Disturbed, saddened, confused.

As I watched BYU wallop the U in basketball last night (and after I finished killing the heathen in Stronghold: Crusader), I got on KSL to see what was going on in the world. Or, at least, the world of the wasatch front. There was yet another article about immigration, and what the Utah legislature is going to be doing. Following a call for compassion, followed by the alliance for unity publishing a statement signed by many community, business, and religious leaders. It seems like there have been some moves to moderate some of the legislation, as well as some alternate legislation offered.

Then, in my stupidity, I clicked on the comment section of the story. Over 100 comments. A good friend of mine, who disagrees with me about immigration, but can at least discuss the problem intelligently and reasonably, has long told me that the Sean Hannity idea of illegals is the minority. If one were to take the comments on KSL as any indication, he would be dead wrong. They amount of anger, vitriol, blatant racism, and complete lack of information among these various opinions is absolutely staggering. And this is coming from someone who deals with almost mind numbing stupidity on a daily basis working with people who for one reason or another don't want to support their children.

If you feel like getting a taste, the comment board is here.

I can understand people being frustrated with the lack of any sort of immigration policy in our country. And, I am also 100% in support of enforcement of immigration laws. So, in a reasonable discussion, I can see where the other side is coming from. Its not good to have a swiss cheese border, that is obvious. Its not great to have millions of people in the country undocumented. It breeds problems like rabbits. It encourages identity theft, etc. And, lest we forget, it is against the law. That isn't a small thing. I support increased border patrol, or electronic survellience at the border. I don't have a problem with a wall (although the idea that it would stop people is stupid, it could be useful in many areas to halt vehicle traffic, which would actually affect drug running etc.).

But, every single argument and vitriol laden rant on that board was comprised of the same type of arguments. I will touch on those each.

1. They are here illegally, what about our laws?

Thats true, they broke the law. And, as a very prosecutorial minded person, I think that should not go unpunished. So, I am all for fining the people who came here illegally of their own choice. Yes, it may be burdensome, but I think that is not an overwhelming price to pay.

2. They are sucking our economy dry.

This is based on a complete lack of understanding in my opinion. First, they are working, which stimulates the economy. Second, they are not stealing jobs. Jobs are wildly abundant, and I have listened to more than one business owner (from across the spectrum vocationally) talk about how they can flat out not fill the positions that they have. And that included a recent interview on KSL radio where a general contractor was talking about 20-25$ an hour jobs that he could not get people to apply for.

3. Sub argument of above; they are siphoning millions in social services.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I don't fully understand the process whereby people can apply for, or receive services. However, I have heard individuals who actually work in the field say specifically that an illegal cannot receive services (people with specific info can clarify), however their children can (I believe this is what they said). That having been said, how can anyone have a problem with some vital services going to children who did not have a choice in the matter.

4. Their children are getting a free education, and my tax dollars pay for it!

Again, so you are mad that children, who had no choice in the matter are getting an education. That is a horrible thing. *please note sarcasm*

5. I have no problem with immigration, I just want them to do it legally.

Now, anyone who says this falls into one of two categories. First, you could just completely not understand how legal immigration works (or doesn't work), or Second, you are a liar that wants to not sound as harsh as your actually feelings. Legal immigration is broken. They are still processing applications from ten years ago. They run out of worker visas in February or March, though hundreds of thousands of new jobs will be created for the rest of the year. If you can kick a soccer ball into a net, you can get a visa in a matter of weeks or months (if not just a few phone calls). But, if you just want to come here, take one of the literally thousands of jobs available in Utah right now, and provide for your family, maybe in 2019 we'll get to processing your request.

I'll bottom line my opinion on this one. And I will be the first to admit, I am fairly vehement on this issue. Our country had some pretty basic principles it was founded on. And, moving from founding through the turn of the century into the 1900's immigration was pretty much please come, we'll give you free land out west. Requirements? Finding your way here, maybe checking in at ellis island (if thats the port you happen to come through). Possible quarentine if you have symptoms of certain diseases. Now, I'll be the first to admit that the world is different today. We do need more security than that. However, I think claiming that we have to cap immigration to preserve our country is asinine. First, it presumes that everyone in the world wants to live here, which is a bit conceited. I surely believe this is the greatest country on earth, but a lot of people like their own just fine.

Our immigration policy should be open door, multi-use, and secure. People who want to be citizens should be welcomed, people who want to work should be allowed, people who want to visit should be shown where Yellowstone is. We aren't running out of space, we aren't running out of resources, and we aren't due any sort of special consideration because we happened to be born here. That is a blessing, not an entitlement.

This is obviously simplistic. I am not going to go into all of the policy type ideas that I have come to either believe in, or be amenable to through all the discussions I have had with people that either believe similar to myself, or disagree on a lot of it.

There can be consensus, this could be fixed. But the level of anger, hate, racism, misundertanding, lack of information, etc. is so staggering, and so detrimental to a real discussion of the problem and possible solutions its disturbing. And the ability of so many to hold such confused, and dangerously angry opinions baffles me.

Suggested reading

After my last post, I thought I would make a suggested reading list (more specific than authors on the last one). I will try to rate them, and give you an idea of pages, in case some are worried about diving into a vast series.

#1 The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World is the first. 11 books currently, will end with 12. app. 700-900 pages each. Robert Jordan

#2 The Sword of Truth: Wizards First Rule is the first, 11 books in all. Terry Goodkind app 700pp

#3 The Riftwar Saga: Magician: Apprentice is the first, 4 books in all. Raymond Feist. app. 400 pp

#4 The Assasin Series: Assasin's Apprentice is the first, 3 books in all, Robin Hobb app. 400 pp

#5 The Dark Elf Trilogy: Legacy is the first, 3 books in all, R.A. Salvatore app. 400pp

#6 The Cleric Quintet: Canticle is the first, 5 books in all (duh, quintet) R. A. Salvatore app 400pp

#7 The Serpent War Saga: Shadow of a Dark Queen is the first, 4 books in all. Raymond Feist, app 400pp

#8 Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first, 3 books in all Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, app 400pp.

#9 The Belgariad: Pawn of Prophecy is the first, 5 books in all, David Eddings app 500pp

Well, there you go. Enough reading to last you a long, long time. And if that weren't enough, most of these authors have AT LEAST two others series nearly as good as the ones listed. So, go, read, enjoy.

Newest Netflix Addiction

So, for those of you who don't know, I am addicted to Netflix. It is the greatest thing, yes, even better than sliced bread. It ends up being tons cheaper than going to the video store, and the selection is leaps and bounds better than redbox. (This is not a judgement on any other dvd through the net options, I hear good things about blockbuster's deal as well).

Alisa and I have gotten to watch lots of movies, old and contemporary, after the kids are in bed. We also watch streaming movies on the computer when we work out together, and not just movies, but we have watched several episodes of Quantum Leap (which is still cool years later), Buck Rogers (which is still insanely cheesy years later), and Battlestar Galactica (the old one, and yes, its cheesy too).

But, my current Netflix addiction is a TV show that some of you may have seen. Its called The Unit. Oh, man, its freaking awesome.

The show is based around a special forces unit. Five guys. They go on various missions that you would imagine would be done by a Delta Force/Green Beret type group. Its great. I highly recommend it. Its still on, in its third season, Alisa and I are about to finish up season 1. Anyway, if you have the chance, you should watch it.

Follow Up: The Wheel of Time

For those truly interested this will be old news. But, to follow up on a post I did right at the start, author Brandon Sandersen has been chosen to finish Robert Jordan's last, and incomplete novel A Memory of Light. I don't know much about Brandon, he has written a few other novels. Interestingly enough, he was in the graduate program at BYU with Breanne, though, unfortunately for the rabid fan in me, she didn't really know him, too bad.

Anyway, I am, with millions of others, waiting with baited breath. Its supposed to be published fall of '09, and I have a good hope that it will be good. According to all reports and interviews, there were some extensive notes written laying out the story, the ending, all the secrets etc. Sorensen has said some of the parts of the book were already pretty much written, while others only had skeleton paragraphs.

I love this series, and everyone who I have ever suggested read it does as well. I suggest it to all of my readers here at this blog (all 3 1/2 of you who have not). To my knowledge, I have been either directly, or indirectly responsible for at least 13 people having read this series. I'll continue to spread the word.

This is the best fantasy series out there (Tolkein does not count). I will not argue that it doesn't have a couple week books, but you have to take the series as a whole.

-Other fantasy authors you should read: I've read all of these authors multiple times. Own them all, if you ever want to borrow.

Raymond Feist
Terry Goodkind
R.A. Salvatore <------currently reading for like the 4th time
Robin Hobb
Margaret Weis & Tracey Hickman

If Huckabee is the VP nominee.........

I'll say it flat out. I can't vote for a ticket that has Huckabee on it. I don't care who the Presidential candidate is, I can not, in good conscience, vote for Huckabee in any capacity. However, in this election, if he becomes McCain's running mate, it is even more vital. Think about it. McCain isn't young, he's in his seventies. If something happened to him, his VP will be the president. Could you vote for Huckabee for President? Well, whoever is McCain's running mate, you will have to think of it in that way, would I be comfortable with this man as President.

Don't get me wrong, its not like I'm endorsing Hilary Clinton. On paper, Huckabee sounds good. I was a big fan of his stances on just about everything. In fact, there was some online test where you answered about 40 questions, and it told you who you were most in line with. Me and Huckabee 92%. But for some strange reason, I can't vote for a raving religious bigot, even if we agree on immigration, or the economy, or the war. I tracted out Huckabee's, I have met and had discussions with Huckabee's. I have known Huckabee's and stood there as they yelled in my face with hate in their eyes that I was going to Hell. Whatever else he may stand for, I know one of his stances very, very well. I won't vote for him, sorry, can't do it.

We have been told to find good men and women and vote for them. I think Romney is a good man, I think McCain is a good man too, I don't have any serious problems with him. But, I believe wholeheartedly that Huckabee is not a good man. He is filled with hate and bigotry, and despite my stances on the war or the economy, I cannot in good conscience cast a ballot to put a man like that in the White House. So, you may ask, who would you vote for? Honestly, I have no idea...

Who's the all-star?

Switching gears. The Jazz played the Hornets last night, pitting 'all-star' Chris Paul against Deron Williams, who was passed over for the all-star game through the asinine opinions of the coaches for the second year in a row.

Now, I'm not going to bag on Chris Pauls stats this year, they are impressive. He is averaging 20.8 pts and 10.3 assists. Williams is no slouch this year either with 19 points and 9.7 assists.

However, when playing one another. Williams averages 17.4 points per game on 57% shooting while Paul gets 13.8 on 37.9% shooting. Oh, and Williams is 7-1 versus the Paul led Hornets.

What does this mean.....nothing. I just like to point out that I will take Williams any day, I think he is more consistent, and is more of a team leader. When all of us Jazz fans look back, ten years from now, we'll be glad we took D-Will with the #3 pick, instead of Paul.

Jazz 110 Hornets 88.

Thomas, we should go to a game.

Please use compassion.

This was the phrase, according to legislator's on both sides of the aisle, that representatives of the Church used when speaking of legislation regarding immigration reform in the State of Utah. It made it into the paper, every year representatives meet with leaders of both parties and disuss upcoming legislation. Use compassion. What an interesting idea.

Immigration is such a short fuse topic today, I think made more so by some of the talking head imbecile's on the radio, but that is a different rant. Unfortunately, at least in the public square, there is nothing that even resembles dialogue. There are only shouted insults and aspersions cast.

I have very strong stances on the idea of immigration, but I'll save those for a different, longer post. I do, however, want to lament one move that our state legislature is making (or trying to make) in the current session. As it stands now, children who are not legal residents can still get in state tuition if the graduated after three years in a Utah high school. This bill seeks to change that and charge them out of state tuition. It is punitive, it is directed at the wrong segment of society, it fixes nothing, and does nothing but cause more problems.

The Deseret Morning News has a good story about it here. I don't really care what peoples stance on immigration is, or how they would propose to fix it. But, I think that a lot of the comments on that story sum up how many people feel, they say the have absolutely no sympathy for 'those people'. And that is the true shame.

If you think the girl in the story is getting what she deserves. You are flat out wrong. You have blinded yourself with partisan/philosophical catchphrases so much, that you cannot look at a situation and see it for what it is.

There was a call for compassion. Unfortunatley, compassion is one of those things that we do in our religious personality. This is politics.

The Great and Abominable Church

Okay, its been awhile since I posted, no excuses, and won't wasted space on that. To my topic.

I was sitting in Sunday School this week, we were talking about Nephi's vision where he saw many things including the subsequent events that would lead to the founding of this nation, i.e. the apostasty, Columbus, the Pilgrims, etc.. A quote by Elder McConkie was read, its the subject of this post. It said,

"The titles church of the devil and great and abominable church are used to identify all churches or organizations of whatever name or nature—whether political, philosophical, educational, economic, social, fraternal, civic, or religious—which are designed to take men on a course that leads away from God and his laws and thus from salvation in the kingdom of God."

Now, I don't mean to get into any of the argumentation or side issues of actual churches that could or could not get labeled with the designation in the subject line. I was more intrigued, and am directing my thoughts at the idea of any 'organization' or philosophy that leads away from God.

I have long been annoyed or frustrated by the idea that seems fairly prevelant that people can have their religious beliefs, and their political beliefs, and their economic beliefs, etc., and though they be completely inconsistent, in their own mind, or argumentation there is no inconsistency.

Now, clearly, members of the Church are free to have whatever positions and opinions they want, that is agency. However, when one tries to argue that their religious beliefs and their voiced political/economic/whatever opinion aren't inconsistent because they are different realms, that bothers me a great deal. Don't get me wrong, it can be difficult to give up, or surrender ones closely held beliefs or stances on a temporal subject, but when it comes to things that the Church has actually taken a stance on, there are only two positions. We are all free to decide whether or not we agree with the Church, and where we will stand, but we are not free to try to obfuscate the lines, making it seem that we both stand with the Church religiously, but stand in opposition politically, or economically, or philosophically.

The Church and the Gospel take some fairly hard line stances on a lot of hot button topics, and people of both political spectrums may find it difficult to swallow such stances. There are times when we must take a good, honest look at our own beliefs and see where they fall. Homosexuality and society. Business practices and the pursuit of worldly goods. Mothers in the home. Marriage. Children. Our wise stewardship over the earth.

This may come off as a political post, but it isn't meant to be. It also isn't a denunciation of any person or specific group. This is a level of introspection that I have had several time with myself as I, hopefully, have matured in my personal stances on worldly issues. It will continue to be a growing experience to take my natural reaction to things politic or temporal, and then compare that stance to those things I know to be true and eternal. Sometimes that means the humility to realize that one's initial stance, reasoned though it may seem according to the philosophies of men, is not in line with the Gospel, or the Church of the Lamb. I think that that is the much bigger danger in the idea espoused in the vision of Nephi and expounded on by Elder McConkie.

The list in the quote gives a small idea of all the various areas in which we may find ourselves. And, as we become 'learned' we may 'think ourselves wise'.

As one who is quick to have opinions, and especially politically, it is I think, a valuable idea to look at our own beliefs and see where they lie. For there are truly only two Churches. And their influence is not restrained to the purely metaphysical.