Past Heritage and Future Hopes
It took over an hour to get from the Midvale Central trax station to room 445 on the 4th floor of the Utah State Capitol building. Other than finding my way to the Capitol Complex, I really didn’t have any specific destination in mind when I left home. As usually happens when I allow myself to walk forward without thinking first, I ended up in an unexpected situation. I missed my bus during the downtown transfer. Actually, more accurately, I couldn’t find the bus stop. Since mass transit is not my forte and I have a good, strong pair of legs, I decided to journey on foot. I walked from 200 South and Main St. all the way to State St. and up to the Capitol building. The last stretch before reaching the Capitol was a tedious, uphill climb, overshadowed by beautiful and wise old brick houses. Cars whizzed past on my left and I looked up to catch a glimpse of the Capitol through the trees. As I trudged up the hill, muscles burning from the morning’s weight lifting session, I felt as if those old mansions stood as a monument to the past. The cracked and worn sidewalk, the old ivy covered stone walls, the drooping trees; all seemed to say, “It is because of us, our dreams for the future and our labor that you are here today.”
Cresting what was once called Arsenal Hill, I walked into a large open space surrounding the Capitol complex. The main capitol building stood tall above me, framed by The Avenues and the foothills of the Rockies. Around it, grass rolled in a green sea, interspersed with gravel pathways and stone monuments. Where a moment ago I only saw tree limbs and leaves, I could now gaze at the open sky. I was struck at the contrast between the boulevard of mansions behind and the expansive area before me. Behind was a restive memory, capable of both joy and sadness. Ahead was a symbol of the present and the future—progression, hopes, dreams, policy, justice and injustice—all thrown together; the driving force of our time.
I continued on towards the south facing entrance of the Capitol. Up and up the long sets of stairs I climbed; past the beehives, past the police car standing watch, through the eight granite pillars that stood before the doors, till I reached out and grasped the handle of the rightmost door. The door clicked loudly as it opened and I saw an empty area and a second set of wooden doors. As I stepped in, I felt as if I were walking into liminal space—a vacuum between two worlds that was neither one nor the other and offered no promises for either. I was slightly wary and uneasy as I heard the door close behind me.
The instant the second set of doors opened I was assaulted with a rush of new sounds and smells. The air was warm against my skin as I strode through the building. A bride was posing for a photographer on the East set of stairs, while two young girls were prancing around, taking pictures of each other as they went. Everywhere men and women dressed professionally were walking here and there, discussing policies and bills with one another.
I made my way to room 445 where the House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Standing Committee was being held. As I walked there, I passed a senator and a representative in earnest conversation. “…my bill. I’m going to need your help.” I signed into the committee meeting and took a seat.
There were several items on the agenda, but one of them stuck out in particular—House Concurrent Resolution 003. The purpose of this resolution was to designate October of 2010 as Italian-American Heritage Month in honor of the hard-working Italian farmers and miners that immigrated to Utah and became a vital part of the community. The Italians were, and still are, a very family oriented people, often holding large parties where food, family, and laughter were the order of the day. They worked hard to develop their communities and provide better opportunities in life for their children. HCR-003 is designed to unite the Italian families of Utah and designate a time for them to reflect on their past, enjoy the present, and look to the future.
As the sponsor was presenting, the Italian Vice-Consol to Utah and the Green Coats handed out biscotti and sparkling mineral water to the audience. This resolution seemed so different than the “serious” bills that are discussed at large by the media and heatedly debated over. And yet it seemed just as important to me because, like the boulevard of mansions, it too stood in honor of the past and Utah’s history. I wonder, what monuments will our great-grandchildren build in honor of us?
