Latest news with #MWEG
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: Where are the compassionate and moderating voices on Trump's travel ban?
Before he secured the Republican nomination for president in 2016, Donald Trump announced that he would seek 'a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.' Reaction, including from human rights organizations and fellow Republicans, was swift, and, for the most part, was characterized by astonishment, outrage and condemnation. Marco Rubio posted online, 'I disagree with Donald Trump's latest proposal. His habit of making offensive and outlandish statements will not bring Americans together.' At that time, Trump was an unknown entity in politics, and many believed he would never actually seek to implement the outrageous things he said. Unfortunately, one of Trump's first actions as a newly inaugurated president in January 2017 was to sign an executive order banning nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. This was immediately met with lawsuits and protests. The order was amended two different times in response to court challenges; eventually, a scaled-back version was upheld by the Supreme Court. To their credit, many leaders and members of the president's party were dismayed by this ban at the time. They saw it for what it was — a threat to the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. They could see it as a clear attack on the pluralism that has long guaranteed that our nation — a nation of immigrants — remains a haven for people seeking to practice their religion according to their conscience while also contributing to society. When candidate Trump first voiced his pledge to prevent Muslims from entering the U.S. in 2015, Utah Governor Herbert spoke out strongly against this idea: 'I am the governor of a state that was settled by religious exiles who withstood persecution after persecution, including an extermination order from another state's governor. In Utah, the First Amendment still matters. That will not change so long as I remain governor.' We remember both the early rhetoric of candidate Trump and the later actions of President Trump well. It was shocking and disorienting to watch his efforts to discriminate against others. It was disheartening to watch a political party descend into unchristian and uncharitable legalese, all with the aim to exclude others based solely on their faith or nationality. Mormon Women for Ethical Government was born in response to these efforts. At the outset, MWEG's founders envisioned a small group of women working together through peaceful, faithful, nonpartisan and proactive ways to counteract the unbelievable turn the government was making. But these women were not alone in their desire to take action. They were quickly joined by thousands of other women of faith who were ready to work for a more peaceful, just and ethical world. Over time, MWEG has become a strong voice in advocating for compassionate and moderating forces in government. The organization continues to attract women who want to proactively and peacefully support systems rooted in constitutional principles and the rule of law. We now have women in all 50 states engaging in the political arena as informed and principled citizens. Though much has changed since the formation of MWEG eight years ago, immigration remains a central and divisive issue. Immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, have been victims of dehumanizing language and unfair stereotyping. The current administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport people without due process. It has detained students without cause, deported a man by mistake and refused a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return, attempted to end birthright citizenship, revoked student visas, ended temporary protected status for many, and suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). This week, President Trump signed another proclamation that bans citizens from 12 countries from entering the U.S. In comparison to eight years ago, the large-scale response has been muted or even resigned. As the world has changed and political rhetoric has become ever more extreme, have we changed with it? Do things that were once the source of personal outrage and deep concern still concern us? Has our once-strong commitment to love our neighbor as ourself weakened? And, if we cannot love them, are we at least as committed to maintaining their claim to Constitutional protections as we were eight years ago? As an organization, MWEG is committed to amplifying the best aspects of our Christian faith. That faith is rooted in a gospel of generosity. We are also committed to preserving the Constitution that, among other things, protects our ability, as members of a minority faith, to participate freely in civic life, to express our views and to practice our religion without fear of repercussions. Actions like this ban seem directed at a particular group, but they actually undermine the constitutional rights that protect all of us from government overreach. As citizens of a free nation, we can and should speak out when we see those rights being violated. In 2017, the threat was widely recognized by leaders and citizens from both parties. It is worth contemplating why this is no longer the case.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Members of MWEG gather at Utah Capitol for training
The leaders of Mormon Women for Ethical Government want to help the women in their organization to take a more active role in all levels of government, and so they're teaching them how to make their voices heard. That includes at the state level, which is why a group of women gathered recently at the Utah Capitol. Established in 2016 with fewer than a dozen members, MWEG now has hundreds of members around the nation, including in Utah. 'We want women to be involved civically ... and know that their voices count and make a difference,' MWEG Utah Chapter co-coordinator Melarie Wheat told the Deseret News. To that end, the group held a 2025 'Day at the Capitol' event at the Utah State Capitol in late January. Dozens gathered for the event, which featured member networking, presentations on getting involved with government and a tour of the Capitol. The organization is open to women of all political stripes and religious affiliations, and while many of them are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the group is not affiliated with the church. There was a lot of energy in the room as new and old members connected. Experienced members mentored newcomers on items ranging from tracking bills of interest to the best ways to contact their representatives. Several attendees wore purple — the organization's signature color — which is meant to be a reminder of their nonpartisan stance. To that end, MWEG does not endorse candidates or organize campaigns. Several Utah state lawmakers, including Sen. Ann Millner, R-Ogden, Rep. Verona Mauga, D-Salt Lake City and Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, D-Cottonwood Heights, spoke to the MWEG members during their visit. They answered policy questions and shared their stories. 'The most important thing is that we should be serving our brothers and sisters. ... I see big gaps in that for our country and our state where we could be doing better. And so if our government isn't reflecting our values, we should be getting involved,' Bennion told the Deseret News. The organization admits people from any faith tradition, but all of their members are women. '(Women) do have different life experiences from men, and it's good for us to be able to be free to discuss those issues and not feel like we need to explain ourselves,' said Wheat. 'Many of us wonder how we can start (in politics),' said Bennion. 'MWEG is a great place for people to start to get involved and to learn about the process and to become more active as citizens.' This year, the group says it will advocate for legislation that falls into five main categories: democratic institutions, immigration, environmental protection, family and peacemaking. 'Personally, my faith inspires in all of those areas,' said Wheat. 'Especially when it comes to immigration ... and environment and caring for creation.' This session, Bennion said she is focused on affordable housing and water conservation, pointing to HB99 and HB89, respectively. Longtime member Rebecca Rogers, a resident of Utah Valley, shared that her interests this legislative session relate particularly to immigration. 'My daughter-in-law is Filipina and she's here, she's a (legal) citizen ... but I think when people are curious or suspicious of Asian people it reflects on her, and it also reflects on my grandson,' Rogers told the Deseret News. She said she is motivated to speak for other people who can't speak for themselves. 'That just brings me to be more (politically) active,' she said. MWEG's Day at the Capitol came ahead of the group's 2025 conference on March 22.
