The photos greeting us on Dec. 5, under the bold headline “Monuments Men,” presented a sad and extraordinarily accurate image of our beloved state’s moral political decline.
Above the fold, we got the smiling Utah delegation, including a worshipful, fawning Orrin Hatch, bowing before the foul-mouthed, dishonest, immoral, racist Donald Trump, who cares for nothing but his riches and himself.
Below, in tears, was Renie Medina, a Puebloan Laguna tribe member, whose rights had just been trampled on by the stroke of a rich man’s pen. Aw, the contrast. But why should we be surprised?
As George Pyle once wrote, when the 30 pieces of silver are on the table, Mormon Utah isn’t any more moral than anybody else. In their support of Trump, from his tax bill for the rich to immigration and health care, our leaders have proven Pyle correct.
Sadly, these front-page pictures, while illustrating a specific topic, are an excellent visual of the broader concept. As Hatch frames the image of himself with Trump, and places it next to his recent award for moral leadership, I hope he remembers Renie Medina, too. Her photo might remind him of what moral leadership is all about.
Lynne Larson, American Fork
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