Tom Hanks says that Mormons who voted for Prop 8 are "un-american"

[cougjunkie]

Tom Hanks, an Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.

“The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he told Tarts. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here's what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed, and people can see who's responsible, and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting Constitution, and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So let's have faith in not only the American, but Californian, constitutional process.”

When informed of the "Forrest Gump" star's comments, Kim Farah, a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, told Tarts, "Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets."


Bill McKeever, a rep for the Mormonism Research Ministry, added, "Personally, I find it un-American to tell people that they shouldn’t vote their conscience. Hanks said he doesn’t 'like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.' Considering that just about every law discriminates in some form or another, makes this comment ridiculous. Hanks’ comment shows that he very much believes in discriminating against people with whom he disagrees. I may not agree with Mormon theology, but I certainly defend their right to express their opinion."

[woot]

As much as a I dislike the term "unamerican" due to its constant use by idiots like Karl Rove and Michelle Bachmann, freedom and diversity are among the more important values upon which our nation was founded (in theory, at least. In practice, progress has been constant but slow), so the legislated bigotry of prop 8 is about as antithetical to those values as can be.

[TripletDaddy]

I disagree. Or at least, I think it is fair to say that the denial of civil rights is actually part of our birthright as Americans.

Slavery
Women cannot vote
Segregation
Now gays.

One could argue that this is actually patriotic!

[wuapinmon]

I don't give a crap what actors say unless it's in a film.

I love Tom Hanks's acting and producing......his political opinions shouldn't be newsworthy. Unless mine count too.....everyone hear me, love me, agree with me, fear me.

The only reason I would've voted for Prop 8 is because the prophet asked us to; otherwise, I would've voted my conscience, which is that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

[RobinFinderson]

Woot and DDD define the two meanings of 'American.'

In this context, does it mean as woot suggests, to honor our best traditions, those of expanding liberty and justice for all, regardless of race, age, income, sex, religious belief, and now sexual identity?

Or does it mean as DDD suggests, an acknowledgment of the true history in which few rights for any of the aforementioned groups were won without great struggle, sacrifice, and often bloodshed?

Mr. Hanks' use of the word 'un-American' is fair, though I would hate to see lefties adopt the customs of the right, and this is definitely knocking on the door.

[TripletDaddy]

Woot and DDD define the two meanings of 'American.'

In this context, does it mean as woot suggests, to honor our best traditions, those of expanding liberty and justice for all, regardless of race, age, income, sex, religious belief, and now sexual identity?

Or does it mean as DDD suggests, an acknowledgment of the true history in which few rights for any of the aforementioned groups were won without great struggle, sacrifice, and often bloodshed?

Mr. Hanks' use of the word 'un-American' is fair, though I would hate to see lefties adopt the customs of the right, and this is definitely knocking on the door.

My counter to woot was not to disagree with him, but simply to point out that the term "un-American" is vague, at best, but leans towards meaningless.

Couldn't Tom Hanks's condemning of Mormons that acted legally and peacefully also smack of "un-Americanism?" The Mormons were within their rights to do what they did, so why disparage them for it?

"Un-American" is the new "patriotic." Have fun with it, extremists on both sides!

[Solon]

Tom Hanks, an Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.

“The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he told Tarts. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here's what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed, and people can see who's responsible, and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting Constitution, and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So let's have faith in not only the American, but Californian, constitutional process.”

When informed of the "Forrest Gump" star's comments, Kim Farah, a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, told Tarts, "Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets."


Bill McKeever, a rep for the Mormonism Research Ministry, added, "Personally, I find it un-American to tell people that they shouldn’t vote their conscience. Hanks said he doesn’t 'like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.' Considering that just about every law discriminates in some form or another, makes this comment ridiculous. Hanks’ comment shows that he very much believes in discriminating against people with whom he disagrees. I may not agree with Mormon theology, but I certainly defend their right to express their opinion."

The most offensive part of this article is the author's description of Hanks as the '"Forrest Gump" star.' Introducing him as the "Bachelor Party" star would carry more weight, IMO.

[woot]

DDD has articulated what I clearly acknowledged in my post, as discrimination against various peoples has been rampant in our nation's history. However, progress has continued apace. Sure there were setbacks during the red scare that we still haven't grown out of, but the codification of bigotry as seen in prop 8 is one of the most grievous examples of rights being explicitly taken away after they had been granted in our nation's history.

As I alluded to, "unAmerican" is a stupid word generally used by McCarthyites so I'm a bit surprised to see Tom Hanks using the term

[il Padrino Ute]

Hanks is just another Hollywood POS. I'm glad he said it, as now I don't have to wonder if I should waste time and money. His is another name to add to my list of weasels whose films I will never watch again.

[woot]

Hanks is just another Hollywood POS. I'm glad he said it, as now I don't have to wonder if I should waste time and money. His is another name to add to my list of weasels whose films I will never watch again.

Yes, you've already established that don't watch movies that feature anyone you disagree with politically. That's not exactly a feather in your cap.

[il Padrino Ute]

Yes, you've already established that don't watch movies that feature anyone you disagree with politically. That's not exactly a feather in your cap.

Woosh!

[woot]

Woosh!

Woosh? This isn't the first time you've announced that you'll no longer watch somebody's films after finding out they're liberal.

[il Padrino Ute]

Woosh? This isn't the first time you've announced that you'll no longer watch somebody's films after finding out they're liberal.

Yes. Woosh.

You seem to think that I won't watch any liberals' films and you couldn't be more wrong.

Try again.

[woot]

Yes. Woosh.

You seem to think that I won't watch any liberals' films and you couldn't be more wrong.

Try again.

So you're now claiming that all your yammering about avoiding the movies in which liberals are featured is sarcasm?

[il Padrino Ute]

So you're now claiming that all your yammering about avoiding the movies in which liberals are featured is sarcasm?

That's not what I said at all.

You think I avoid all movies in which liberals star. I don't.