Endangered species Quote by Violet LeVoit
““But the Mormons are not afraid of us. They think deep down that they’re the real desert dwellers and us Angelenos are living in this artificially irrigated Eden because we’re soft and fragile jungle creatures, like some Amazon rain forest frog that landed its neon arrow-poison-secreting hide on some endangered species list because the humidity isn’t quite right this year. And so you bring them in and feed them—the Mormons, not the poison frogs—and you’ve always got to buy Danishes for the meeting. Where the hell do you find Danishes anymore? Their palates are atavistic, right back to the 1950s.” “You””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “Desert Echoes” by Violet LeVoit, 2021
Mormons are portrayed as authentic desert dwellers contrasted with fragile urbanites, using vivid metaphor and humor about Danishes.
In simple terms: Mormons are seen as true desert people, while city dwellers feel fragile.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge cultural differences and humor in social settings.
Themes
culture
identity
urban vs rural
humor
food
metaphor
Mood
satirical
playful
reflective
Type
social
cultural
observational
When to use this quote
- community gatherings
- cultural festivals
- interfaith dialogues
Key Concepts
social satire
cultural critique
identity politics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor shape our view of cultural groups?
- What role does food play in cultural identity?
A Different Perspective
Humor may oversimplify complex cultural identities.
![“Speaking in the tabernacle to a large assembly, he [John Taylor, Mormon] said: Who would not rather die than bow to the yoke of the enemy? It would sweeten death to a man to know that he should lay down his life in defence of freedom and the kingdom of God, rather than to longer bow to the cruelty…” quote by Juanita Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/232/juanita-brooks-33595_kingdom-of-god_speaking-in-the-tabernacle-to-a-large-as_555686.jpg)
![“It was not until the spring of 1859 [two years later] that the children [the survivors of the murdered emigrant train] were officially turned over to the government officials, and bills for their care were made… The policy of letting the government pay seems to have been general…” quote by Juanita Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f15/juanita-brooks-33595_children_it-was-not-until-the-spring-of-1859-two_372854.jpg)
