I understand the small difficulty of moving to Salt Lake City from another state [“The Midwest Does It Better,” Letters, Aug. 29, City Weekly]. I lived in Florida and New Jersey for years and recently moved to Sugar House. It has been a very interesting experience for me in general, and I have found three dominating cultures that inhabit this valley. The first is, of course, the Mormons—usually a little extreme in their beliefs, and they usually try to share it with whomever they can, whenever they can.
The second is a group that leans to the other side of the spectrum—usually extreme in their beliefs against any religious culture or standings, and usually try to show it to whomever they can, whenever they can. The third are the Lost Boys of the Valley or, as I like to term them, normal people. They are those who couldn’t care less what your religious or anti-religious beliefs are. They are open to everyone and don’t get all uppity and defensive if they are invited to church or if they are invited to a club or bar. They are kind and genuine. They are Mormon and non-Mormon. They are neutral to the struggle, and thus find themselves as outcasts from the other groups.
I find it hilarious how much the second group will shout and scream tolerance until their lungs give out. They will cry “bigot” and “hater” for people who have a different moral standard than themselves, when, in all reality, they are just as guilty of being bigots and haters. They are in the exact extreme as the first group, just on the other end of the pendulum.
There are great people everywhere. There are terrible people everywhere. The focus should not be making blanket statements based on religious/nonreligious backgrounds, but on compassion and acceptance to everyone who is blessed enough to live in this beautiful valley.
STEVE
Salt Lake City
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