Here we are, at Friday already. It is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade as well as National Sanctity of Life Day.
In the last two days, we heard two very good speeches (and one amazing poem). Those speeches had some notable similarities: aspirational, forward-looking, not shying away from difficult issues we face and – they both spoke on unity. One was given by a Democrat, President Joe Biden and the other by a Republican, Governor Spencer Cox. What is interesting to me (in a sad sort of way) is the pushback against unity from members of the other party. Some Republicans immediately decried the President’s speech, including Senator Rand Paul who said it was “thinly-veiled innuendo, calling us White supremacists, calling us racists…” (Note: He must have listened to a different speech than I did.) Democrats had strong words against the “unity” being asked for by Republicans after the events of Jan. 6. I don’t believe that “unity” means acting in lockstep, or that we must have identical ideology and approaches. Rather, we can be unified in eradicating contempt, in committing to civil dialogue, in broadening opportunity and in love of country. Can’t we?
If you only have time for one thing today, please watch or read Governor Cox’s State of the State address. If you have time for two things, re-watch or read President Biden’s inaugural address.
TICK TOCK
42 days to the end of the 2021 Utah Legislature (3/5/21)
82 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration’s first 100 days (04/14/2021)
98 days until the Biden/Harris administration’s first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
