Rocky: On Dissidence

The Salt Lake Tribune has a special features today on Salt Lake City MayorRocky Anderson and his dissident voice on many issues.

I’ve always felt a very deep responsibility to stand up against what I believe is wrongdoing and do what I can to improve our community and our world. . . . If you just go along to get along, you’re simply supporting the status quo, and there are too many things about the status quo that we all need to be not only upset about but working to change.

Rocky talks about the GOP, Utah Legislature, and Larry Miller’s decision to pull Brokeback Mountain from his theaters.

It’s ironic and sad that in the same year that Salt Lake City was given rave reviews in a book on the 50 friendliest cities for gays and lesbians and just months after I was named one of the 10 top straight advocates for the [Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual] community, the very unfortunate decision was made to stop the running of a beautiful, very poignant movie simply because the two main characters are gay. Some people say that private business people have a right to make that decision. But there are huge ramifications when people across the nation – and even in other countries – have taken notice and [are] once again ridiculing our state and the predominant religion because of the decision not to continue running the movie. . . . I’m not going to weigh in on the [call to boycott Miller-owned businesses] other than to say I certainly understand how offended anybody who seeks greater understanding and compassion toward the gay and lesbian community would be by the message conveyed through the cancellation of “Brokeback Mountain.”

There are links to other articles and items on Rocky, inlcuding quotes and issue positions. Rocky also outlines his proudest moments and some regrets.

I have admired Rocky Anderson for the many stands he has taken on many issues in this predominantly GOP state. From all outward appearances he seems to “walk the talk”, as it were, with no facades of vaguery around issues impacting Salt Lake City, Utah, the nation and the world.

Rocky ends the interview with the statement that began this post along with these words:
There are enormous and very tragic human rights abuses impacting millions of people around the world while the international community, including the United States, turns a blind eye. . . . The missing link has been effective grass-roots advocacy. . . . We need to create the leadership among individuals and throughout our communities.