- Utah Gov. Spencer Cox addressed Utah students in a video message aiming to foster unity and understanding.
- Cox said that everyone deserves respect and dignity, urging students to communicate with and listen to people they disagree with.
- He highlighted that what's online doesn't reflect real life, urging those listening to spend less time online.
“It may feel like rage is the only language in our politics, but you have the power to choose differently,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
This plea was part of a video message the governor shared with students across Utah on Monday. Throughout the video, he emphasized listening to those who don’t agree with you, getting off the internet to connect with others and building a culture that isn’t divided by hate.
Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last week, Cox has given multiple messages addressing political polarization and focusing on how people should come together in unity.
Throughout these different messages, he has mentioned young people and the impact they can have, but this latest video was specifically meant for young students across the state.
Here’s a closer look at what he said.
Listen to those you don’t agree with
At the beginning of the message, Cox focused on how rage doesn’t have to be the only language in politics.
“Every person you meet is more than a party or more than a label, more than a post online. Everyone deserves dignity and respect,” the governor said.
He continued, telling students that they should talk to people they disagree with, listen “even when it’s hard” and forgive “even when it feels impossible.”
“Campuses like yours must be a place of the free exchange of ideas. It’s critical to our American experiment,” Cox added.
‘What happens online is not real life’
The dangers of social media, especially when it comes to hate and polarization, is something Cox has emphasized throughout his time as governor. But since the shooting that happened last week, he has returned to the topic.
“Remember, what happens online is not real life,” the governor said.
He asked young people to get off the internet, get outside and connect with their communities.
“I want to challenge you to spend less time online where outrage has become so normal and more time in the real world, put down your phone, read something that lifts your spirit, go outside, laugh with your friends, serve your neighbors,” Cox said.
Building a culture that isn’t divided by hate
Cox told those who wonder whether they can actually make a difference that they should look around at the people in the state.
“Utahns lead the nation in service, in giving, in community. When tragedy struck this past week, there weren’t riots or destruction. There were vigils, prayers and people coming together. That’s the Utah way,” the governor said.
In one more call to action, he told the students that their generation can carry forward this “Utah way.”
“You can build a culture where we embrace differences without letting hate divide us, where hope is stronger than cynicism and where forgiveness breaks the cycle of violence, my friends and Utahns, this is our moment,” Cox added.
