints weren't driven from Missouri because of Religious prosecution per se, it was because they weren't slave holders. Obviously the Church prefers religious prosecution as the cause (nothing like being persecuted to unite people) and the modern persecutors preferred polygamy. The truth never stood a chance : ) I saw stuff like that over and over again (and still do, everywhere else).
Don’t get me wrong, Christian Church History stinks and there have been many wrong things done and claimed in the name of Christianity, but that does not mean we should throw the baby out with the bath water.
Why not? Saying the Christian history stinks is being extremely polite. I studied the history not from the perspective of religion but from the history of warfare and found it hard to sympathize with the "Christians".
BTW, have you ever read any of Lee Strobel’s books?
Nah, I haven't read a religious book in years. I prefer history, science and fiction now.
If YOU say so; I guess it is.
Atheism provides no answers or strength when things are going bad. Atheism's only solace is scraps of truth, a meager fare indeed.
WOW!!!
For an omnipotent being of course : )
Like I said, you can provide an appropriate scientific reference from a document.
Hmm, I gave you Feynman's preferred forms of Shrodinger's and Einstein's equations. For some odd reason I thought you capable of grasping their significance, apparently I was mistaken.
Let me explain it in simple terms that anyone of reasonable intelligence should be able to understand. Between the two equations we have a simple principle and that is that energy and mass are both wave functions and interchangeable. In other words light and matter are both wave functions, i.e. the same thing.
So what kind of references would you like? I am partial to books like the New Quantum Universe or The Feynman Lectures on Physics. You may want to start with Feyman's chapter on the Special Theory of Relativity. Those are both relatively basic sources that can get you pointed in the right direction.
Incorrect, I want the link that includes “life”. Mass and energy along with wave theory are old school.
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