Last week we reported on Tom Hanks’ comments at the premiere of Big Love. Some enterprising journalist asked Hanks his opinion of Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that basically banned gay marriage in the state. Hanks mouthed off in a very atypical way, calling Prop 8 “un-American”. The Church of Latter-Day Saints fired back at Hanks, and now Hanks has offered up what I can only describe as a lukewarm non-apology apology to Mormons. It sounds like he’s basically saying, “I used the wrong word, but whatever.” People magazine has the exclusive details.
Tom Hanks is rethinking his comments about Mormons who supported Proposition 8.
Last week, the star, who is an executive producer for HBO’s controversial series Big Love about a group of polygamist Mormons, spoke out about the religious group’s involvement in passing the California law, which bans same-sex marriage.
“The truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” Hanks said at the show’s premiere in Los Angeles last Wednesday. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them.”
A spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Kim Farah, took offense at Hanks’s comments, telling FOX News, “Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets.”
Now, in a exclusive statement to PEOPLE through his representative Leslee Dart, Hanks is softening his stance.
“Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California’s Proposition 8 as “un-American.” I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination. But everyone has a right to vote their conscience – nothing could be more American. To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are “un-American” creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use “un- American” lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have. Sincerely, Tom Hanks”
From People Magazine
I forgive Hanks both for his “un-American” comment and for his slight back-down. It was the wrong word to use, even if many people understood what he was saying. I took his original comments to mean that codified discrimination was un-American, not that Mormons or being vocally or financially anti-gay was un-American. That version was lost on a lot of people, so Hanks just seems to be clarifying his words, but not changing his stance. I’m sure some will disagree, but I think this was a classy way to end the drama.
Tom Cruise is shown at Obama’s inauguration celebration on 1/18/09. Credit: Newscom
Good for Tom Hanks for apologizing! He’s right; what the Mormons are doing – donating for what THEY believe in, even if it’s against the grain – is DISTINCTLY AMERICAN.
I find it “amusing” that the right to exist and use your constitutional voice is being used to stifle a fellow American’s voice and right to exist on a level playing field.
Sorta ironic, no?
While I agree the term un-American could be a bit much as the connotation is touchy, especially in times of conflict…but using the real term of bigot would most assuredly have been even more inflammatory. But sometimes facing the harsh realities of what is being done, stripping it down to the bare minimum of exposure, is necessary.
Do unto others as you would wish yourself subjected to. Basics. If there were enough to remove a few of their rights, what would the reaction be? This was a scare tactic campaign, a battle being fought that was completely unnecessary in a true Christ led life of love your neighbor as you love yourself.
I can’t see where someone else’s commitment to their loved one remotely impinges on another’s life, truly. Funny, that.
Never will understand another’s need to dictate how someone else should live their personal life, basing it on their own set of what is acceptable. You only get that right with your own.
I’m finished…for the moment.:-)
Right, but where then is the line drawn? America is supposed to be where people are guaranteed freedoms, yet we still discriminate against people. Certainly it is appropriate that he apologized, but Proposition 8 is still discrimination at best. How can we possibly vote our conscience if it blatantly discriminates against another person? -That- is what seems “un-American” to me.
And I don’t think that bottom picture is Tom Cruise. 🙂
I see that Jay and I had the same idea. 🙂
Some people believe that allowing gay people to marry will tarnish the “image” of marriage because of the “negative actions” of some gay people (i.e. random hook-ups, gay bath houses, etc., whatever is ‘against’ their concept of ‘how to act’). How would people in the Mormon church feel if people voted that no more Mormons could get married, and that all of their previous marriages were illegal based on the fact that some former sect of the Mormon church practiced polygamy? Tit for tat, my friends.
The US Constitution is as American as it gets. Codefied discrimination is Un-American. Read the Constitution if clarity is needed.
The Mormons have the right to donate money and provide other support in whatever way they see fit in accordance with their beliefs as long as they are within the law.
Tom Hanks (god help me I almost started to type ‘Cruise’ -Gah!) has the right to speak up in criticism as long as he is not ‘promoting hatred against an identifiable group,’ if I may use the Canadian wording of our legislation on hatred.
In the bigger picture, that’s not only “the American way” that is the way of any democracy.
Neither should feel they have to apologize for anything as far as I’m concerned.
Business as usual in the ‘Free World,’ or at least that’s how it should be but our freedom of speech is crippled by this virus called ‘political correctness.’
Welcome back, Snappyfish. Where ya been?
Cici: I only wish it were “against the grain”. Oh well. Maybe someday. Look how much change we’ve made in our attitudes toward Black Americans. (Mormons have some interesting theories on that one, but that’s a different story. Look it up though. It’s kinda mind blowing).
There is no need for him to apologize about it. We live in a free country with free speech. If the Mormons can give money and lie to the American public to legalize discrimination against law-abiding, tax-paying citizens of their country then those of us who disagree have a right to express our disagreement.
Sorry Mormon Church, Freedom of Speech goes both ways.
Trillion: Thanks for bringing that up and I will look it up; especially since I’m aware of their view that Jesus was here and ministered among the Native Americans. There’s some interesting elements in Mormonism.
Personally though, the LDS church had me at Davey and Goliath *wink* and The Great Brain series of books. Napoleon Dynamite just sealed the deal.
I don’t mind the Mormons. Certainly their views on gay marriage and abortion are certainly not atypical.
Space lords condemning entities by firing them into earthly volcanos only to have them spew out as body thetans is atypical.
To add one more thing…separation of church and state dictates that basing the protest on “keeping marriage the way it always has been” is a fallacy. Marriage as a term is based in religious foundations and the law is separation of this from enacted law, governing ALL, not just those who’s beliefs fall into this understanding, hence, the entire proposition is illegal. There’s a reason for the separation and a just one. How do you allow for one type of religious following to dictate how everyone should follow? Bogus.
And besides that, if we kept things as they’ve always been, then the man “owned” the woman, she had no rights to property, etc., so how’s about those apples? Thought so. Yep, whole kettle of fish that needs to be sorted out…but then, that isn’t the point of it all, really.
Blecccch, it’s all so ridiculous. As Will Smith said so long ago (hee!)..jus’ mind ya bizness, jus’ mind ya bizness…
thanks for the welcome back. Trillion I had to travel for work, glad to be home. Missed you!
i think tom hanks is right
discrimination is un-american
at least in ideals
we arent perfect yet, but prop 8 isnt taking us in the right direction
I don’t think he owed them any apology.
TOTALLY agree with Jay
I think it was a very justified apology–while I, personally, have absolutely no problem with gay marriage or relationships, and in fact think that the legal argument set out here by jay is an excellent basis for the fight against Prop 8, on the other hand I find there are those who consider themselves extremely liberal and “politically correct” (found particularly among celebrities and college professors) who are utterly intolerant of any view but their own…in other words if you aren’t as tolerant of people as I am, you don’t deserve to speak!!
Tom Hanks’ attitude is similar…not addressing any serious arguments the Mormon Church might have (if they have arguments that can be discussed intellectually), or dealing-as jay does above-with the legal ramifications, but just slapping a nasty label against an entire group of people (“un-American”) because they aren’t as “tolerant” as Hanks is (or at least aren’t tolerant of the “right” groups, the ones Hanks think DESERVE to be supported).
You don’t fight prejudice with prejudice. I hear a lot of people who are outraged by the prejudice against gays very flippantly putting down and thoughtlessly rejecting any views of religious organizations. (as opposed to a respectful disagreement based on reasonable arguments).
“… in other words if you aren’t as tolerant of people as I am, you don’t deserve to speak!!”
Exactly, czarina. And this notion, of course, completely negates the whole point being tolerant in the first place. Both extreme right and left activists pull this crap all the time, without even realizing their own hypocrisy.
I find it rather amusing that being called un-American is considered such an insult. While in theory America’s ideals etc are idyllic, not all the theory is actually in practice and Obama’s election notwithstanding, life here isn’t perfect. Obviously if you have a good standard of living it’s better than almost any country in the world…… I’ll stop now……
PS… totally agree with TH and glad he clarifed without kow-towing to the Mormons. I’m also continually astounded (as a Catholic also) the lack of compassion and tolerance from religious organisations.
Institutional discrimination is unamerican…yes.
As I’ve said before, however, the issue of Gay “Marriage” (and I put the word in quotes because the word, itself, is the crux of the matter) is not a clean or clear issue.
Those who just want it to be done and over with right now without discussion will never agree that compromise or judicious study of other points of view might need legal attention.
Bigots who just hate gay people will never admit that they might be a smidge judgmental and hasty.
So therein lies the rub.
The truth is, there are many, MANY Americans with mixed ideas about gay marriage who do NOT hate gay people or wish for them to go even one more day without equal legal representation and recognition to married heterosexual couples.
But “marriage” is a religious sacrament as well as a civil state.
That being the case…all of the ranting on both sides will be TOTALLY in vain until such time as cooler heads can prevail long enough to legislate this without name-calling and dismissive tones.
Wanna level the playing field? Tax the churches !
What you fail to understand is one simple thing: God has said that marriage is between a man and a woman. You can argue discrimination. You can speak of how far society has come in tolerance. But it doesn’t change the fact that if you believe in God and you believe he gives men commandments to follow, and He declares that marriage is “THIS WAY and no other way”, then any religion (and there were more religions than just Mormons behind this) must stand up and declare it. If you believe there is a devil, Satan, Lucifer, however you wish to pronounce his name, then his objective is to get people to not follow God’s commandments. Now, which side do you want to be on??
I’m really upset that our educational system has failed so miserably that grown adults cannot decipher simple syntax. Tom Hanks shouldn’t have to clarify his statements – it was clear that Prop-8 was the subject of his “unAmerican” statement. I guess people got confused when he mentioned the Mormon Church in the same breath. More people ought to turn off the the TV and read a damn book.
TrickyD – It’s a little thing called the Separation of Church and State. The Government doesn’t have the right to push Religion on anyone, and the Legislation should never reflect the “morality” of any specific Religion. You have a right to pray to whichever God you please, but dogma is not allow on the books. Read about it.
TrickyD I want to be on the side of logic and the law, not God and religious dogma.
All of you guys… debating with such logic and sarcastic agression crack me up. To be quite honest I could give a rats ass for whatever comments Tom Hanks makes. He’s an actor. Whatever he believes or doesn’t believe to be American or not is for him to decide. I am atleast thankful that we all do not think alike. I appreciate the right and the left wing… they help us fly a more true course. So here’s a little invite to all of you worried about what is or isn’t American… why don’t you get out and get involved in your community. Read a book to a kid… donate time and money to a worthy cause. Stop bitchen and waiting for change and be that change. Let’s take that same tolerance that we offer “alternative lifestyles” and give the same freedom and tolerance to peoples faith and beliefs.
Not blonde is a real blonde joke. I love freedom of speech. 😉
If it is wrong for Mormons to vote against gay marriage then it was wrong for the state of California to put it to a vote. If the views of Tom Hanks were consistent with his supposed reverence for the Constitution it would be the government of California that would be the object of his indignation, not Mormons.
Shouldn’t the issue be about rights and not what those rights are called? I think gay insistence that this is a rights issue is disingenuous. I doubt many gays regard not being married a “sin” or worthy of stigma. Would the gay community be willing to restrict rights of gay couples that do not marry? Or assign stigma for non-marriage? I think it highly improbable. If pro-gay political goals are achieved marriage or non-marriage will be completely irrelevant.
Marriage is a cultural construct to provide for children from heterosexual union. The term marriage should not be assigned arbitrarily to assuage feelings of guilt. Culture must not be manipulated by government simply to allow certain groups to feel good about themselves or promote a certain ideology.
I believe that legal protection should be afforded everyone, but the role of culture should not be regulated by government. People, like Tom Hanks, who reflexively feel angry about the results of democracy and think Mormons should be castigated for their participation are not thinking about the issue deeply enough.
I live in Sydney where it ok for gay people to make fun of things that are sacred to other people both religious and otherwise but it is “discriminatory” to be express your views that you don’t agree with gay marraige. I guess that means that only heterosexual people are able to discriminate.. Come on people wake up and smell the roses.. What happens when a guy wants to marry his sister or his daughter?? Should they be allowed to? If not then is that not discrimination against their choice?
Its a very slippery slide down the moral compass and when it starts it can’t be stopped as precedents will be set! As for Tom Hanks, the gay dollar is worth a lot of money for his industry so what else would he say!
Hey Tricky D!!! What you fail to understand is that this great nation was set up by God and his inspiration to allow his children to live together in harmony. If you believe in God you would recognize the importance of the inspired requirements of seperation between church and state. Jesus Christ said to love your neighbor as yourself. God gave laws to HIS people and there is no where in his words or instructions where he says to force his laws upon the unbelieving. This erroneous attitude of using God to deny another person his free agency is anti-christian. After all, did not Christ say only those who choose? Even god does not deny his children free agency. You can protect Gods design for marriage by LIVING his laws not forcing them on others. If you believe in Satan, Lucifer or whatever name you want to call him you will know that according to certain scripture Satan’s plan was to force everyone to live righteously while Christ’s plan was to invite only those who were willing. So what side do you want to be on? Satan’s side that dictates the law whether you accept it or not? Or Christ’s law where everyone has free agency to choose what they will do?
One more consideration for lucky D. There is no scripture that says…”Marriage is between A man and A woman and there is no other way…” That law was written by the LDS church and incorporated into the Utah gov. by LDS beaurocrats to ensure their religion always has the dominant say in Utah politics. The problem with the LDS church here in Utah is that they often have attorneys write up documentation on their behalf and try to pass it off as Bible scripture. The Bible makes reference to a woman submitting herself to her husband… That is what scripture really says and I know LDS women have rejected this scripture and the common saying in Utah amoung LDS woman in reference to that Biblical instruction has been changed to…”A woman should be willing to listen to her husband and consider what he says but submitting to her husband is no longer required.” If you live around LDS members very long, as I do, you will come to realize that the LDS dismiss scripture that does not support their current agenda and edit in their own invented statements as Lucky D just tried to do. LDS authorities have come to the same conclusion the Christian churches did back in the dark ages… That is, The LDS church will use corrupt anti-christian methods to obtain the agenda they interpret that God wants. Proposition 8 was note voted by the majority…It was purchased by a minority as most laws in the U.S. are. Lucky D’s claim that if you are on God’s side you must join their crusade and dictate to all mankind whatever fad nterpretation their religion chooses to pull out of the hat these days is a sign of serious brainwashing or bigotry…You decide.
So, Mia, if God’s laws are not for the unbelieving, then it’s okay to kill, steal, bear false witness, etc…..
I see….
Free agency to choose, yes, but you also choose the consequence,,,,,,
Prop 8 was about the democratic right to vote on a moral issue.
What Tom Hanks did however was criticize a party for exercising this freedom and this in itself it undemocratic and, as democracy is the pervading cornerstone of Americanism, it is Tom Hanks who is unamerican.
Whether you agree with gay marriage or not the American public voted with a majority on the issue. It was not one party imposing beliefs upon another. After all couldn’t celebrities such as Hanks himself, speaking candidly on the issue be seen as him using star power to unduely influence Americans. Hypocrite? aha.
Its double standards on Hanks’ behalf. The right to vote and support propositions is truely American and his own public condemnation of this practise is the completely unamerican.
I am a Mormon. I don’t hate gay people. I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I have a right to speak my opinion just as anyone else. It’s MY community too. I should be able to have a say to the kind of surroundings my children grow up in. There is nothing wrong with trying to make an influence for what you BELIEVE is the better. Same thing as freedom of speech. Both sides are fighting for what they believe. The people voted, one side won. That’s America.
First of all the church is international not American. Secondly, they answer to God not to Americans actors
The United States was founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles. Gay marriage is absolutely contrary to those values and principles and thus un-American. When we start calling good evil and evil good, we need to beware of the consequences like those of Sodom and Gomorrah