This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a political science major, I was excited to attend a Q&A session given by Rep. Rob Bishop last Thursday at Utah State University. One student asked about land rights in Utah. It was clear that this issue was a matter of great concern to him.
Bishop used all the power of his rhetoric to undermine the validity of the question, and then he tried to move on. The student spoke up again, trying to be heard. In frustration, Bishop waved his hand at the young man and shouted, "Shh!"
This is where I take offense. As the man who represents our voices in Washington, Bishop has the arrogance to not only demean, but silence the voice of one of his constituents.
Representatives must listen to what we think, and then decide how to represent those thoughts. That student's opinion should have been heard and responded to with respect.
Silencing a person's voice is not the action of a representative; it is the action of a dictator. I cannot vote for a representative who silences his people's voices.
Jason Whitaker
Perry