One of Bitesfromedwin's most discerning readers has asked,
Which religion is the worst [on the Murderous Index]?
To be fair to Mormonism, it is not even close to the #1 spot.
Here are 2 nominees, in one story earlier this week -- or maybe it is NOT the religion, but its
believers' poverty and lack of schooling?
"India: Muslim-Hindu Clash Is Deadly
A clash between Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadan and Hindus who were offering alms to one of their gods left one man dead and 20 people injured in northern India. The police imposed a curfew on Bareilly, a town in Uttar Pradesh State where the violence occurred. Officials said Muslims offering morning prayers on the second day of Ramadan were upset by devotional singing by Hindus who were on their way to a temple for a regular ceremony offering water and milk to Lord Silva. The two sides hurled stones at each other, and a 22-year-old Muslim man was shot to death."
In contrast, check out Jim Rutenberg's July 17, 2012 NYT piece, "Mormons' First Families Rally Behind Romney."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/us/politics/support-for-romney-by-old-mormon-families.html?pagewanted=all
Early Mormonism was the victim of murder, not vice versa. But Rutenberg's article mentions no motive for the killing of founder Joseph Smith and his brother in 1844. NYT readers could deduce that it was unprovoked.
Murder is never justifiable, but was it unprovoked? Mormons' murderous neighbors said they
FELT provoked -- by Mormons' polygamy, and even more by having to compete as individual farmers & merchants against Mormons' clannish economic practices and Mormons' political bloc voting.
In 1844, the prophet Joseph Smith's and his Mormons' city of Nauvoo -- complete with a huge Temple
overlooking the western-Illinois bulge in the Mississippi River -- was the largest city in Illinois. Even larger than Chicago.
Rutenberg's profile of 21st-century Mormonism gives testimony to the power of Mormons' decades of clean living, cohesiveness, hard work, and tithing. Now, Mormonism's "First Families" include the
Marriotts, Rollines [CEO of Dell Computers], Gardners, and others. One of JetBlue's founders is a Mormon. Bain Capital has several Mormons in its leadership.
Mormons, says Rutenberg, started "as vilified outsiders." But no word as to why. Unprovoked?
Ask their 19th-century neighbors. "Misunderstood," as the "Hill Cumorah Pageant" at Palmyra, NY, faithful worried? Or "understood" a little bit too well?
"Many of Mr. Romney's major Mormon backers," writes Rutenberg, "are tied to businesses with robust agendas in Washington -- lobbying on tax, aviation and tourism policy, according to ferderal filings -- and have something to gain by having a friend in the White House. [Italics added].
Rutenberg does not say it -- just the facts, no judgmentalism -- but should we readers/voters Follow The Money?
"But several of these donors say that their giving has nothing to do [emphasis added] with their business interests." Although the word "nothing" may be a stretch, Rutenberg agrees that Mitt's faith, brought to the White House, would be a huge validation for all Mormons -- donors or not.
Another Mormon, Jon M. Huntsman Jr. of Utah, also ran for the presidency this year.
But "throughout Mr. Huntsman's primary campaign some on his team reported
receiving [from whom? Rutenberg does not say] a subtle but clear signal: This is Mr. Romney's year."
"In interviews," continues NYT reporter Rutenberg, "several of Mr. Romney's supporters expressed their concers that attention to the financial support he has received from other early families of the religion would raise old prejudices [does Rutenberg mean "postjudices," AFTER experiencing life as neighbors to Mormonism?] and accusations of clannishness [unfair? Rutenberg judgeth not!] that followed their forebears."
Bill Marriott, "whose family built a single A&W Root Beer stand into one of the largest hospitality companies in the world, said it was not lost on him that Mr. Romney's pending nomination is a major moment for his fellow Mormons.
'It is a great story, and we want the world to know [the pluses, not the minuses?] about our religion,' said Mr. Marriott. 'We really feel like we're coming out of obscurity.' " [Unfair obscurity?
Or well-earned, featuring a new Christian prophet after Jesus?]
Rutenberg continues: "On the manifests of the wagon carts that made the difficult trek with [Brigham Young] and then helped settle Utah were names that now dot the campaign filings for Mr. Romney and the political groups that support him."
Mr. Marriott: "The sacrifice and the people who died along the way [exodus, martyrdom, pilgrimage, suffering -- staples of almost every religion?] were incredible."
Back to Rutenberg: "Through those tough times [1820's-1850's especially], the early Mormon settlers came to rely on one another closely, at times drawing suspicion from non-Mormon neighbors. [Understatement, still true in 2012?]
Romney's modest title for his book about his stewardship of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics?
"Turnaround."
"With [prominent Mormon Kem C.] Gardner and the Utah Olympic bid's local marketing chief, Don Stirling, Mr. Romney succeeded in raising millions of dollars from other Mormon families with pioneer roots." [Is this a voter concern: Will President Romney be beholden?]
"When he ran for governor of Massachusetts after the Olympics, Mr. Romney seemed tentative about relying too much on his Utah network, given the sense among his aides that [incumbent opponent
Senator Edward M.] Kennedy had used his Mormon ties against him." [Legitimate concern, by both Romney & Kennedy?]
Two prominent Mormon business friends -- Don Stirling and W. Craig Zwick -- followed Romney from the Salt Lake Olympics "to help his nascent presidential effort, quickly seeking donations from his waiting network of Mormon supporters, as well as from other worlds."
"This year, with Mr. Zwick at Mr. Romney's campaign, Mr. Stirling is working at Restore Our Future [the immensely successful -- and anonymous, 'unconnected-to-the-campaign' fundraising SuperPac, which may well buy the election instead of Obama's similarly 'unconnected' SuperPacs]."
___________________________________________________
The New York Times's Jim Rutenberg has researched & written the story above.
Does he bend over backwards to be fair? Or is he whitewashing aspects of Mormonism in politics about which U.S. voters should be concerned? In 1928 with Al Smith and 1960 with JFK, similar worries surfaced about too much influence from "Irish Catholic cronyism" and even "the Vatican."
The Vatican fears, at least, did not materialize.
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