An Open Letter to Time-Warner, HBO, and the Producers and Writers of “Big Love” — UPDATED

AUTHOR’S NOTE: After several days of sitting by while watching the drama unfold surrounding the planned unveiling of a new segment of the HBO series “Big Love,” I was finally compelled to respond today based upon an Associated Press article published in yesterday’s edition of the Daily Variety.

What follows below is a slightly modified version of my response to said online article in the Daily Variety.

For the record, this Website is dedicated to identifying and applauding the best efforts of those trying to simplify and demystify complex and technical subjects. I publish my commentary about this “Big Love” brouhaha here as I know that the commingled subject of polygamy and religion are quite complex; unfortunately, it is also clear to me that the writers or producers of “Big Love” or the executives of HBO or Time-Warner have done a huge disservice to both Mormons and polygamists alike in distorting the truth.

David Politis

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Dear Variety and Variety Readers:

As a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (”Mormon”) I am certainly not surprised that HBO is moving forward with its plans to air a segment of “Big Love” that purports to show scenes from what is arguably one of the most sacred portions of the LDS religion — the temple endowment ceremony.

Then again, I am disappointed in HBO as I would have hoped that HBO and its parent company, Time-Warner, would have been more respectful of the faith and a people who have experienced significant persecution during its 175-year history. Obviously, those were false hopes.

More importantly, it appears that in spite of communications to the LDS Church to the contrary, HBO and the producers and writers of “Big Love” seem intent on blurring the line between the LDS/Mormon Church and the failed and illegal practices of a few polygamists.

As a practicing polygamist, Jeanne Tripplehorn’s character, Barb, would not be allowed into a dedicated Mormon temple where sacred rites are performed and religious instructions are given. She would not pass muster in the two worthiness interviews required with two local leaders of her local & regional congregations before she could receive a “letter of recommendation” to provide her with access inside a temple.

In truth, anyone (Polygamist, Christian, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jew, Gentile, Wiccan, Atheist, or whatever) can enter any Mormon meeting house around the world and attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings, and they can do so without being baptized and becoming converted to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

That said, entrance into any LDS temple first requires baptism into the LDS Church and continued adherence to minimal standards for at least a year after baptism before one is eligible to seek a Temple Recommend.

Some of these Temple Recommend standards include

• no smoking;
• no drinking of alcohol, coffee or tea; 
• no use of illegal drugs;
• no misuse of prescription drugs or medications;
• no sexual activities outside of (or before) a legal and lawful marriage relationship; 
• paying of tithing (10 percent of annual income); 
• regular attendance at Church meetings; 
• volunteer service within the Church; 
• acceptance of the current President of the LDS Church as Prophet, Seer and Revelator;
• belief in God the Eternal Father, Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Redeemer of the world, and the Holy Ghost as the 3rd member of the Godhead (and each of these beings as separate and distinct individuals);
• and (though perhaps last in this list, not least for this commentary) 
  agreement to follow and obey the laws of the land where you live.

Last time I checked it is illegal to be in a polygamous relationship in the U.S. It is also grounds for removal from the Mormon Church if a Latter-day Saint is found to be practicing polygamy and will not give it up. Practicing polygamy will also prevent one from

1. being baptized into the LDS Church and
2. from receiving a Temple Recommend allowing one to enter an LDS Temple.

I am ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT that the “Big Love” writers and producers know these facts. I am ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT that the management of HBO and Time-Warner know these facts.

Unfortunately, I am also ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT that the segment of “Big Love” scheduled to premiere this weekend will air as scheduled.

By doing so, the HBO and all affiliated with “Big Love” will do all Latter-Day Saints and the public at large a huge disservice by blatantly depicting not only something that is held as being supremely sacred by Mormons around the world, but also by depicting and promulgating a lie that a practicing polygamist (like the character “Barb”) would ever be allowed into an LDS Temple. Then again, I have a hard time believing that any practicing polygamist would even want to go through a Mormon Temple ceremony; but hey, who am I to judge?

At the end of the day, I agree with the premise that HBO has the constitutional right to produce and air “Big Love” as well as this forthcoming segment.

I also have the right to NOT watch “Big Love” and to point out the the world and to HBO what I believe to be HBO’s patently misleading, hurtful, salacious and disrespectful approach to all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sincerely,

David Politis

A P.S. for Long-time Readers of TheBettyFactor.com: HBO and Time-Warner both land “Sad Betty Awards” for their handling of this mess. How disappointing!

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AN UPDATE (3/14/09):

Although I tried to post my comment about the A.P. story directly to the original post on Variety.com, I was unable to do so as their Web publishing system is all messed up.

I was, however, able to reach Dana Harris, Variety editor and editor of H.A.L. (the Hollywood’s Aggregated Links blog on Variety.com), and she graciously agreed to include it in H.A.L., which she did under the title “HBO vs. LDS: The Mormons strike back.” (Thanks, Dana.)

Given that Variety is probably THE most visible and best-read media outlet covering the entertainment business, it’s not surprising to me that my little write-up on Variety.com has attracted as much interest and as many vitriolic responses as it has. And the re-purposing of that same post here on TheBettyFactor.com has also generated similar results.

In the main, however, there seems to be a balance of negative and positive feedback, and only a few personal attacks.

What I do find most interesting is the fact that so few commenters have the gumption (or the guts) to publicly disclose their true identities, hiding behind pseudonyms or pen names. I find this truly curious, and not the least bit disturbing.

My feeling is that if you’re willing to stand-up for your convictions, then have the courage to stand-up and publicly disclose your real identity.

Then again, that’s one of the fantastic things about the Constitution of the United States:

We U.S. citizen has the right to say what he/she wants to say (or publish or do), as long as such actions do not infringe on the rights of others.

This also includes those citizens willing to argue that HBO and the Co-Creators/Executive Producers of “Big Love” have every right to produce and air their show on any cable system that chooses to run their series. Those rights also extend to those who choose to speak-out against “Big Love” (like me).

But enjoying such freedoms also means that I cannot force others to disclose their identities, at least as long as they are not breaking the law or infringing on the rights of others, and I know that.

I wuz just wishin’.  

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