Racism???

I recently read a blog entry about Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series and the possible racist elements it contains. Here is a link to the article. http://alisavaldesrodriguez.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html#3554407638079814097
I posted a response to it in her comments, but I wanted to post it here as well. *warning: there are some spoilers to breaking dawn.*


While your blog is obviously very well written, I do have a few issues regarding your reference to the Mormon faith. I am and have been a practicing Mormon for my entire life (all 21 years of it). I have read the Book of Mormon several times and the messages you say exist do not. Yes, throughout the majority of the Book of Mormon the Lamanites are a fearsome people; however, as one commenter said it is the choices that make them that way, not the color of their skin. You could say that their skin was made to reflect the color of their hearts, not the other way around. There are even instances where the Nephites become wicked and are brought back to righteousness by the Lamanites. You can see Helaman chapters 4-6 in the Book of Mormon as a specific example of this. You also mentioned that their skin was made dark in order to make them unattractive to the Nephites. I am not sure where you got that from exactly, but I would be interested in the context. What I do know is the attitude of the Nephites toward the Lamanites is not one of hate. There are countless examples of Nephites giving their lives in missionary service to bring them back to righteousness. In the book of Alma, multiple wars rage between the Nephites and Lamanites and yet the captains remark how sorry they are to shed the blood of their brothers.
In regard to Mrs. Meyers books specifically, I think that Native Americans were chosen to become werewolves because they are a culture with many legends and so it would make a much more believable story. I think that is also why the Volturi exist in Italy, because Europe is a region full of legends. It just works for the world she created. I also wanted to point out that in the end the Amazonian vampire Zafrina, a person who is in the category of those believed to be the descendants of Lamanites is the one Bella has the best friendship with. And in that same token it was essentially one of them who saved them all with the appearance of Nahuel.
As for racism in general, is not being different a curse to us all? How hard has it been for us as a human race to learn that it is not what a person looks like that really matters? So much unnecessary pain and heartache could be avoided if everyone could see this. Racism, in all its forms is something I am very strongly against. Growing up in rural South Carolina has provided me with ample opportunity to see it from every side. I believe every person needs to Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals (I spelled this wrong in my first draft. I meant to look it up before I posted this and forgot so my badly misspelled version was left by accident). It is a book that changed my life.
I believe someone also talked about the mountain meadows massacre. An article which appeared in the LDS monthly magazine about the incident is located here. http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1c234dc029133110VgnVCM100000176f620a____
You may want to see how we Mormons view it.
Also, in the majority of the pictures of Jesus Christ published by the Church, he has brown hair, olive skin, and green eyes.
I agree that we should not ever stand for something that makes another person seem less valuable than another. I do however think you are wrong in the argument you chose to make here.
If you would like to learn more about the Mormon faith, please visit http://www.mormon.org/.
Emily King
Ps- The book of Mormon 2 is not a book in the Book of Mormon and neither is the quote “the curse of the black skin.” You may want to check your source on that. A searchable version of the Book of Mormon is available here: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=84010fd41d93b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0