I don't understand

Hey kids. Still haven't figured out the picture situation. Maybe someday I will be able to get that damn post finished.

I'm in something of a mood right now, I must say. I once saw a t-shirt that said across the front, "I can't, I'm Mormon." Now I think that is hilarious, cause, well, lets face it, it does seem that Mormons are prohibited from doing pretty much anything that most people would consider fun. But I read articles about how Utah Mormons got all up in arms about this t-shirt because it made it seem like we WANT to drink and smoke and do the two backed mattress dance, but we don't just because we're told not to. They made the postulation that we deny ourselves, not because we're told to, but because it's the right thing, and they wouldn't do those things EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T MORMON. Um. . .excuse me? Are they FUCKING MORONS? Hi, um. . .those things are fun. Millions of people all over the world do them freely because they are tons and tons of fun, and any sheltered little Mormon idiot who thinks otherwise needs to stay in his or her little bubble forever so that they never have to question their beliefs or see the world for what it really is. And I am in no way trying to bash the Mormon religion here. I believe there are good reasons to avoid those things. I am bashing stupid airheaded Mormons who don't realize that their way of life isn't the only way of life. But, I have diverged from my original point. I had found the original website that sold those t-shirts, and had bookmarked it for the day when I had money to purchase said tee. So I went back one day to see if they had any new stock, and low and behold, the website has been changed to something new. I guess they crumbled under the pressure. Sad.

So today I did a search to see if anyone else was selling this t-shirt, and I did find some. I also found many MANY Mormon bashing t-shirts, as well as numerous blogs, forums, and websites dedicated to Mormon bashing. To all these people I would just like to say, "WHAT THE FUCK DID WE EVER DO TO YOU?" I really really don't understand. Sure, I was raised (from the age of 7) Mormon. But, I had to be converted myself and I am Mormon of my own free will and because I really believe it is where I need to be. My brothers are not participating in the church, and I have no problem with that because maybe it's NOT where they need to be. While I do believe that Mormonism is the most complete religion on the Earth, I don't believe you are going to Hell if you're not Mormon. I believe that Mormonism is only right for some people, and that we do not have the market on truth cornered. I believe that you can be a good person and be doing all the things that you need and be growing and learning as a person and still be Catholic, Methodist, Buddhist, or even atheist. And this is what true Mormonism is all about. Sure I know that they tell us to do the missionary work like crazy, but it's still up to the person who is being taught whether they want to participate or not. It's not a cult, there's no brainwashing, and you are free to join or not as you wish. So why the hell is that SO deplorable that people feel the need to spew hate and venom about us? I'm so upset about this that I am actually nauseous. I don't know why it has upset me so much, but maybe it's because it's so clearly wrong for us to be persecuted like that. I have never hated any group of people on so little basis so much that I feel the need to wear a t-shirt deriding them. Like, one shirt I saw said, "NotMormon: Mormonism, just say no!" Um. . .ok. Just say no. Why go around advertising that you feel that everyone should say no? I just don't get it. When I was in high school and college, I faced many blatant attacks on my religion from kids and preachers of some of the Baptist churches around here. They would revile me and tell me all kinds of things about my church that are simply not true. They would call me names and attack my intelligence. I feel that I have good reason to hate Baptists. But I don't. I know that those were misguided individuals who felt like they were doing what was right to try to help me see the light. I know that not every Baptist feels that way, or would do those things. I would never go around wearing a shirt slandering the Baptist religion. (Although I do sometimes make jokes about Baptists, but only with close friends. I know, I should be better than that. I'm sorry.) Why am I to be hated merely because I choose to belong to a church who places family above work, who places a large emphasis on community service and service to our fellow man, who teaches kindness, forgiveness, and love, who contributed more in the way of supplies and aid after the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina than any other non-governmental organization(except maybe the Red Cross), who allows people to join as they wish and never coerces people into membership. I just don't get it.