Letter: Utah’s courageous leadership shows what it means to be American

Deseret News

I’m even more proud to be an American after reading today about Utah’s courageous leadership.

A clear example of rebuilding patriotism by uniting Americans around our shared values, Gov. Gary Herbert welcomed immigrating “individuals and groups who have been forced from their homes …,” emphasizing in a letter to our president that “we love giving them a new home and a new life.” He added that newcomers usually become “productive employees and responsible citizens ...,” noting they are “an asset to Utah.”

In an inspiring act of moral unity and true grit, Utah’s congressional delegation, state legislators and local elected officials around the state quickly backed Gov. Herbert. The Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives stated, “(W)e value these people.” Leaders across the aisle stood together. This patriotic act of uniting Americans around our shared values warrants our appreciation.

In our current environment, this beacon of light stands much taller than the shimmering Salt Lake Temple — even in brilliant sunshine with a bright blue Utah sky. It stands taller than Utah’s majestic Rocky Mountains. It stands taller than any other example witnessed across our nation during this period of profound threat to our constitutionally enshrined freedoms and liberty. It reaches straight up towards the heavens and our creator — the source of our nation’s founding principles.

I want to thank Utah’s elder statesmen and stateswomen who rendered this unified leadership example for our nation. Clearly, it’s a road map for how we find our way home despite ceaseless withering attacks on countless individuals from our nation’s bully pulpit.

While I’m one who sees that our enemies sometimes leverage immigration as an act of war, I’m hopeful that our nation’s conscientious leaders will utilize the strategies demonstrated through Utah’s support for goodhearted immigrants to defend our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Mosie Boyd

Fort Smith, Arkansas

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