Book of Mormon Stories

[ERCougar]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

We are talking about whether it is appropriate for kids to dress like Sitting Bull during this song.

Yeah, from a racial sensitivity standpoint. One issue at a time.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by RedHeadGal

The song, people. I'm taking you back to primary again (yes, that is where I spend most of my Sunday meetings).

I would say we sing the song "Book of Mormon Stories" approximately every other week in our Primary. And invariably some person starts doing those actions, like two fingers behind their head, to signify some kind of stereotypical American Indian thing. They wave their arm for "far across the sea" and then do some kind of old movie Western thing at the end with their arms that also seems to be some kind of American Indian stereotype. You all have seen these actions, no?

Anyway, the actions have always bothered me as racist, so I never do them, but I have recently thought maybe I should try to do something other than just not participate. Like see if I can get people to stop doing them entirely. We are teaching this to children, after all. And yet people I know, like, and respect, seem to do the actions as though there is no problem at all. Which puzzles me.

If you are familiar with these actions, do they bother you? And if so, what would you do about it?

Our ward was more enlightened than yours, and we were in primary for three years.

Actually I've never seen those actions of which you speak. Maybe because we've had several Native Americans in primary, maybe not. That must be a Utah thing, and we have little Utah roots.

Don't let your children be racist.

[Tex]

In honor of this thread, this Sunday I will make sure each of our Primary children know the hand actions to Book of Mormon Stories.

[SeattleUte]

There's a Mormon song where people do a native American war dance while singing about Lamanites? Hee hee. I missed that one.

[exUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

There's so much institutional racism in the church that it is hard to know what to get upset about.

I'm more upset about the current YM manual that instructs kids not to marry others of different races.

Holding two fingers up behind your head to signify an indian headress is racist? Then all the Cleveland Indian, Atlanta Braves, FSU Seminoles fans are racist? Even the local indians in Utah were OK with the UofU continuing to use an indian as their mascot........as long as the UofU paid them a 'royalty' if you will, to continue to use the mascot. So racism is ok as long as you pay off the so-called offending party?

BTW........which YM lesson in which manual?

[exUte]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

There's a Mormon song where people do a native American war dance while singing about Lamanites? Hee hee. I missed that one.

peace pipes, scalps, the whole nine yards. Right, Mike?

[RedHeadGal]

Originally Posted by exUte

Holding two fingers up behind your head to signify an indian headress is racist? Then all the Cleveland Indian, Atlanta Braves, FSU Seminoles fans are racist? Even the local indians in Utah were OK with the UofU continuing to use an indian as their mascot........as long as the UofU paid them a 'royalty' if you will, to continue to use the mascot. So racism is ok as long as you pay off the so-called offending party?

BTW........which YM lesson in which manual?

where have you been? lots of people find those mascots to be racist, yes.

and this is small children in a church.

[RedHeadGal]

Originally Posted by Tex

In honor of this thread, this Sunday I will make sure each of our Primary children know the hand actions to Book of Mormon Stories.

you will not be alone. many will do them across the country. the point here is not those who wish perpetuate racism, as you clearly do, but rather what those who want to eradicate it can do about it. I don't really feel okay about sitting there and watching it happen any more. what would you do if your bishop told you to stop teaching them, Tex?

these kinds of tests are typically objective ones--the reasonable person standard if we're talking legal issues. so it doesn't particularly matter what any one person thinks. That's why I was interested in getting a feel for the consensus.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Tex

In honor of this thread, this Sunday I will make sure each of our Primary children know the hand actions to Book of Mormon Stories.

While you are at it, teach them the robot motions to "Follow the Prophet".

[Tex]

Originally Posted by RedHeadGal

you will not be alone. many will do them across the country. the point here is not those who wish perpetuate racism, as you clearly do, but rather what those who want to eradicate it can do about it. I don't really feel okay about sitting there and watching it happen any more. what would you do if your bishop told you to stop teaching them, Tex?

Yes, I love racism. When I make those little bunny ears during the song, I feel a rush of rank white supremacy.