JULY 2021
RIVERTON REVIEW Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
“All Men Are Created Equal” By Mayor Trent Staggs 245 years ago, the American spirit was born, memorialized in the unanimous Declaration that was signed by 56 representatives of not subjective colonies, but rather from united, “free and independent states.” The revolutionary beliefs stated in this magnificent document, declared that “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These rights are given to us by nature of our birth and existence into this world, and not conditioned or bestowed upon us by government. Governments are instituted to protect these unalienable rights, with their just powers bestowed upon them with the consent from us, the governed.
Assuredly, one can look at our the flame of the American spirit. history and point to instances Rather, let us rally together, proud where we have struggled to of the fact that “…we are the heirs ensure the equal protection of of that first revolution…”, as JFK these unalienable rights. Slavery, said in his inaugural address. restricting the right to vote, Recognizing that we are all and other endowed by discriminatory our Creator practices with the same tied to one’s rights and gender, seeking out “Slavery, restricting the race, faith, or happiness right to vote, and other orientation that in this most would infringe blessed discriminatory practices on these Godcountry. There tied to one’s gender, race, given rights is far more that faith, or orientation that has no place in unites us than would infringe on these American life divides us. It or law. is not hard to God-given rights has no see the good place in American life We must in this country: or law.” be careful, we have however, not fought for the to focus on protection and each other’s maintenance immutable of freedom characteristics around and emphasize our differences. If the world, we remain the most we tear each other down based charitable country and there is on political beliefs, half-truths or no other nation on the planet that perceived slights, it can extinguish embraces diversity like we do.
RIVERTON REVIEW | JULY 2021
Notwithstanding this diversity of race, religion, or ideology, if we can all unify around one American culture or spirit espoused in our Declaration, that unity can give us unconquerable strength. We the people have come a long way to perpetuate the founding ideal that every individual is born with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which is often defined as the right to own and control property. I believe that more so than at any other time in our history, that happiness or American dream is attainable by anyone willing to work towards its pursuit and “catch up with it” as Benjamin Franklin once said. This 4th of July offers a new opportunity to remember our humble beginnings, unite and once again be proud to be an American. Let us all regrow a sense of patriotism, love and devotion towards this divine nation. No doubt, we will have additional challenges to face but together we can conquer them all.
PAGE 1