I interviewed a Mormon bishop in 1973, and he went to great pains to make it clear to me that his faith was not Christian. He seemed rather annoyed to even be linked with Christianity. Also, in 1968, a Mormon missionary told me that black people were indeed the carriers of evil in the world and that, while they might become LDS members in order to save their souls, they would never really be part of upper echelons the Church leadership.

Has this changed?

As I recall from my brief entry into the LDS Church and my very quick exit, women did not hold serious leadership positions either.

Has this changed?

When I was briefly a Mormon, I was asked by a church leader why I did not yet have children. I told him that I had only been married for four months. He made it clear to me that the LDS Church did not approve of birth control.

Has this changed?

As I recall, (I have a pretty good memory) Sonia Johnson was forced from the Mormon Church because of her support for The Equal Right Amendment.

Has the Mormon Church changed its position on women's rights?

Has a woman or a person of color become one of The Twelve? Is a woman or a person of color even in a position to get there, say within the next 10 years.

Has that changed?

If a Presidential candidate belonged to a Country Club that refused to admit or treat equally black members, that candidate would be under great pressure to rethink such membership.

Certainly the electorate cannot ask a candidate to resign his religion, but we have every right to press him/her about how such beliefs will influence decisions concerning settled law and future policy.

You asked:

"Since libertarians are further to the right than even the Bush Family Evil Empire, isn't that like being a member of "Jews for Hitler"?"

No to the first part of your question; yes to the second part.

Libertarians made a pact with the Bush Family Evil Empire because they are obsessed with economic freedom and capitalism. However, by kissing up to the right wing they have betrayed true libertarianism of any kind. They are now complict in the endangerment of the Constitution and the Rule of Law that supports it. In addition, they seem to have forgotten a multitude of other choice issues such as the decriminalization of marijuana and prostitution.

Libertarians actually had a few good ideas. Too bad they have forgotten them.

When little boys dress up as cowboys, they think they are cowboys.

When little boys dress up flight gear, they think they are winning the war.

When little boys dress up as President, they think they are "Deciders," even if the veep is calling the shots.

When little boys dress in white tie, they think they automatically have manners.

When little boys talk to God, they think he gives them all the answers.

God will save The Queen. Who in God's name will save us from George W?

Don't worry. Your letter doesn't bother me. It amuses me. I am new to Salon and I kept trying to figure out where you were coming from. Since I did not want to spend time reading your past letters, I decided to flush you out into the open a bit.

My was my tactic rewarding! I have heard of penis envy and always discounted it because it seemed absolutely silly. If someone had told me that womb envy was possible, I would have rolled my eyes. You have proved me wrong.

Oh my, do you ever have a case of womb envy! Good luck with your implied plans to trick or woo some woman into having a baby, which you will then wrest from her in the name of fairness and justice. I salute you brightstar65 because I suspect that you are one of a kind and I am always fascinated by people who dare to be so different.

It is not unusual to find people who seem to rail against nature itself, but you are the first fella I have ever encountered of your particular nature, so to speak.

Womb envy? New concept!

Live long enough and I suspect you can have your own womb. You won't need a woman at all! I gotta warn you about those menstrual cramps though. Also the PMS. The heavy periods. The bloating. But ya know, if you stay pregnant all the time, you can avoid some of that.