Tired Road Warrior

In his book Working in the Shadows, Gabriel Thompson describes and analyzes the year he spent working undercover alongside Guatemalans, Mexicans, and others at a variety of extremely low paying jobs.  He quickly determined that the jobs, some of which were very dangerous, failed to provide enough income to survive at even the lowest standard of living.  Gabriel was generally successful at lasting 2 months at each job except two:  (1) his subterfuge is discovered at a chicken plant and he is fired and (2) he hangs up his delivery bike after seven weeks of risking his life in New York City traffic.  According to reviewer Frances Romero (Time Magazine, 8 Feb 2010, p. 16)  “Therein lies perhaps the only blemish on the book’s premise:  Thompson has the luxury to quit.”

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The book “The Moral Underground” was recently given a short review in Time Magazine (Dec. 14, p. 23).  In her book, Lisa Dodson (BC sociology prof.) paints a rather dismal image of corporate America, who she feels is building wealth by abusing low-income workers.  “Helping the less fortunate in this context becomes as a form of civil and corporate disobedience.”  Time lists three of her examples:  (1) supervisors who alter time cards so that employees can take better care for their families; (2) the school nurse who keeps cots in her office so those with bad home situations can get a few hours of sleep; and (3) the doctor who thumbs his nose at insurance regulations in order to provide medicine for an entire household.  ”All see their behavior as necessary and moral acts of conscience.”

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In a recent BYU/Magazine (Summer 2009) there is a thought-provoking article titled:  “Why Giving Matters”.  The author — Arthur C. Brooks, a non-Mormon — makes the case that it is financially rewarding to give in a charitable way.  While I found reading the article to be rewarding, I’m not confortable with its tenor or basic conclusions.

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Elder Dallin Oaks, in the April 2009 Semi-annual LDS conference, spoke about “Unselfish Service”.  I had great hopes for this conference talk.  Elder Oaks is a highly respected jurist, educator, writer, and GA.  But his talk fell well short of my expectations.

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Mormon Fast-and-Testimony Meeting (FaTM) is a struggle for me on several levels. The meeting is supposed to consist of members standing and bearing witness to the veracity of various pieces of church doctrine. Members are expected to profess near-perfect belief in Mormonism’s core tenets.

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