"Cook, Dixon & Young" are the orignal three mo' tenors, or as a reviewer once described them, "three African-American tenors -- two gifted, one sublime.."

http://www.thomasyoungtenor.com/weblog/

Sent by david | 2:11 PM ET | 12-22-2007

I'm concerned that the questions of the candidates do not really tell us to whom they are listening. Who is advising on health matters, on foreign relations, on the military and are they likely to be influential (as Secretaries of Agencies, Directors of Health, Directors of Education etc...These are the folks really developing policy. We now know the very important role played by Rove and Cheney in past elections in forming the President's agenda. Who are these same people for each of the candidates and what kind of background/experience/qualifications do they have and what are their pet policies and projects? On the same line, to whom will the candidates be seriously beholden after the election? Which lobbying group will get favorable policy and which individuals are likely to get Ambassadorships?

Sent by Mona Grieser | 9:59 AM ET | 12-23-2007

Me and mine are trying to understand the Mormon faith, particularly its belief in the "Mark of Cain." Mormons believe that Blacks were the descendants of Cain and that when God ejected Cain from the Garden of Eden and marked Cain, the mark was black skin.

It is because of this "Mark of Cain" that Blacks were forbidden the Mormon priesthood until 1978. Interracial marriage was considered certain spiritual doom.

Still, this teaching was never repudiated.

Ever.

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2 NEPHI 5:21
"And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

"And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.

"And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.

"And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey."
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Here's where I found this and other references directly from the Mormon teachings and its founders: http://www.lds-mormon.com/racism.shtml

I'm wondering why we, as Black people, are silent about this issue, particularly as Mitt Romney (who never said a mumblin' word about this tenet of his faith), is running as a "man of faith."

It's this faith about which I am very, very worried.

If Romney and others are essentially running on a God platform and want to be Believer in Chief instead of Commander in Chief, I feel we should carefully examine their beliefs.

Very carefully.

Sent by Lalita Amos | 11:30 AM ET | 12-23-2007