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Friday, October 19, 2012

Diane Rehm's Hypothesis On Mormonism And Romney's Poor Record Hiring Women



In today's Friday News Round-Up (10/19/12), Diane Rehm wondered aloud if Mitt Romney's abysmal record hiring women - even when governor of Massachusetts - might reflect his Mormon belief that "a woman's place is in the home." 

This plausible - if not probable - hypothesis deserves wide circulation.

It appears that Mr. Romney confronts a significant choice: either betray the undisputed teaching of his church, or focus his hiring decisions on males. 

Given the authoritarian structure of Mormonism, it is difficult to imagine Mr. Romney taking a public stance that contradicts Mormon teaching.

It would be good if we could discuss this matter openly.

Lamentably, Mr. Romney has refused - rather adamantly - to answer questions about his devotion to Mormonism. 

Here's why. 
"Romney, Mormonism and Christianity" 

It is important to ask Mr. Romney if he conceals his Mormon beliefs because - in addition to persistent sexual predation by founding prophet Joseph Smith - Mitt's great-grandfather turned his back on the United States to practice polygamy in Mexico. 

Here is Mr. Romney's "polygamous family history" as reported by The Salt Lake City Tribune, Utah's premier daily newspaper. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Salt_Lake_Tribune

"The Romney family’s polygamous roots are deep and include some of the most prominent families in the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The faith officially banned polygamy in 1890. Mitt Romney’s great-grandfather, Miles Park Romney, was a Mormon polygamist with five wives, who fled to Mexico to escape a crackdown on the practice of polygamy in the late-1800s and established a settlement there." 

Personally, I see no reason not to vote for Romney just because he's Mormon. 

Indeed, I'm voting for the Muslim. 

However, if Romney's "convicted" beliefs as a Mormon contradict American law, then gender issues concerning the role of women are not only fair game but critically important political topics.

It is important to remember that the Mormon practice of polygamy contradicted American law for a very long time, and that polygamous practice is still widespread throughout Utah and neighboring states. 

***

Postscript:

All five of Romney daughter-in-laws are stay-at-home Moms. 

There is nothing wrong with this. 

In fact, I spent much of my adulthood as a stay-at-home Dad and think it preferable if one or the other parent can stay at home with kids during their formative years. (I believe the optimum circumstance is for mothers and fathers to alternate staying at home.)

Politically, my core apprehension is this: Mormonism pushes mothers to mold themselves as permanent home bodies, a fundamental contradiction of the egalitarianism that lies at the heart of the American experiment.

Here is an article that references the stay-at-home lives of all five daughers-in-law. 

And here is a video clip in which all five daughters speak briefly.

Notice that one daughter-in-law refers to her husband from a framework that implies submission to the man's will (curiously, a will she considers rather silly, ill-informed and immature): "And then, being a man, he said, come home!"

I doubt many Americans would be happy with the 19th century, "women-know-their-place" "pioneering life" that contemporary Republicans seem intent on resurrecting.




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