Could We Get Any More Insecure?
This morning I received an email informing me that Paul Allen, the owner of (my beloved) the Seattle Seahawks and Microsoft billionaire recently wrote an editorial in a California newspaper, Santa Clarita, that he’s sick of so many people putting down the Mormons. I thought it curious that this billionaire spent his time writing editorials defending Mormons in a tiny community newspaper, but nevertheless it was a very complimentary letter.
So I went to the paper’s website to verify (see how rigorous your local Bloggernacle Times reporters are!) and discovered that the letter was indeed published… IN NOVEMBER 2000! I also discovered that it is not the billionaire Paul Allen, but another man of the same name (imagine that, another man with the first name Paul and the last name Allen!). Then I discovered this explanation of how the story got out and how the Mormon Email Machine (MEM) took over.
I don’t really know how to end this post (see how lazy your local Bloggernacle Times reporters are!) other than to say I feel embarrassed that there are so many insecure Mormons that we would feel the need to continue to circulate a SIX YEAR OLD editorial defending us.
I got asked about this letter on Sunday and hadn’t had the chance to check it out yet. Thanks for the leg work.
Comment by J. Stapley — March 29, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
Yeah I remember that one — I think I got a forwarded copy a couple of years ago. Everyone loves to play the martyr at times and apparently we Mormons are no exception.
Comment by Geoff J — March 29, 2006 @ 12:10 pm
Rusty,
It’s an interesting question you raise, and I hope I’m not thread-jacking when I ask a related one: Why are some Mormons so insecure?
Is it what Geoff J says, “Everyone loves to play the martyr”? If so, why is that? To get attention, or to get special treatment?
I think this may relate to a lack of confidence or even faith in our own religion. We see an attack and think it spells doom rather than thinking, “Go ahead, try your best, but this ship is unsinkable.”
On the other hand, I think that what some people (including myself) would call an act of insecurity, others would call defending the faith. How do you distinguish between the two? Continuing my metaphor, how do you distinguish between someone who is insecure and someone who is yelling, “Iceberg!!”
Comment by BrianJ — March 29, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
Human motivations are always difficult, particularly religious motivations. IMO Mormons tend to come by their insecurity in part by years of reading church history and scripture where we can easily get the idea that it is us “The Few Righteous†against them “The Many Unrighteousâ€, an everyday battle. In addition I think that deep down inside we know our claims can easily be viewed as those of wild-eye fanatics and that quite naturally leaves us unsettled. For the most part we are left defending our position of authoritative exclusivity with little more than the sincere feelings of our hearts; not much more, if any more, than numerous other charismatics. Our tangible proofs for our extraordinary story are not all that tangible and we find support almost exclusively from within our own tightly knit ranks. It is only natural under those circumstances for us to overly vocalize, defend, and try to posture ourselves at every opportunity.
Comment by Leon — March 29, 2006 @ 8:18 pm
Works for me. I like compliments, I don’t care how old they are. Or how confused they are.
Insecure people don’t know how to say, “why thank you, I thought so myself, actually.”
Comment by annegb — March 29, 2006 @ 8:46 pm
This latest round of “martyrdom” may be a result of the HBO show Big Love. Many are feeling the need to sned complaints to HBO even though they’ve not seen one episode. So something perceived as positive like a letter from Paul Allen is going to be latched on to for some good feelings against the perceived “threats” from Hollywood or elsewhere.
Comment by Timburriaquito — March 29, 2006 @ 10:44 pm
What? Paul Allen, the billionaire, defended the Mormons? Wow, wait until I tell everyone I know
Comment by Julz — March 29, 2006 @ 11:22 pm
I came about my Mormon insecurity the old fashioned way – by being relentlessly mocked and harassed.
I grew up in the Seattle area, which is notoriously packed with anti-mormons. I’d go to school and my friends would tell me that in their church on Sunday they got a lecture on why Mormon’s were evil which included watching a video of the temple ceremony someone had snuck in to make.
It’s interesting to me that no sane person would proudly call themselves an anti-Semite, and yet it’s not at all uncommon (particularly on the internet) to find otherwise normal people proudly referring to themselves as anti-Mormon.
Comment by Reese — March 30, 2006 @ 6:36 am
Do you really think that there are people who proudly refer to themselves as anti-Mormons?
I’ve seen plenty that identify as exmormon and/or apostate, but I don’t think I’ve seen anyone actively self-identify as “anti-Mormon”.
Comment by C. L. Hanson — March 31, 2006 @ 6:54 am
Oh yeah. 10 years in Seattle, 3 years in Orange County, internet sites I can’t reference because why would I want to remember that? Unfortunately, I have gotten an education I never wanted.
The exmormon’s and apostates seem to be the standard, and they aren’t usually on a mission to educate. But there definately are those out there that are, and I’ve seen some call themselves anti.
Comment by Reese — March 31, 2006 @ 7:53 am
My sister, who left the church and joined the Godmakers people, called herself an anti-Mormon for awhile. She’s softer now, but still convinced she has some esoteric knowledge about Joseph Smith that I couldn’t even comprehend. LOL, I know what she’s talking about, but I’m not bring it up. Because what she thinks is so awful just doesn’t move me. I’m glued to my convictions.
Comment by annegb — March 31, 2006 @ 10:49 am
This one is so out of hand, it has cracked the “what’s new” page on Snopes (even though it isn’t new).
Comment by Last Lemming — March 31, 2006 @ 12:28 pm
here’s the link
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paulallen.asp
Comment by paul — April 3, 2006 @ 9:20 am
I know this is two seconds too late..or not late at all to comment. I’m not sure why the insecurities, but I do agree with annegb in that I’ll take a compliment when given one. I’m reposting this on my myspace blog with the corrections of course (Paul Allen really is the MS guy…j/k). It’s not often that mormon’s are complimented, so take it for what it is!
Comment by Hine — July 11, 2006 @ 1:09 pm