U-Talk: What, in your opinion, most makes America special?
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- Yukimi Om
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- Luke Hokenberg
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- Chuck Ridley
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- Charles Tyler
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- Austin Hard
Editor’s note: U-Talk is a weekly feature in which we ask five local residents to tell us their thoughts about a particular issue. Responses may be edited for clarity and length.
“People get together to help one another. I am doing it right now by helping a friend move. … It’s just human nature. Every country is different. To me, it is human nature. That is how I was raised. People help one another for the most part. I know that it is not always that way, but, like I said, it is human nature.” — Yukimi Om, Ogden
“I think that with all of our different states, we have so many different communities. I am going to Texas at the end of the year. Then, I have never been to New York. And I am from California originally. I am loving Ogden. I feel like … America is a little theme park. We even got Hawaii and Puerto Rico, too. There’s always stuff to look forward to and there’s new stuff to try out. God bless America.” — Luke Hokenberg, Ogden
“I feel that the most valuable thing about the United States, No. 1, the freedom to express yourself as you truly feel without worrying about being coerced or punished for your opinions. The other is the freedom of opportunity. The fact that you can get into just about any trade or field of endeavor that you want with enough effort. There’s nothing that is going to keep you back.” — Chuck Ridley, North Ogden
“Probably freedom. … You are not dictated and told what to do and when to do it, where to do it and how to do it. … As long as you are not breaking the law.” — Charles Tyler, Ogden
“You know, I think we have a lot of ability to do things that you wouldn’t be able to do in other countries. We have a lot of freedom to do what we want as long as we don’t hurt anyone. … Well, I don’t want to step on a hot topic, but I am atheist. I am an atheist and a Utahn. Freedom of religion is pretty normal here, and no one really cares here. You are free to believe what you believe.” — Austin Hard, Harrisville
Photos and interviews by Adam Rubin, Special to the Standard-Examiner.
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