Well, M* has found itself in the middle of another controversy. Some people did not like Bryce Haymond’s post (see below). Here is my take on the issue.

Within certain limits, the most charitable attitude to take toward a post you don’t like is to politely disagree, using factual, on-target talking points. If you really don’t like it, you don’t have to read it. What is not going to fly on this blog is suggesting that the entire post is silly, unpalatable to your friends, involves unacceptable political thoughts or should not have been written in the first place. We are trying to create a different atmosphere at this blog – one of respect for bloggers, commenters and most importantly the Church. We are also willing to explore ideas that are perhaps different than at other blogs. We don’t always succeed in being respectful (mea culpa) but we continue to try.

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I moved into a new ward about six weeks ago, and the first week the bishop came by and asked me to take a new temporary calling: teaching gospel doctrine to the older teenagers for a few weeks because the usual teacher was going out of town. He called me back today to ask if I needed to be relieved of duty, and I told him I felt a lot like Lt. John Dunbar in “Dances With Wolves” — abandoned at the “soldier fort,” never to see civilization again.

And the natives are not nearly as friendly as the Sioux. Continue reading →