My Response: Huffing In Utah County

An article in today's Provo Daily Herald discusses the dangers of huffing legal substances that are generally easily available in just about any store. This particular article focused on huffing Air Dusters--the cans of compressed air everyone uses to clean computers and other electronics.
All in all, the article was fairly well-written, and did an OK job at educating the public on the dangers of huffing in general. The responses that followed the article were not really intelligent, and failed to address the issue in our community.

Here is me response:

"Anyone who believes there isn't a drug problem in Utah county is either an idiot, or in heaps of self-denial. Whether it's illegal drugs, or readily available OTC items, the drug problem is as bad here as anywhere in the nation.

Unfortunately, LDS Church members prefer to sweep any issues under the rug; presumably so their families don't look bad to other church members. The ONLY thing this accomplishes is allow the drug abuse to escalate and possibly even spread within the family; further damaging every family member--in some way--in the process.

Addressing substance abuse, in whatever form, is vital to the battle. Acknowledgement, addressing it and productively dealing with the problem are the best ways to tackle any abuse issues. As parents, you must stand up and protect the other children in your household; while standing up to the abuser. It's not fun; but hiding from the problem does NOT make it simply go away.

Forget the embarrassment you might face at church. The well-being of your family is vastly more important than denying such abuse exists. So do what you MUST do in order to save yourself, your child or your family from the devastating effects of drug abuse!"


~16 Oct 13 Follow-up~

I only got one response to the comment above and, typical for this area, the respondent denied the scope of the drug problem here in Utah County. His comment:

"Utah county's drug problem is as bad as anywhere in the nation? You've clearly never been to Detroit or Baltimore or pretty much any other metropolitan area in this country. We do have a drug problem in Utah, no doubt, but you're crazy if you think it compares to some of the worst areas in this country. We actually have it pretty good compared to them."

Of course, with that kind of a comment, you know I had to respond; so, here is my follow-up to the reader:

"Sorry...your argument is hollow. I've spent considerable time in Chicago, LA, Seattle, Tampa and Detroit, and have been a medic on the streets of Atlanta. The drug problem in Utah County IS as bad here as anywhere; we simply don't see it so openly displayed as in other cities.
Denial of the problem by individuals such as yourself does not help anyone address the issue. Drugs are here, they've been here for years, and the problem will only continue to grow on our streets and in our homes if everyone sits around saying, "We actually have it pretty good compared to...[those other cities]."
So bury your head in the sand--like so many others in this area--and continue to deny the scope of illicit drugs in our community. Maybe the drugs will just go away...
...after all, we live in Happy Valley where nothing bad goes on... (right?)"

"And by the way AP, Thank you for perfectly illustrating my point that I placed in the first two lines of my original comment. Love it when others do that for me! Have a wonderful day!"

Where Is The Tolerance?

I wrote the following as a response to an article that appeared in the Deseret News on Thursday, 07 Oct. 2010. The article stated that National Leaders for the LGBT community would be going to Salt Lake City to present the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints church President, Thomas S. Monson, with 100,000 letters of protest to remarks made by church Elder Boyd K. Packer at the church's just concluded 180th semi-annual General Conference.

In his remarks, President Packer was speaking on pornography and overcoming its addiction, as well as addictions to other sexual sins. Nowhere in his talk did Pres. Packer reference gays, homosexuals or any other particular group; yet certain media have made his remarks to sound as if he was speaking about these groups directly.

Apparently, the misquoted remarks have stirred a hornets nest amongst the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. These leaders, still lashing out at anyone they believe is a target in their ongoing struggle for equality, actually think that their delivery of these letters will sway church leadership to change the doctrine of the church to accommodate the wishes of these individuals.

The message boards were sharply divided. I wrote my response to a particular respondent who attacked a number of other respondents for standing up for the church, and President Packer. His arguments were inflammatory (to say the least), wholly argumentative, and without a single shred of support for any of his outlandish claims. I just HAD to respond!

"Respondent______

Your post was laughable; and completely unsupported. As per the recent pattern displayed by the LGBT community, you attack relentlessly spouting skewed or completely false rhetoric, yet demand respect and equality.

If you're going to make any argument, please omit personal opinion and heresay. Provide factual information that can be easily referenced. Otherwise your arguments are hollow and utterly irrelevant.

Tell me--The LGBT community espouses compassion and tolerance...correct? When the citizens of California voted against the legalization of gay marriage, where was the tolerance and compassion when businesses were ransacked, when homes and places of worship defaced, elderly women harassed, and people in general called profane names, or were verbally abused because they had the temerity to have a differing opinion than those on the losing side?

Please remember that we live in the United States of America; in which The Bill of Rights guarantees the freedom of its citizens to believe, worship and opine as they wish. If someone disagrees with you, then have a thoughtful, intelligent discussion with them. If you can't do that then don't hypocritize yourself by calling others hateful and [by] showing them complete disrespect."


*My comment, while obviously not addressing the right or wrong of the issue, was meant to illustrate the hypocritic "Do as I say, Not as I do" mentality that seems to be a huge part of the LGBT's agenda as they look for equality in the eyes of the law.

My big issue is not their equality; rather, it is the methods these groups are employing of literally attempting to strong arm everyone who disagrees with their choice of lifestyles; be it individuals, communities, cities, and governments on all levels. It would seem that anyone disagreeing with them becomes a target for protests, demands, harassments and [sometimes] violence.

Where is the freedom of choice? Or the love and tolerance these individuals and groups claim to abide by? So long as you agree with them, you are safe. But if you have the balls to stand up and disagree, then you become fair game...at least, that's how I see it.