Starving ignorance | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I had an opportunity this week to show some friends from Mexico around Salt Lake City and demonstrate what a diverse, accepting culture we have here.

As I drove up State Street two days in a row, I was saddened and horrified as we saw protesters with signs reading "Honk if you want secure borders" and "S744 is a fiscal threat" (about the immigration bill in the U.S. Senate).

There was, however, a stark, interesting contrast at the state Capitol, where we were greeted by a statue in the rotunda titled simply enough, "Immigration and Community." We are a country, and a state, of immigrants. They are the lifeblood of our community, part of what makes Salt Lake a great place to live.

Even with the roadside protesters, my friends really enjoyed the atmosphere Salt Lake has to offer. The funniest part is, as we drove past the people with signs it seemed as if a concentrated effort was made by the other drivers and myself to be as quiet as possible so as not the fuel this wildfire of ignorance.

Lizzy Anderson

South Salt Lake