JLooney.com

It’s easy to forget that some of the modern conveniences and technology we enjoy today has only been around for less than a decade, but it’s always fun to step into the wayback machine and imagine “what if…”

(Via Design Mom)

From ShortFilmCentral:

“The stone people Hew and Kew have seen a lot in their everlasting lives on top of their mountain. Therefore they’re only mildy amazed by the ongoings in the valley below, they’ve got their own little problems to deal with. But all of a sudden, Mankind is discovering and inventing, instead of just woozeling, and this new behaviour starts to threaten Hew and Kew’s stoic peacefullness.”

I recently had an opportunity fall into my lap.

Really, it was just crazy how it happened. It all started with a Facebook post…

One of my friends posted “I am selling a screen printing press, If anyone knows someone that’s interested, please let me know.”

Well, me and this friend go back several years, so I call him right up and ask him how much, thinking that if it’s around $500 or so, maybe I’m interested.

Turns out, even at my “friend price” he was asking well over five times what I had planned in my head. Funny thing is, I didn’t just dismiss it as a “never gonna happen” passing fancy, but I really started looking at how I could make this work.

Now, I know that I tend to get caught up in the moment, so I bounce this idea off Megan.

“HELL YES!” she texts back when I tell her about it.

I figure Stefahn’s wanted to get into screen printing, and he’d make an excellent business partner because he complements many of my shortcomings (and vice versa), so I ask if he wants to partner with me and go halvsies on the machine.

“Yes.” he replies in true Stefahn form – direct and succinct.

That was two weeks ago. Now I’ve got designs for my first few shirts, I’ve got several jobs lined up just waiting for me to say the word “GO!”, and John, a dear friend of mine for many years, is coming on Sunday to fill in the gaps of what I don’t know. He’s uniquely qualified to do this, his family having owned a very successful screen printing business for many years.

Which brings me to today. I called Chuck, another of my friends (yeah, I’m literally surrounded by resources for this venture! Cool, huh?) a few days back to ask some questions. He currently works as a screen printer for a very large firm in Salt Lake. He told me where to go for supplies and such. Well, when I arrived at Technical Service and Supply, I asked for Skip as Chuck had instructed me to do. After giving Skip my supply list, he proceeded to share all kinds of advice, expertise and knowledge about technique, business scenarios, etc. It was probably the most valuable 30 minutes I’ve spent on this venture so far, he was great!

So, I’m ready to go. You got ideas? I got t-shirts!

Conflicted.

That’s the best way to describe how I feel right now.

Oh don’t get me wrong, I applaud the Argentine Senate for their actions today in legalizing same-sex marriage. It’s a glorious milestone, and with any luck, other nations will see the merit and wisdom of Argentina’s clear decision that all people are equal under the law, regardless.

Having served a mission in Cordoba, Argentina for the LDS church, I have a very sentimental attachment to the Argentine people.

My conflict, I suppose, lies in some of the comments that my former mission companions have posted today on Facebook and elsewhere lamenting the decision and crying that it heralds the demise of the “family unit” that The Lord intended.

and you know, this uneasiness within myself actually started a few days back when one of my former companions “tagged” me in a Facebook post – a scan of the letter sent from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the members in Argentina in opposition to the law that was just passed.

Needless to say, I was quite upset and quickly un-tagged myself. I thought it quite arrogant and tremendously disrespectful for him to have included me in his blanket supposition that I’d be with him in his righteous zeal.

Look, I don’t go around tagging people in my posts – photos from Utah Pride, news articles from Human Rights Coalition or Equality Utah, or any other such activity. It’s disrespectful and is nothing more than ridiculous ass-holery.

And you know, although I certainly had the thought, I don’t wish to engage in any point-by-point discussions with them of WHY equality is not only a necessary foundation for peace in our world, but also in accordance with what we preached for 2 years of our lives. I’ve found such discussion dishearteningly obtuse, with those who oppose gay marriage failing to offer any further evidence than “because God says so”. Well no, actually, he doesn’t.

“And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.”
Doctrine and Covenants  38:24

“And there was a strict command throughout all the churches that there should be no persecutions among them, that there should be an equality among all men; That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself…”
Book of Mormon, Mosiah 27:3-4

“…it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds.”
Book of Mormon, Alma 30:7

“I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses saying… because Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I the Lord God, had given him… I caused that he should be cast down”
Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:3

“…the laws and constitution of the people which I have suffered to be established, … should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment…. ”
“And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:77-78, 80)

OK, so that last one allegedly pertains to America and not Argentina, but it seems pretty clear that the God these former companions of mine spent 2 years in service to is pretty much on board with equality in all things.

I’m saddened to the verge of tears that there remains a deliberate ignorance and a willful disregard for reason and intelligent discourse. These men were, at one time, dear friends. Many of them still are. I hurt that this advancement towards equality and peace has upset them, and that they choose to see it as an assault on their beliefs. I wish only the best for them, joy and happiness. And if they choose it, fear and anger.

Regardless of your religion, equality will not degrade or endanger your beliefs, your church or your deity. It’s time to acknowledge that people are people. We’re all the same. We all want to love and be loved. It matters not at all in whom we find that love.