Trackback Information for Tom Hanks' Non-Apology For Anti-Mormon Bigotry

Comments on Tom Hanks' Non-Apology For Anti-Mormon Bigotry

His "apology" was not sincere at all. He's a Hollywood foof with no grasp on what it's like to truly live free. He's locked up in his prison of self importance as exhibited by his thinking that anyone really cares what he thinks of their religion or the way they vote. What business is it of his? None. No one sees his face or hears his name and automatically things, "Gee, I wonder what religion Tom Hanks would want me to believe in?" or "Golly, I wonder what Tom Hanks thinks of Proposition 8?" When I hear the name "Tom Hanks" I picture him in a dress and a wig in Bosom Buddies. Not exactly someone you would take seriously.

Great site.

Your breakdown of what Hanks did hit most of the nails on the head. I remember Hanks playing a major role in a movie that showed a big time Hollywood star could play a homosexual with HIV without destroying his career. That went beyond tolerance of a lifestyle which most people, outside of Hollywood, consider an abomination. He's done damage to society as a whole by endorsing homosexuality as normal.

As you pointed out, Big Love is nothing more than a skewed observation of how some folks think LDS lifestyles are played out. There are a few folks who live "plurality"; however, they are not active members of the LDS Church as they would have been excommunicated for violating a doctrine which was abandoned around the year 1900. Hanks involvement in the production of the series shows his utter contempt for LDS as a whole.

Lastly, you should read Voices From the Dust, by David Calderwood. While nothing can "prove" the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, those who have attempted to discredit it through so called scientific means have been shown to be in error. There are over 150 historical pieces of information provided in the Book of Mormon, archeological facts which could not have been known by Joseph Smith in 1830 which have been shown to be accurate. The statistical odds of such "random creations of imagination" being accurate and true go beyond astronomical. Still, The Book of Mormon requires a leap of faith to accept as the word of God, just as any book of scripture.

I'm saddened to see these comments and hostile energy about Tom Hanks apology.

The first reason is the idea that a majority vote has the ability to deny select people rights. Remember that up till 1967 interracial marriage was still illegal in many states. Do you believe that in this day and age just because a majority of people would still believe that to be wrong, it should be illegal. In 15 years, people will look back at those who fought to keep same-sex couples from their right to marry and see them as biggotted traditionalists who see things as "the way things have been" instead of "the ways things should be" according to our constitution.

The second is the comment of that the LDS church was a "relatively small religion" in the process of the passing of prop 8. The LDS church combined for nearly half of the money raised to push the prop through. Without their mobilization of their members i am certain it would not have passed.

I grew up in Salt Lake City, although i am not Mormon, i have many close friends that are. I respect their right to have their opinion on this subject, but am disheartened that they do not see the hypocrisy in their vote. Just like in Mormon history how other religious groups persecuted the Mormons including passing laws against them, they are now perpetuating that same fear and biggotry of what they are ignorant of.

Thank you for posting this, and keeping this topic on the front lines. There is no more important subject than the fact that in America, the most free and amazing country the world have every seen, there is still people being denied their rights.

Since when did standing up for values and things you believe in make you a bigot? i also find it kind of ironic how the only critical comment is by a guy named tom...

Tom -- some quick points for you.

1) It isn't an apology, at least not to the millions of Mormons he insulted. Read his words -- nowhere does hanks actually apologize to them.

2) Yes, many mormons gave money to the effort against Prop 8. However, so did many other members of many other groups -- and the Catholic Church was quite active in the effort as well. I can't help but notice that Hanks did not attack the Americanism of Catholics. Maybe because he knows that insulting 30% of Americans would destroy his career, while insulting a relatively small religion like the LDS carries no cost -- and has in fact made him a great deal of cash with Big Love.

3) The comparison to interracial marriage is specious. In that case, racial animus was involved in limiting a marriage that would have otherwise been seen as valid under the definition of marriage that has held sway in Western society (and the US in particular) for centuries. On the other hand, same-sex marriages require a redefinition of marriage. Most Americans do not want that redefinition.

4) No one is being denied their rights, Tom. ANy gay man may marry any legally available woman. Any gay woman may marry any legally available man. What they may not do is marry a person of the same gender -- just as I (a straight man) could not do so.

I couldn't agree more with your analysis. I have been a long time fan of Tom Hanks movies and was so disappointed to see his public statement and realize his involvement in the skewed views portrayed in Big Love. It I'd sad to see someones true prejudice revealed in their moment of unguarded comments. This apology was nothing more than an perceived required damage control, and a poor job at that.

To: Tom Hanks
Dear Mr. Hanks,
Very respectfully sir, you have misunderstood.
I find that most members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed "Mormons") are not un-American!
In this country any man and any woman are free to marry! We discriminate against no one!
There are, however, some who choose not to marry. They want to do something else and call it marriage. They want special privileges – more privileges than the majority are asking for. I am acquainted with no one who is against them, their rights, or their decisions.
Please allow all citizens the right to choose their life style without demanding preferential treatment for some.
To be consistent, if we change "marriage" aren't we forced to allow polygamy and the practice of adult "marriage" to children? I would suspect there are many in prison who would welcome this change.
Free of discrimination and prejudice, isn't the above the most completely American attitude attainable?
Sincerely,
A Very Pro-American Citizen

Mormons are cultists. Who's surprised. There support of Prop 8 Is unamerican. The arent really Christians anyway. The Book of mormon=apostacy. Further, there is no legitimate archaeological evidence for the heretical mythology in the book of Morons.

Mormons are cultists. Who's surprised. There support of Prop 8 Is unamerican. They arent really Christians anyway. The Book of mormon=apostacy. Further, there is no legitimate archaeological evidence for the heretical mythology in the book of Morons.

I don't understand the hostility tword Tom's comments. I agree the LDS community have the American right to vote their concious but Tom also
has the American right to freedom of speech. What kind of community demands respect for their own rights while denying the rights of another?
Let me ask all the non mormons and non mormon sects if any of them ever felt insulted or targeted by a member of the LDS church or the church as a whole?
Let me ask the LDS community how the Gospel of
Jesus Christ tells them a TRUE Christian would respond the anothers shortcommings?
I am a fundamentalist living in a neighborhood dominated by LDS members and I have been called alot worse than "unamerican" by them. Not one of
them feel the need to apologize for their insults, sect targeting, and hate crimes....
They seem to me like the old southern slave masters fighting a northern tyranical government who seeks to dictate and deny them their freedom and right to enslave humans.

"I remember Hanks playing a major role in a movie that showed a big time Hollywood star could play a homosexual with HIV without destroying his career."

So... Are you suggesting that it should have destroyed his career?

"That went beyond tolerance of a lifestyle which most people, outside of Hollywood, consider an abomination."

So sympathetically portraying a homosexual character with AIDS goes "beyond tolerance"? And what does the fact that most people outside of Hollywood consider it an abomination have to do with anything? Even if it is an abomination (it's not,) that wouldn't change the fact that many homosexuals and many AIDS victims are overall good people who deserve sympathy.

"He's done damage to society as a whole by endorsing homosexuality as normal."

Well, it's not as common as heterosexuality, but it's not an abomination either. I'm pretty sure he didn't "convert" anyone to homosexuality through the movie, and he certainly didn't harm society by playing the role.

Which isn't to say that I support Tom Hanks' recent comments about Mormons - his comments were stupid and wrong. There's absolutely nothing wrong with people believing homosexuality is a sin, even if I and an increasing number disagree. But your comments about "Philadelphia" are also stupid and wrong, going far beyond sheer religious belief and revealing much more about you than they do about Tom Hanks (and none of what it reveals is good.)

This country cherishes " life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness". Why do the Mormons not want the same for all? This nation values "equal rights under the law"; do the Mormons believe some are more equal than others? This great country insists on the "separation of church and state"; this is an example of why that is so fundamental. I grew up in the west and knew personally of young Mormons (among other religions) cast out by their families owing to nothing more than their God given sexual orientation. Are they not deserving of equal rights? Of happiness? Seemingly not.