General Conference, the HRC and Suicides....

After Elder Packer's....eh hem...words about homosexuality, gay marriage and whatever at Conference on Sunday, coupled with the recent run of suicides of young gay men, and of course all the Prop 8 hoopla, you can bet that Joe Solomese and HRC had something to say about it.

I got a mailer in my inbox from Joe yesterday which led me to read/listen to Boyd's...eh hem...words, which led me to post this on Facebook yesterday:

"Trying to decide who's better at inciting anger, spreading pain and just making me plain sad- Joe Solomese of the HRC or Boyd K. Packer of the 12. I think its a tie..."


I got several responses and "thumbs-up-likes", but one friend from the Holy Western Valleys with whom I've had little contact sent this:

"If you know they incite those kind of feelings, why listen to them in the first place?"

It was quickly deleted by the friend, however. I only saw it because Facebook sends immediate updates to my Blackberry every time anything happens on Facebook. Thank. God.

Anyway, I decided to respond anyway and sent this:

" I got your message on facebook, it was sent to my email account, but I see you must have deleted it from my page. I'm assuming you thought better of it, but I wanted to respond quickly anyway. Your comment was so short and brief that it would be impossible for me to genuinely discern its true intent--whether it was meant as a rebuke, as a snide and terse remark, or as a sincere question. Because of its hasty removal, I feel compelled to think it was one of the former and your better judgment dictated you delete it. Despite this, I want to respond to it as a sincere question--I listen for 3 simple reasons: 1) because in this information laden age and culture it is next to impossible not to hear unpleasant, angering or saddening things about topics you care about; 2) because words spoken- thoughts and ideas shared- have consequences, they reverberate and send ripples through lives and I believe strongly that those consequences should and must be made known and 3) I listen in the, lets face it, rather dim hope that someone with whom I disagree may say something which will help me understand the troubled and beautiful world in which we all live a little better!"

You can read the HRC letter here (its actually the press release, and a little less emotive and carefully worded than the mailer Joe sent)

And of course, you can read, watch or listen to Elder Packer's...eh hem...words at lds.org

Am I wrong to listen? Wrong to comment? Wrong to care?

Save The Great Lakes!!!!

Invasive Asian Carp Reach Great Lakes

Brilliant!!!!

A new poem

for michael


driven here by death, wind, rain and a lot of liberated restlessness
we’re far too soon too fast too fearful to be certain
but as breath begets more being
the driven eventually become the resting
if only for the seconds before the launch
and its in those moments perhaps
you and I breathe
in sync
and stop our restless driving


© 2009 Nathan T Wright

14 Little Lessons from Russia

1) There is a lot of gray area between loving someone and trusting someone; best to steer clear of the gray...

2) There is a fine line between being honest and fair with others and being cruel and insensitive with others; its worth it to find that line...

3) The Russian words for cruelty and toughness are very similar. (жестокость / жёсткость )

4) Watching out for number one does not preclude watching out for my fellows; precious few are those who understand this...

5) Looking for the good and beautiful in everyone I meet is still a worthwhile way to live; perceiving the bad and the ugly in them is also very worthwhile; being able to see all of it and not judge them for it is hard...

6) Listening to those with whom I categorically disagree can be fun; trying to learn something from them is hard, but worth it...

8) When you speak a language more often than the one in which your character was formed, your character changes; be aware...

9) No matter what the conservative and moralists may say--moral and cultural relativism is a reality; it is impossible to understand and therefore judge others and other societies by your own personal and societal values; that said--some societies just don't get it...

10)It is nice--more than nice--to have people near you who have known you for many many years.

11) It is also nice--but not so nice--to live somewhere where no one knows who you are, where you came from, and why you are who you are...

12) It is easier to be kind in a society where kindness is valued and where that value is reflected in a society's history, art, business and government; where is that society?

13) Listening to Diana Ross and the Supremes (or anything Motown-ish) and letting the beat move you on the Moscow Metro can make tough and cruel Russians smile...

14) It is 100% true that everything depends on me; it is also true that everyday there are a million and one variables that are completely out of my control; the paradox has the power to paralyze a man; don't let it...