I appreciate Gov. Cox’s focus on civil dialogue. It must be backed up with his actions, of course, to be meaningful. I appreciated his speeches five years ago that seemed to genuinely support building bridges with the LGBTQ community. I appreciate his advertising with other governors to promote civility. I hope he will continue to back it up with action. My gut tells me that something has shifted in his focus, and I hope that he will continue to both say and do things that promote dignity.
Personally, I am working hard at talking to others, especially people I would rather avoid. These conversations can be difficult when I hear things that challenge my thinking. I was in a situation recently in which I upset someone, but when I asked them if we could talk outside, they said no. I am going to continue to seek that opportunity even though it is difficult for me, as I would rather avoid conflict. We will not make progress if we are unwilling to seek to understand each other.
We must take accountability and participate in civic life with respect. I remember the story from Gov. Herbert’s aide about running into a man at the grocery store who told her he wanted to bash her head with a baseball bat (he recognized her as a city council member). She is a founder of The Dignity Index. We must learn the skills and foundation of treating others with dignity, or our society and democracy will suffer. A house divided against itself will fall. We must do more than just say the words “civil dialogue.” We must actually engage in civil dialogue as well, and I’m thankful to Governor Cox for doing so.
Angie Sterner, Bountiful
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