Deseret News | 'Boston' attacks Utah

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'Boston' attacks Utah

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Bee | 11:33 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I'm a Utah transplant and have lived in seven other states. I'm always stunned when fellow Utahns act embarrased to be from this great state. I have never heard more criticism of the Mormon church than from some here in Utah. In other places people actually admire members of the church who love God, family, country, and their religion. Here, you're considered a bumbling idiot if you admit that you have real moral convictions. I've lived here 15 years and I don't see polygamists running all over the place. I'm proud that our laws reflect "the good book." I wish we all lived by it.

Coltakashi | 11:33 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

If a polygamist actually contracts two purportedly legal marriages with two different women, he has committed bigamy. However, if a polygamist does NOT get a license to marry a second or third woman, how is he different from the drug dealer who has a harem of women he does not marry? Does a religious pledge to consider the second woman his wife and to financially support her and their children make it MORE objectionable than the casual fathering of children that end up being supported by welfare payments and single mothers? When other states are ready to prosecute people like Bill Clinton and John Edwards for serial adultery, then they can criticize Utah for not putting an end to the same thing that they tolerate and even celebrate.

RE: Daniel Moir | 11:45 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Methinks you need to do a little more research into your understanding of polygamy as practiced by the early Mormons; you are woefully mis-informed.

Comments continue below

to bring in the clowns: | 11:50 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I'm not sure who you represent, but I think you are in the minority. I work with companies throughout the country. I'm sure these clients wouldn't dream of working with someone from Utah if they were laughing at me (us). So take your laughter and stay out of our state. Having lived in many western states, we settled down in St. George because it's an easy decision to shun the crowds, pollution, crazy rules and politics, and crime of CA and other "progressive" and "sophisticated" areas. Just look at the faces of all these commuters as they inch forward on the freeway. And fight crowds in the malls and the beaches. Perhaps we simply have different priorities. I'd rather spend my time hiking and biking a few minutes from my home than sitting in traffic while commuting an hour each way, each day to a cubicle job. If you are indeed mocking Utah, then we definitely have different ideas about life and happiness and I'm glad you decided to stay out. And with that, enjoy the rest of your day while I go mountain biking.

Re: Bring in the Clowns | 11:54 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Pointing at us laughing from the great and spacious building, eh? Sounds like you're in the attitude of mocking and pointing your fingers.

My friends in Utah, "great was the multitude that did enter that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn...but we heeded them not."

re: Bring in the Clowns | 12:15 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Keep laughing. I will hang on to the narrow ways as long as I live. It will pay-off in the end. I find it funny that you mock those of us who are trying to live moral lives. It likely reflects some serious guilt on your part. I think you have us mistaken for people who care if you are laughing at us.

Utah Cougar | 12:15 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Keep making fun of Utah, it makes all the crazies not want to live here! Now if you'll excuse me I am going to go do some fishing from horseback and hopefully not get arrested.

Re: Clowns | 12:15 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

So, who should care that Utah is a laughing stock? Fools mock...and I see a lot of mockers out there. You seem to be one of them.

Creative Conservative | 12:16 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I agree with "Legal Eagle"'s comment that it's too bad that people rely on the boob tube to get their world view. While the folks in LaLa land continue to live up to their vaunted "liberal views" in attacking anyone who does not agree with their very skewed views, most people just really don't care (I am one of them). The fact that they dedicate tv episodes to showcase these uneducated jokes only highlights how truly inane these bollywood bozos are.

Who cares? | 12:18 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Who watches this drivel anyway? What a waste of time.

Not entertaining | 12:24 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I haven't watched sitcoms, reality shows and other mindless network programming in years.

Instead, I enjoy sports, movies, and history/documentary type programming.

I'll add "Boston Legal" to the long list of programs I won't regret never seeing.

re: Bring in the clowns | 12:25 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Wow, I didnt realize my feelings could get hurt so easy. I had no idea you guys were laughing. I am so embarrassed to be living in the safest environment per capita in the U.S. The Highest quality of life per capita. Your right, these mormons have really created a miserable place for me to raise my family. Wow, I wish we could have a place more like Hollywood so you guys could quit laughing at us.

Tom from Murphy, NC | 12:28 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

We must remember morals in Hollywood has long been out of style. This people spin their "entertainment" to their own tastes.

Jerry W | 12:32 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Divorce rates at over 50%, children born out of wedlock trending upword, In some segments of our society well over 60%. Crime at an all time high and addiction to narcotics following suite. Isn't it wonderful what the Hollywood liberals have helped do to our country?

A fan | 12:32 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I also agree with "Don't Be So Sensitive". Much of that show is done tongue in cheek and is outright hilarious. I, for one, am sad to see it go.

Justin | 12:40 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I'm not offended by the portrayal of Utah. Although it is unfortunate, it is not unexpected. I saw the program and was offended by the inter-species sexual references. It is much more vulgar and immoral to portray and joke about sex between humans and animals. This type of garbage should not be allowed on our public airways

Why not ? | 1:22 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Why not write far-from-truth stories or make light of Jews, Moslems or other religious faiths ??

Because members of these faiths will likely become angry and offended. Most good people know it's rude and impolite to do so.

But apparently it's fine to do it against members and the leadership of the LDS faith.

No matter how you rationalize of sugar-coat such tripe, it's still PREJUDICE !

As a soldier for 28 years, I've seen it all too often.

Don't waste your time trying to camoflauge prejudice and bigotry, it's very easy to see these types of people for what they truly are !

Bill | 1:28 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I find it hard to believe that many of you have failed to read the Bible. In the days of David, Solomon, Moses, Abraham and others pologamy was practiced considerably. It is well known through out the Christian world that this was in fact favorable by the Lord. Some say that the Lord they know wouldn't permit it but he did and does when he so orders it. Pologamy when practiced by members of the Church was less than 5% of the entire membership. The Lord discontinued it because the reasons for it were no longer needed in my opinion and that of the Church. It is however, I believe an eternal principle that the Lord endorses. However, he (The Lord) discontinued it. We no longer practice it for over 100 years. Maybe someone ought to take a look that Missouri up and until only a few years ago had on its book the extinction of any Mormon living with in its state boundary. Some of you are still living in the past. THe Lord is the yesterday, today and tomorrow.

hsfan | 1:33 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

If shows like this keep people from moving here...I wish they would show more of them! Tired of all these inbreds moving into Utah and polluting our gene pools! Utah has the hottest women in the US! But if more uglies move here.....soon we will look like new york or worse...Boston!

Jon | 1:44 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

what has failed to be realized by almost everyone is that this perpetuates baseless stereotypes about Mormon culture that Kelley would not have done about other groups.

A Hoot | 1:54 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

This column and the comments are "a hoot, that's what they are."

brian | 2:14 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

It show how liberal ARE!

Alex | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Who cares whether Boston Legal distorts polygamy in Utah? I've never even watched an episode and don't care if I ever do. Now, obviously you want to get accurate information out there, but you have to pick your battles. Move along, there is nothing here. It won't matter anyway.

@ A Hoot | 2:29 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

thanks for the belly laugh, I needed that.

Alex | 2:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Jon:

"what has failed to be realized by almost everyone is that this perpetuates baseless stereotypes about Mormon culture that Kelley would not have done about other groups. "

You are right. It does. But why on earth are you even surprised? Don't you realize who you are dealing with here? I hate to shock you, but this isn't close to being the only thing that Hollywood is inaccurate about.

Move on. It doesn't matter. There are bigger fish to fry.

Anonymous | 2:33 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

As a mormon from Utah I've traveled all over this country and world of ours. In my travels I have never come across anyone where pologamy was any issue at all. After two seconds of explanation it was over, if the subject even came up at all. Most people I've met have a very high opinion of Utah. Of course I'm usually dealing with educated people that aren't easily swayed by the media. I have a harder time explaining why having a beer with my slice of pizza is such a horrible sin. That's something I just don't have any good explanation for!

Jordan T. | 2:35 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I thought that Utah episode of Boston Legal was freaking hilarous! So much so that I think they should do a follow up episode and have Alan Shore and Denny Crane get married in San Franisco, lol!

Re: Bring in the Clowns | 2:36 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Really? Come on. Narrow and backwards? Let's not be ignorant. I am not a Utah native, but have been working here for a few years. It's a great state. Sure it has it's hang-ups, as does every state. Who cares who's laughing? There is so much more to life my friend.

Robert | 2:53 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

It is strange how some mormons wish to seperate themselves from their religious believes. Polygamy is a basic believe and doctrine of the mormon religion. It is not practiced in today's current life because it is against the present national laws, but it is still practiced in the temples for the deceased and widowed. It is very much a part of mormon believe and could be allowed again some time in the future.

Answer Man | 3:31 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Matthew 22:30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."

There is no New Testament example of a godly Christian having more than one wife and those who have more than one wife today are forbidden to hold church leadership positions (1 Tim. 3:2).

paa | 3:38 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I never watch network TV anymore, because there's nothing any good on any more. It's mostly all oversexed trash written by people who are preoccupied with sex, both the comedies and dramas. Give me the old days of the 60's comedies, like Get Smart, Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies, etc., which were delightful and fun to watch, and witty without being "hip" and "sophisticated", which are often just code words for "perverted, sick, tasteless, and immoral". From What I've heard of Boston Legal, what does one expect from writers who write such garbage?

Lies? | 4:46 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

How is Boston Legal lying about polygamous marriage in Utah any different from the Mormon Church lying about gay marriages in California? They both lie, and they both make money off of it. End of story.

Bring in the Clowns | 5:27 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I stand by my earlier statement. You all remind me of the Beverly Hillbillys (Granny in particular).

Keep up that self-righteous indignation! LOL

The real crime | 5:51 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

any woman who would be interested in Shatner should be locked up.

randy | 5:53 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

just like this state .. so the producers of the show .. the woman was married .. and had implied sex with the denny crane character .. making it adultry for the woman and fornication for the male

yet the show didnt even touch the female .. and went after the male ...

so typical ....

and funny !!! i love the laws still on the books that still get brought up from time to time .. the law is there to be enforced as 'required' .. and so it was with this shows attitude with a law that exists in utah ...

again .. funny .. but so true (pick a state, every state has them)!!!

No more Boston Legal for me | 6:03 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I see that piece of crap episode and it's the last one I will EVER watch. What absolute disgusting filth. Hollywood is full of degenerates and fools and this just illustrates once more how idiotic they can be. The vast majority of movies and TV shows are not worth a nickel. Just garbage. Earlier on, there were a couple of decent Boston Legal episodes. Obviously they've run out of material and ability to produce a good show. So I'm thru with it. Would Hollywood put homosexuals abusing young boys or references to it in a show these days. Not on your life, they wouldn't. But it happens and with far more frequency than polygamy or the rare marriage (abuse) of underage girls. But that's Hollywood, full of lying hypocritical liberals. So we get their garbage. They think they can slander Utah and everyone who lives here and we won't fight back. Well, I won't watch the show but I will write complaints to all their sponsors. If everyone did that, it would make a difference.

Boston Legal... | 6:27 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

is a joke of a TV show - even catching parts while I'm flipping channels kills active brain cells with it's dripping idoicy. That they "stoop" to make fun of polygamy is ironic in and of itself (considering prime time's fascination with all things sexually deviant).

If it weren't for the fact that the Church sanctioned it at one point in it's history, they'd likely be promoting it as a lifestyle choice that people just haven't been enlighted enough to understand and appreciate the diversity of it all.

How can anyone take seriously the charge that you're not all that smart when it's coming from the court jester?

A joke | 6:46 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Funny how the Hollywood left can be as ill-informed and politically-incorrect as possible and it's "cool."

Can you imagine some show on FOX making fun of Moslems with outdated and misguided information? Yeah, right!

@Boston Legal..... | 7:13 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

"If it weren't for the fact that the Church sanctioned it at one point in it's history," please get over yourself. By the way "the church" really? Which "the church" would that be? We do not all belong to the same church.

Anonymous | 7:36 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I'm not too offended. Just look at the source! It proves that hatred really exists with those who play victim and self-pity. The only reason why people attack Utah is because Mormons are not extremists and will not blow them up for it.

Anonymous | 7:50 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

it is amazing that those that are so quick to offend are always so quick to take offense.

Move to Boston! | 8:11 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Why do people complain about living in Utah? If you prefer a life in Boston or S.F. why not make yourself (and some of us) happy and move! If I hated it here, I would move tomorrow! I wouldn't "waste" one more day of my life here if I hated it here! I once had a neighbor who hated Utah (he is gay) and he moved to S.F and increased the average I.Q. of both Utah and S.F inhabitants by doing so!

re: @Boston Legal | 8:18 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Given the likelihood that the DN readers are LDS, I was referring to the Mormon Church when I referred to "the Church." I don't know how that got extrapolated to infer I was assuming that everyone belonged to the same church, if that's your point (?).

Thanks for the advice. I took a handful of multi-vitamins and am now happy to report that I am over myself. By the way, I was stating a fact, not an assertion that I had much to do with. At 42, I wasn't around when polygamy was practiced. I have a hard enough time with one wife, let alone multiple, so I'm not sure what I have do with this. But, as earlier stated, I am now over myself. Again, my thanks for pointing out that I was somehow "stuck" on myself. I feel so much better...

J. | 8:25 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Funny my first comment was censored but believe me I live in an area with a family of piligs. It is real folks. I am not going to say I agree with it but it is in the past present and future of all mormons and that we must deal with. Blame Hollywood as you may but they are not making this stuff up, however we have endorsed it and still tolerate it and look foward to it though eternity. Am I wrong?

njp | 8:31 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Like 98% of television these days, Boston Legal should be cancelled along with the rest of these stupid shows. And I'm from Montana!!

Bash is entertainment? | 8:55 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

What does it say about a person who equates entertainment with bashing or ridiculing someone else?

grant garrison | 8:58 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Hi, I'm a practicing mormon from California. I'm 24 years old. Polygammy has not been practiced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for over a century. Those who do practice broke off from the Mormon church when the then President Wilford Woodfruff ended plural marriage. The mormon's you know do not practice it. They are "apostates" from the faith. It's funny how ignorant "smart" people are on the subject.

Re: grant garrison | 9:38 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Those whom believe in the book of mormon practice mormonism. Therefore by logic some mormons practice polygamy. In fact all mormon sects have practiced polygamy in the past and all by doctine will practice in the here-there-after, its not a big secret. Anyway just my two cents. Call those who practice polygamy (the one 1% of mormons apostates as you may) but the 99% of christians think of mormons as the same. Not here to dig any bones as I have no religious alignment but just wanted to bring a little reality into your situtation. Amusing blog non the less.

From a Realist...

To: Move to Boston | 10:19 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I heard a lot of 'IF YOU DONT LIKE IT THEN MOVE' but you have specifically mentioned move to Beantown or SF, which is a step above the average bear. I guess you would be the enlightened native mormon if you could direct us to a destination and just not tell us to leave and end it at that. Thanks for the kind blessing.

LIES | 10:47 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

RE: Spiritual Polygamy

Polygamy is not practiced and has been banned in the LDS Church both doctrinally and in practice for over 150 years.

I work in the Temple and know for a fact that there is no such thing as "Spiritual Polygamy."

Sad that so many uninformed spew vicous lies without thinking twice.

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'Boston' attacks Utah