In today’s political environment, contentious conversations and disagreements can seem to overwhelm our discourse. This Independence Day provides us an opportunity to celebrate what we have in common through our shared love of United States history and our country.
The Fourth of July is dedicated to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which asks us to consider individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Each Utah citizen’s journey resonates with stories of hard work, doing our part, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Like most Americans, as I’ve read and watched the news, I’ve been thinking about our “ideological silos.” We may rightly be concerned about these divides, yet I’m heartened to realize some 72% of Americans agree we have a responsibility to connect with people who are different from us, according to one recent survey.
I know making these connections isn’t easy to do on a daily basis. What inspires us to come together is a question I keep thinking about in my position as co-chair of the America250 Utah Commission. My assignment is to lead the Unite committee, planning initiatives to promote community conversations and workshops about our civic responsibilities. I believe we can celebrate courage, liberty and sacrifice while also reckoning with difficult truths of division and injustice.
This is our opportunity: Next July, America250 Utah will start a year-long celebration of unity, education and engagement to culminate on July 4, 2026, for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This semiquincentennial anniversary provides an invitation for all of us to come together and to feel part of this major milestone for our country.
The commission has been charged by Gov. Spencer J. Cox and the Utah Legislature to “think big” as we create opportunities for every Utahn to celebrate during the upcoming years. Our vision is to facilitate America250 celebrations to generate a wider appreciation of history’s relevance to contemporary challenges. We hope to inspire people to take well-informed, good-faith steps to improve our communities, state and nation.
In this America250 assignment, we are inspired by reflections of our country’s history. Through formal politics, grassroots organizing, litigation and a wide range of other mass and individual actions, citizens have continually challenged our country to live up to our highest ideals.
We realize the word “unite” has many implications. As commissioners, we’re considering initiatives aimed to help Utahns of all ages and backgrounds see themselves in our shared history. Maybe the simplest first step would be to accept the challenge of talking to our neighbors — people we know, as well as those we don’t — with respect for their points of view. Let’s overcome our collective resistance to expect the worst in those conversations. Let’s stop shouting and start listening.
We believe that encouraging discussions about our democracy and civic institutions can help strengthen understanding, inspire action and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment. In this next year, we can all look for opportunities to talk to each other with patience and civility.
Please join us in our statewide effort to bridge our divides through learning opportunities and moderated community conversations in libraries and other gathering places and participation in 250 service projects across the state. Discover how you might join in this state- and nation-wide opportunity by frequently visiting america250.utah.gov. Here you can sign up for updates and suggest ideas about how we can — together — shape our celebrations. We’ll be listening.
Justice Christine Durham is the co-chair of the America250 Utah Commission.
Justice Christine Durham is the co-chair of the America250 Utah Commission. Justice Durham became the first woman to serve on the Utah Supreme Court after her appointment by Gov. Scott M. Matheson in 1982. She served as chief justice until 2012; she retired from the bench in November 2017. She is currently senior of counsel in the Salt Lake City office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
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