Why Utah Is Cool
BYU’s Alternative Commencement
By Tracy Medley, 4-23-07
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| Photo courtesy of byualternativecommencement.com | |
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Whatever quaint notions folks like to harbor about Utah and Utahns – we’ve got chutzpa. Whatever side of the issue a Utahn is on – they’re on it – with bells on. Bells, whistles, megaphones, microphones… you name the noisemaker and I’ll point you to a Utahn with a point of view.
After 12 years in Utah, I’ve finally made peace with the division and derision that takes place in this beautiful state – because that which separates us is the essence of what makes us so distinctive, so unique and so cool. Yeah, you read correctly– I said cool.
Take Brigham Young University’s recent decision to invite Vice President Darth…er, Dick Cheney, for instance. On the surface the invite seems at best a “bad idea” and at worst a vulgar, partisan move – but think about it. The powers-that-be at BYU couldn’t have been totally oblivious to the storm of bullroar they would incur, inviting one of the most divisive political figures in recent history to bestow warm fuzzies upon their graduating class. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it – but, it seems to me that the brethren might just enjoy arousing the occasional dust up. Latter-Day Saints are actually quite sassy, cheeky people. They’re scrappers at heart – years of religious persecution and ridicule will do that to a group.
Then you’ve got the faithful and liberal LDS. I know you thought you had us all figured out and neatly cataloged, but stay with me here. Their answer to BYU’s invitation to Mr. Cheney wasn’t to silence him, but to offer an alternative. To that end a group of BYU students and alumni created BYU Alternative Commencement, a grass roots, collaborative gathering that will feature speakers like Ralph Nader, Jack Healey and Pete Ashdown. According to their website, “The program will focus on alternatives presented by speakers who are known for offering creative, democratic solutions to problems facing this country and government. Student organizers hope that this event will counter cynicism and wholesale criticism by encouraging discussion and empowering graduates to search for positive solutions to daunting problems.”
The group has raised over $20 thousand dollars for their event so far, not to mention national media attention from the Huffington Post, Daily Kos New York Times and Newsweek. Like I said, when Utahns have something to say – they say it loudly.
The tie that binds Utahns together is passion; admirable grit and willful fortitude to stand up for what you believe in, however different or unpopular. While Utah provides its own sometimes-unfair share of ridiculous fodder – it is, at its best a place where people live passionately, if not always peacefully.
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