Utahn Antipride

[bloodyrosemccoy]

You’ve all presumably heard of the spread of Utardation to Texas. It’s getting more entertaining, too; the ensuing court cases are starting to sound like an insane domino effect of objections.

I used to wonder why people made lawyer jokes.

Also, the Salt Lake Tribune is having an absolute festival of headlines here, even more than the national news. The only one I found remotely interesting was the one on how some polygamists seem to fit in just fine. It’s a portrait of other polygamists in this country, but I found some gaps in the report just from being an anthropologist and knowing just a few polyamorous individuals—I’d be interested to see what someone more in tune with it had to say. (You get the impression from the article that all polygamists, at least around here in this Civilized Country, are a. Mormon and b. polygynous.) I have a very different image of polygamy and polyamory from either that article or the reports of the crazy FLDS—or, more accurately, I have a broader image. I’m not sure how most people might view it. It’s good to get a reminder sometimes. 

Comments

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I think you're damn right. People associate "polygamy" with some seriously screwed-up shit, which is why people had to hammer together a chimaera of a word from Greek and Latin to cover the non-crazy version of many lovers.

Sometimes I wonder if the problems the LDS church has with its support of women stem from not being entirely clear on what "women's rights" means. From what they juxtapose with their earnest insistence that the church is "pro-women," they seem to think that equality means that we all notice that women sure do a lot to help their children grow up (they never mention women who don't have children, because women are defined through their children, it seems), and give them a few more compliments on how beautiful and virtuous they are. So basically, the LDS concept of "women's rights" looks a lot like a pat on the head for following the men's orders, and a definition of them only in relationship to other people (good daughter, good wife, good mother). But they don't see that; apparently just noticing women is a big damn step for them.

Yeah, I've clearly lived in Utah too long, myself. ;)