Utah Valley Mayors: Let’s Come Together with Respect and Willingness to Listen

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Fiesta Days events like the annual parade are opportunities for community members to come together and celebrate freedom.

Thanks to Spanish Fork City

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Events like Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork provide an opportunity to bridge differences and viewpoints and come together as a community.

Thanks to Spanish Fork City

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Spanish Fork Mayor Mike Mendenhall

Thanks to Spanish Fork City

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: Fiesta Days events like the annual parade are opportunities for community members to come together and celebrate freedom.

: Events like Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork provide an opportunity to bridge differences and viewpoints and come together as a community.

: Spanish Fork Mayor Mike Mendenhall

I have been thinking a lot about the recent events in our country. During the night of our Fiesta Days Pyromusical, I felt like Spanish Fork could be an example to the rest of the country. Fiesta Days has always been a time for families and friends to come together, celebrate freedom, remember what is important, and be better.

Often finality is a misconception. Of course, there are things that can be final, but in general, finality is a myth. I think in our politics, we like to polarize and think that our opinion has to be the final opinion. Some people may feel that there is no way to get rid of a position or an issue.

I think good policy needs to be discussed, even passionately. I’m not saying we should be less passionate, but we need to come together and be open-minded and willing to listen to each other.

Even our strongest positions weren’t always strong. They got stronger over time. This is proof to me that positions and perspectives can change. There’s a misconception about finality. It’s okay to not have all the answers. It’s okay to disagree. But let’s be the example in Spanish Fork and Utah County and limit our disagreements to a higher level of respect for people and respect for each other.

Let’s tone down the hate rhetoric. Hate combined with misinformation and a finality mentality is what drives misguided people to harm others over something as trivial as a differing political opinion. This world is big enough for all ideas, backgrounds, and viewpoints. Spanish Fork is big enough for those too. So, as we celebrate Pioneer Day and a state founded on the ideals of industry and open-mindedness, let’s disagree and come together.

There are so many opportunities to come together this week — we would love to have you in Spanish Fork for our Fiesta Days! This celebration includes the largest Pioneer Day parade in the county, events in our park with vendors, sales at our downtown businesses, concerts, and fireworks! Come join us in the home of pride and progress! Event information can be found at sffiestadays.com.

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