Salt Lake County Joint Statement: Be the Change
All nine members of the Salt Lake County Council and the Salt Lake County Mayor issued the following joint statement:
As members of one of Utah's most politically diverse bodies—five Republicans and four Democrats—we know firsthand the value of civic collaboration because ideologies can, too often, divide us. In spite of our differences, the Salt Lake County Mayor and the Salt Lake County Council consistently find ways to work together to improve the lives of our residents.
The way we treat one another matters. Hostility and anger cut at the threads of our social fabric, and last week's horrific shooting threatens to drive us further apart. We all agree, political violence has no place in our democracy.
Disappointingly, hatred and mistrust are everywhere. Here in Utah, hatred is intensifying, pitting friend against friend, family against family, neighbor against neighbor. As has been shared many times over the last week, when dialogue stops, division deepens. When people stop talking to each other, we lose our shared sense of humanity and violence is often the outcome. We are all witnessing this unfold in our country.
Are we waiting for someone else to fix this?
Change does not begin by pointing fingers. Change begins with honest reflection on the condition of our own hearts. As members of the Salt Lake County Council and as the Salt Lake County mayor, we are striving to embody the change we wish to see in the world—and we invite you to join us.
How? Consider pausing before posting on social media. Start a respectful conversation with someone who disagrees with you. Walk away without proving someone wrong. Offer kindness where it isn't expected. Choose respect where it isn't returned. Above all, we implore every American to reject ideologies that incite violence and spread hate.
Remember, there is wisdom in first seeking to understand before seeking to be understood. Let's be the change. It starts with you. It starts with me.
From:
The Salt Lake County Council Republican and Democratic Caucuses
Mayor Jenny Wilson
Salt Lake County Council Republican Caucus:
Dea Theodore, Aimee Winder Newton, Laurie Stringham, Sheldon Stewart, Carlos Moreno
Salt Lake County Council Democratic Caucus:
Suzanne Harrison, Ross Romero, Natalie Pinkney, Jiro Johnson