Originally published in the Deseret News.
I love the word “grace,” but, like most people, I don’t normally associate it with patriotism. Over the past several years, that’s changed. The tragedy of September 11 and the unity that followed, the controversial wars, the bitter entanglements in Washington and the national funk we’ve been through — and many would say are still in — have taken root in me. Patriotic grace is now part of my mindset and has a certain Fourth of July appeal.
Originally published in the Deseret News.
The International Paris Air Show is the largest and longest-running aerospace trade show in the world. For over 100 years the aviation industry has been gathering here to showcase the latest technologies in aviation and connect customers with suppliers. Charles Lindbergh landed his historic 1927 flight at this airport. This week an estimated 3,100 journalists, 285 official delegations from all over the world and over 300,000 attendees will visit the show.
Continue reading Utah represented at International Paris Air Show
Originally published in the Deseret News.
I’ve been to an American cemetery overseas before, but not as part of an official delegation led by a commander and chief. The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial includes the remains of 5,076 Americans, including Gen. George Patton. Also included are 13 Utahns and one Utahn listed as missing in action. Gov. Gary Herbert and first lady Jeanette Herbert placed a wreath at the cemetery on behalf of a grateful state. The wreath read, “They shall not be forgotten. Utah remembers.”
Continue reading Valor and sacrifice: A visit to the American Cemetery in Luxembourg
Originally published in the Deseret News.
I was honored to accompany Gov. Gary Herbert and his economic team on two appointments with the European Commission (EC) in Brussels. We met with three heads of cabinet in the morning and later that afternoon with Vice President Jyrki Katainen, one of the top officials in the EC for economic matters and the former prime minister of Finland.
Originally published in the Deseret News.
We are now two countries into Gov. Gary Herbert’s Western Europe Trade Mission, and a theme is emerging: Utah punches above its weight.
Forgive me for the boxing metaphor, but it seems to fit and has been frequently quoted during this trade mission. It all started with comparisons between the Netherlands and Utah and continued as we visited Belgium. Both are small countries that make a big impact on the world, not unlike the state of Utah.
Originally published in Utah Business.
I attended the launch last month of the Women’s Leadership Institute, a group of men and women in Utah committed to elevating the stature of women’s leadership in our state. Pat Jones, who serves as CEO of the institute, said it best: “Our state will fall behind if we don’t use the full capacity of women.”
Originally published in the Deseret News.
This week I am traveling with Gov. Gary Herbert in Western Europe with a delegation of 40 business and community leaders. We are here to promote trade and tourism between Utah and five countries in Europe. The catalyst for the visit is Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam. This direct flight provides an opportunity to capitalize on Utah’s economic ties to Western Europe.
Continue reading New Delta flight presents economic growth opportunities for Utah, Western Europe
Originally published in the Deseret News.
I attended a meeting last week where Congressmen Rob Bishop and Chris Stewart shared their thoughts on the challenges ISIS, rogue states and radical Islam present to the world. It was a discouraging presentation that left everyone in the room feeling ill at ease. After 20 minutes of disturbing banter about terrorist threats, suicide bombers, Iran with nuclear weapons and other horrors, a man raised his hand and asked a poignant question. He said, “I’m just a guy with a business, the father of four children and the coach of my son’s Little League baseball team. What can I do?”
I can think of many responses to the man’s question — such as support the U.S. military or vote for candidates who are educated in foreign policy — but Rob Bishop had the perfect answer. With conviction he said to the man, “Keep coaching Little League baseball.”
Continue reading Combating global terror is possible thanks to Little League coaches
Originally published in the Deseret News.
As a college student interning in Washington, D.C., I heard a friend offer a view of conservatism and liberalism that still affects me decades later. She said our job as responsible citizens is to conserve ideas that are right and true and liberate ideas that are right and true. This simple concept is a guiding light for me in public policy deliberations. Public policy is informed by ideology, but should not be controlled by it. The best public policy occurs when we draw the best ideas from the left and the right to avoid or solve complex problems. We are fortunate to live in a state that does this quite well.
Continue reading Utah is a model of constructive Republicanism
Originally published in the Deseret News.
I love the month of May. It brings clear skies, green trees, yellow flowers and an assortment of new life. Mother Earth smiles with newfound energy, and most of us feel a sense of renewal. There are new graduates, new brides and new babies. Life resets and everything seems a bit better.
Our optimism is strong — but tempered. We love spring’s new birth but still recognize the difficulty around us: the toll of the Nepal earthquake, race riots casting a dark cloud over a great country that needs to get better and too much partisan bickering standing in the way of real human needs in health care, immigration and poverty.
And then there’s the more personal side of life we sometimes confront and sometimes ignore — the dark clouds of a broken friendship, a distressed marriage, a son or daughter we can’t seem to help or, worst of all, a troubled soul.
Continue reading Hope is the beginning of a better future for all of us