LETTER: Creating a second class

Editor,

On Monday, Feb. 21, I sat down in a closed circuit television room to listen to the Utah Senate vote on the “driving privilege” bill (SB227). The camera zoomed in on Senate President John Valentine as he called the session to order. I thought about the decisions senators make and the thousands of lives they impact. The power vested in them is sacred, not to be taken lightly, much less used for personal interest.

I was therefore very surprised when President Valentine called on a young man to address the floor. I was even more surprised when I heard the words “…I have something to say to my sweet heart, would you marry me?” After hearing the “yes” from his fiancée sitting in the chambers, President, Valentine called everyone’s attention saying, “…by the way, read the board”. The electronic sign read, “Would you marry me?” Public property – the sacred floor of the Senate was being used for a young man’s personal interest – a marriage proposal.

As the applause from the senators continued, the bride’s parents joined the celebration. When it became apparent that the president might loose control, he once again called the floor to order. The party was over.

Next, 21 of the same people who applauded the “yes” from the bride five minutes earlier, decided with another “yes,” uttered without emotion and little or no discussion, to affect the lives of 250,000 people. Thus, they sealed the fate of thousands of lives. Then, as if nothing had happened, they moved to the next item on the agenda.

I could not believe what I had just witnessed. One minute, using public property in a celebratory prelude and the next minute deciding the destiny of my people void of any sensitivity.

Somewhere there is a bride who celebrates a “yes” that was offered, of all places, on the Senate floor. Across the state, there are many other hearts broken by another “yes” from that same room: My co-citizen’s who will likely loose their driver’s license and be treated as second class citizens.

Antonio Arce