Monson: Gay Marriage Fight in CA 'Is Our Gettysburg'

[Indy Coug]

http://www.cougarboard.com/noframes/...tml?id=3888543

[MikeWaters]

I wonder if the church is going to step into this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...071802580.html

The momentum is for acknowledged gays to be able to be in the military.

That's pretty much a tidal wave of public opinion.

And that protect marriage website acknowledges that support for Prop 8 is currently in the minority.

[MikeWaters]

Also, the choice of words is interesting: "Gettysburgh."

Because it hearkens back to the civil war, and the fight against slavery, i.e. racial discrimination. (the church supported, at least in rhetoric, the Rebels in the South).

So just as we supported pro-slavery forces are we now fighting for the anti-gay forces at Gettysburg?

I know that is probably not what President Monson meant, if you asked him.

But words always betray.

[Indy Coug]

Does anyone know if there is a transcript or news story on this 3 hour conference to see if the Gettysburg reference was actually used?

[UtahDan]

What are the prospects of the church prevailing in this fight. Are we just peeing in the wind here or is this close. I haven't followed closely enough to know. It would be hard for me to commit resources to something I knew to be a losing battle.

[Tex]

This story reports a poll showing the prop being defeated 42-51%, an improvement though from 40-54%. The pro-Prop 8 guy of course thinks the poll is flawed.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/fie...t-proposition/

[Indy Coug]

I think the odds of Prop 8 succeeding are just south of zero. This leads me to the inevitable question: why do Ute fans contribute money to the football program?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

What are the prospects of the church prevailing in this fight. Are we just peeing in the wind here or is this close. I haven't followed closely enough to know. It would be hard for me to commit resources to something I knew to be a losing battle.

Like going on a mission for two years in hopes that the gospel will sweep over the earth and convert a few percentage points of the world population?

Let me introduce you to some poetry:

The Charge of the Light Brigade
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

1.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

2.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

3.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

4.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

5.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

6.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made,
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred.

Copied from Poems of Alfred Tennyson,
J. E. Tilton and Company, Boston, 1870

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_..._Light_Brigade

I don't really respect the position that you fully agree with the church on the issue, but you don't want to commit any resources unless you think it will win. If in fact that is your position.

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Also, the choice of words is interesting: "Gettysburgh."

Because it hearkens back to the civil war, and the fight against slavery, i.e. racial discrimination. (the church supported, at least in rhetoric, the Rebels in the South).

So just as we supported pro-slavery forces are we now fighting for the anti-gay forces at Gettysburg?

I know that is probably not what President Monson meant, if you asked him.

But words always betray.

Gettysburg was the battle that stopped Lee's invasion of the north. Had the Union lost the battle, they probably would have lost the war. Since the Church is fighting a defensive battle here, comparisons to the Union forces is more accurate.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Venkman

Gettysburg was the battle that stopped Lee's invasion of the north. Had the Union lost the battle, they probably would have lost the war. Since the Church is fighting a defensive battle here, comparisons to the Union forces is more accurate.

Except for:

1. the church supported the South (and by extension, slavery)
2. the church is fighting against the oppressed minority (as some would say) as well

But otherwise your comparison is quite apt.

So what happens when the Union loses at Gettysburg? That's where the metaphor fails I think. Are they saying that the Union then loses? I wonder what other battlefield metaphors will be used? "This is their Auschwitz". That's probably one that is not going to be used.