Editor’s Note: The Selective Echo is pleased to offer, once again, another column by Mark Alvarez, a well-known attorney and public figure in Salt Lake City, who is living in Mexico City with his wife, Lorena. Let me echo every word of this important column. It is a wisely articulated powerful statement that reflects what each of us living in Utah should consider as we construct the perceptions and images which define us as Utahns. And, for those who wish to make a statement and respond directly to Sen. Buttars, I post his email and contact info here. His email is dcbuttars@utahsenate.org and his phone at (801) 561-0535. His fax is at (801) 561-3242. I would ask that all correspondence be addressed intelligently, maturely, and respectfully on behalf of a citizenry that seeks to raise the level of dialogue to its rightful place in our state.

In 2004, many community leaders joined in opposition to Amendment 3, a ballot initiative to change the state constitution, define marriage and set a limit on constitutional rights. Diverse voices spoke and responsible leadership emerged in the Don’t Amend Alliance.

The message “Don’t Amend” coupled with “It goes too far” spread through paid and earned media. The Don’t Amend Alliance worked well to educate people and energize voters; nevertheless, on Election Day, 66 percent of Utahns chose to pass Amendment 3. Did they go too far?

In 2000, a similar percentage of Utah voters chose to make English the official language of Utah. The proposal sought to severely restrict the use of non-English languages by government, but Judge Nehring (currently Justice Nehring) limited the law to a narrow application. The decision essentially rendered the law symbolic. Given Utah’s diversifying population and its remarkable language diversity, one wonders why 67 percent of Utahns chose a symbol reflective more of exclusivity than inclusivity. Did they go too far?

Recently, the debate over immigration has sparked hostility in Utah. The LDS Church has spoken in favor of treating all immigrants as human beings. Without question, the U.S. immigration system requires reform. The federal government should strengthen employment verification, adjust visa quotas to economic realities and streamline procedures. Borders should be efficient and smart, not expensive and militarized.

But the U.S. must work on a solution for the 13 million undocumented people living, working and studying here. And Utah should press the need and its particular case for federal action. If immigration restrictions had been put to a vote several months ago, more than 70 percent of Utahns would have voted in favor. Perhaps that has changed over the past few weeks. But if not, the question would remain: Did they go too far?

The above cases exemplify the challenges of changing times, and they disturb because most Utahns have tended to vote for confrontation over cooperation, for barriers over understanding. More troubling is that politicians focus more on these divides than on the real issues that Utahns must face as a diverse community. On these divides, it is not that some politicians and proposals go too far. They should not go at all!

Senator Chris Buttars has now matched his homophobic statements with a racist one. Racism has a history in the U.S. and a history, often unspoken, in Utah. I imagine Buttars’ remarks are especially disquieting to those Utahns who have worked to move past institutional racism to a culture of greater understanding and harmony. Some suggest that voters should decide Buttars’ fate: this is a democracy after all. I suggest that thought be given to those whom Buttars has attacked. And consider that he has attacked many. Buttars, like many others, has gone too far. Long ago, someone should have told Buttars, “you should not go at all.” Utahns should stand up for decency. Buttars should resign posthaste.