I've been a Customer Service Representative. In my very first job, I ran midway games at Lagoon. Then I was a Courtesy Clerk for Albertsons. Then I was a cashier at my college. And now I'm a server at a restaurant and a valet at a hospital. It took me five years to realize it, but I've always been the face of any company I've ever worked for. Usually, the first thing a customer (or patient) has ever seen when walking into the establishment is me. So I try to make that experience the best for them. I love to make people around me happy, whether I know them or not. I'm a son, a brother, a friend, a lover... So why should I care that you are Mormon? That's right, I don't.
I have nothing against Mormons. I don't, honestly and truly. I'm uncomfortable having a religion (or any sort of opinion) forced on me, but that's the extent of my qualm. I understand that these "... And I'm a Mormon" ads are trying to portray Mormons as your average Joe, Jane, or family, but if you want someone to think you are normal, the presentation of this ad is NOT the way to do it. You don't see "... And I'm (Catholic/Buddhist/Protestant/Muslim/Episcopalian/Taoist/Jewish)" ads, do you?
A lot of gays will tell you that being gay is not who I am, it's just a part of me. (And then some will turn right around and be as stereotypical gay as humanly possible and make you think... "Nope, pretty sure your true blue gay through and through.) But these ads are basically saying that being Mormon is just that... Being Mormon. Granted, the ad says "AND I'm Mormon," so the "but" rule doesn't apply (when someone says [insert positive review of some subject here] BUT [insert negative review of same subject here], the BUT basically tells the mind to throw away the first portion of the statement {e.g. "I love you, BUT you're irritating."}), BUT!!! I feel like it is the same basic principle. If I were to have designed this ad, I would have said "I'm a Mormon, BUT I'm also a doctor, a teacher, a dad, blah-di-fuckety-blah..." to let the world know that, yes, I hold to these beliefs, BUT I am a regular person, just like you.
In short, if I ever see another "... And I'm Mormon" ad, I'm going to (figuratively) kill someone. That's my rant for the evening/really early morning. Good night... or day... or whatever...
I have nothing against Mormons. I don't, honestly and truly. I'm uncomfortable having a religion (or any sort of opinion) forced on me, but that's the extent of my qualm. I understand that these "... And I'm a Mormon" ads are trying to portray Mormons as your average Joe, Jane, or family, but if you want someone to think you are normal, the presentation of this ad is NOT the way to do it. You don't see "... And I'm (Catholic/Buddhist/Protestant/Muslim/Episcopalian/Taoist/Jewish)" ads, do you?
A lot of gays will tell you that being gay is not who I am, it's just a part of me. (And then some will turn right around and be as stereotypical gay as humanly possible and make you think... "Nope, pretty sure your true blue gay through and through.) But these ads are basically saying that being Mormon is just that... Being Mormon. Granted, the ad says "AND I'm Mormon," so the "but" rule doesn't apply (when someone says [insert positive review of some subject here] BUT [insert negative review of same subject here], the BUT basically tells the mind to throw away the first portion of the statement {e.g. "I love you, BUT you're irritating."}), BUT!!! I feel like it is the same basic principle. If I were to have designed this ad, I would have said "I'm a Mormon, BUT I'm also a doctor, a teacher, a dad, blah-di-fuckety-blah..." to let the world know that, yes, I hold to these beliefs, BUT I am a regular person, just like you.
In short, if I ever see another "... And I'm Mormon" ad, I'm going to (figuratively) kill someone. That's my rant for the evening/really early morning. Good night... or day... or whatever...
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