Reader comments
Readers' forum: Buttars deserves forgiveness

I wonder | 5:29 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

I've heard him make a couple of lip-service "apologies" but have yet to see him meet with the NAACP or any other large group targeted by his bigotry (in several categories). I have yet to see him try to atone by reversing his policies and working for the benefit of the several categories of people he has offended over the years. Actions speak louder than words, and his actions show that he has not had the reversal that truly demonstrates repentance. While we should be of bigger character than he, and give him our forgiveness, we should make sure that he never again has a chance to do the injury he has caused in the past. People of West Jordan -- are you really listening to this guy? If you are, please vote him the heck out of office.

Buttars worthy of compassion? | 6:03 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Sorry, I disagree.

Mr. Buttars long history of hateful remarks, willful ignorance and bullying behavior towards those who dare disagree with him makes him, to my mind, totally unfit to represent me as a legislator.

He is an embarrassment to the Republican party and for the good of the party, he should resign. Otherwise, he'll become an albatross around the neck of the party this November.

Time to Grow | 6:47 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Hopefully Buttars will use all this as an opportunity for reflection and personal growth. Better late than never.

Comments continue below

west jordanite | 6:57 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

how much compassion should this monster be shown, he uses his position to threaten people, not just racial slurs, his latest antic threatening a judge. This is not his first offense and won't be his last but I sure won't be voting for him. He has little respect for other human beings of any kind. He is the typical Utah politician though so I guess we can't expect better.

Anonymous | 7:01 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Yes, I agree, we should forgive Mr. Buttars. But actions have consequences and his overt bigotry has forced me to conclude that he has to go. The people of Utah deserve better.

Anonymous | 7:04 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Nope, no forgiveness. Much as I enjoy seeing another goiter on the republican party, this hoob has to go.

Kevin | 7:20 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

He needs to be replaced no matter how you feel about his remarks there are a lot more things that he is doing wrong his bills to help his buddy Gibby are not appropriate I wish I had someone that would introduce at least 4 bills that would make it easer for me to do what I wanted

Reason | 7:41 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Mr. Booth: Great letter. I fully agree. Our modern society is hypersensitive to words that appear racial. Buttars has apologized for his foolishly-worded-but-not-racist remarks. He has no obligation to grovel at the feet of the self-appointed race confessional of the NAACP. Buttars should run for re-election, and people should stop making a man ï¿½an offender for a word.ï¿½ True racism is wrong. This wasnï¿½t it.

Chad | 7:58 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

One thing that the civil rights movement,affirmative action, and any religion you care to mention, not to mention abortion and any other devisive issue has taught us is that there IS NO forgiveness for any kind of disagreement with our own opinions. That would require us to admit that people make honest mistakes and may actually be able to change their minds. It may also require that we rethink our own positions and actually make a conscious decision to change our own opinions. That is just plain unthinkable in today's america. We must never be allowed to have compassion or think something positive of someone who has offended us. It is the american way to forever vilify people who disagree with us, and whenever we can institutionalize that disagreement to make sure we are "right" we can never let that go.

Remember, if you truly do think about something and change your position, you are not enlightened, you are a "flip-flopper". Obviously all intelligent individuals must formulate a hard and fast opinion early and then cling to it as to life itself, ad infinitum, regardless of any new evidence or epiphany you may encounter.

Sad but true.

Ernest T. Bass | 8:37 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Ben: It's because this was just the tip of the iceberg. He's had a history of making obsurd comments and true ignorance of science as well as basic human rights.

uncannygunman | 8:43 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

The first rule of being in a hole is "stop digging." Buttars's rule is "call for more shovels."

Dan | 8:52 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Mr. Booth where can I sign up for the Eagle Forumn? I would love to be part of a mixed up group who doen't have a clue about the real world and makes it OK to do stupid and say stupid things

Anonymous | 8:58 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Darin M | 9:05 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Reason,

I assume you are not black, not gay, and not the judge in the Gibby case, because if you were, you would probably not be chiding people about being "hypersensitive". Some people really ARE offended by this guy. Those of us who are actually impacted by Buttar's hateful and bigoted agenda are not about to cut him any slack. As a public official, he is accountable for his words and deeds.

Jud | 9:23 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Nobody is "rushing" to judgment...if anything, we're way behind in terms of giving Sen. Buttars the benefit of the doubt. His racial slurs are but a small part of a big picture of repressing helpless minorities, intimidating the judiciary,cozying up to big donors and doing them special favors (e.g. Gibby). I'm sorry for Sen. Buttars, particularly in his ability to see for himself what he has become, but he needs to go. Now.

Relax | 9:27 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Man, people in Utah are so uptight (actually, in Amercia in general). A wise man who lived 2000 years ago once said "let him who is without sin cast the first stone." I'm sure some people had said things that, even though they may have had good intentions, did in fact offend others. Another wise man in our day said that "we choose to be offended" and that no one can make us feel bad unless we choose to feel so. Another famous turtle once said, "forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for a late pizza!" Take it easy! Mahalo nui loa.

Lynn Young | 10:17 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Extend compassion: Forgive the person, and hold the elected official accountable. You can do both things at the same time for any individual.

Compassion is desirable, but especially difficult when the receipient refuses to be compassionate towards others.

Senator Buttars is a prime example of why ignorance and hatred should not be combined with power and influence.

Reason | 10:48 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Darin M: If you are offended and upset at Sen. Buttars because his political views differ with yours and your life choices, then you may have a legitimate disagreement. But Iï¿½m not referring to that. Iï¿½m referring only to his poorly worded comments on the Senate floor two weeks ago. If you are trumping up those words with a cry of ï¿½racism,ï¿½ in a convenient attempt to get rid of a politician that you disagree with, then you are being dishonest about your motives. And if you truly feel that his comments were racist, then, yes, you are being hypersensitive.

Kevin | 11:20 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Hey relax do not forgot what the wise person 2000 tears ago told the sinner "go and do it no more" Mr Buttars needs to learn that lesson also unfortunately there is a lot more then this one comment.

Hey Reason | 11:52 a.m. Feb. 27, 2008

My coworker (a fairly strong, big sort of guy) has adopted 2 cute little African-American children. I would like you to tell him to his face that he is being "hypersensitive" about Buttars's remark. It would be entertaining to watch the results.

PW | 12:20 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Just the fact that his constituents voted the bigot into office is proof enough that they are less than qualified to pick a representative.

GusTalwynd | 1:20 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

An apology from the heart implies a pledge never to repeat the offense nor make any similar type of error again. Too often people apologize with no intention of affirming their apology for those who have been offended or hurt. The individual in question has a history of making similar remarks and any apology coming from him needs careful consideration.

Politicians are too glib and eager to say things and then "apologize" to end the discussion when they are criticized. The question is two-fold: (1) Is the person making the comments using the inner filter to avoid saying/doing hurtful things and (2) Is that individual truly sorry when saying these things and will it prevent him/her from ever saying/doing such things again.

It Buttars were working in private industry, it is certainly required that he go through sensitivity training in addition to making his apology. This is an individual issue regardless if others display the same crass behavior.

Reason | 1:18 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

To ï¿½Hey Reason 11:52": If you are implying that your coworker would become violent over Senator Buttarsï¿½ words (or being told that heï¿½s hypersensitive), I hope that isnï¿½t accurate. It would be sad if someone truly felt that way. And I hope your coworker raises his young African-American children to know that they can succeed on their own talent, goodness, and hard work, and not to believe that they are victims who need to go around with a chip on their shoulder, always watching for signs of ï¿½racism.ï¿½ They will thus be happier and more successful.

Chris | 1:29 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

You can't judge Butters by his one racist statement. You can judge him by his long record of obnoxious remarks.
One thing I've learned in the workplace is I am never as important as I think I am. I can always be replaced by someone. Butters is the same. There is a replacement out there that will hold to your values and not make West Jordan look like idiots.

SLC Resident | 2:06 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

The racist comment was merely ONE of the issues that has the Senator in hot water. With the release of this newest scandal released today (apparently trying to strong-arm a Judge) it's apparent that not only is Buttars Racist and Bigoted--he is also a Crook.

RangerGordon | 2:54 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Buttars has never had compassion for my family or me. Yet, now I'm being asked to have compassion for him.

OK. I can forgive him; he doesn't know what he's doing. Some people really are missing the part of the brain that makes it possible to empathize or even to imagine what life is like for other people.

But, even if everybody in Utah finds enough compassion to forgive the man, it won't mean he somehow "deserves" to be a state senator.

Mike | 3:44 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Isn't it amusing to read comments from people who have a lot to say but nothing to show? Mr. Buttars has spent part of his life serving the community in which he lives. Some people have taken issue with him because he actively opposes homosexual activity (as do I). Some have taken issue with him because he is not as 'diplomatic' on all issues as they would like.

My question to all who demand that Mr. Buttars be censored or removed from office is why don't you put up or shut up? If you are better qualified to serve the people of District 10, then why don't you run for office? Are you too lazy? Are you too busy? Are you too afraid that other might find that you are just full of hot air?

Being a public servant is not the same as being a public idol. A public servant is going to be opposed by any person who has a 'special' agenda or whose views are different than the general public.

A lot of words have been wasted demanding that Mr. Buttars be removed, but no one is willing to be the next scape-goat.

Willie | 3:55 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

the author proves that Utoids will continue to elect anyone that is; White-Mail-Mormon-Republican-meanspirited, homophobic, white and delightsome.

This man is the definition of "pornography."
He has no socially redeeming values.

Yet, he represents Utah Values. I'm glad I'm not part of the "Utah Values" group.

Confused | 4:17 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

Buttars should be bounced for being less than intelligence not Racism.

The current head of the ACLU should watch what she says, because she uses the racism card even when it not the case.

Tumbleweed Tom | 10:34 p.m. Feb. 27, 2008

I agree with Mr. Booth. I hope in the Here After you folks aren't the recipients of the type of Forgiveness you have meted out. If you are, you're all in trouble.

Darin M | 12:57 a.m. Feb. 28, 2008

Reason,

You're right - if the whole public outcry over Buttars has only to do with his "poorly worded comments on the Senate floor two weeks ago." But for most, it isn't just that. His "poorly worded comments" are the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. We cannot isolate those words from his shameful political history. A good part of the public is outraged not because they are hypersensitive, but because they have had all they can take from this man. I am one of them.

True, I was not particularly astonished by Buttars' recent comments - because they pale in comparison to his shameless hatred for gay people, and his outlandish attempts to deprive schoolchildren the basic and essential science of evolution. I am not trying to make more out of Buttars' recent comments to ride a convenient wave of outcry; I became disgusted with him years ago, and said so.

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