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Our city — summed up in a word

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Bob G | 3:38 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

She rambled on about what Utah is not but what about what Utah is. A safe haven for illegal foreign nationsls that can demonstrate against the american people right in our own yards. It's a safe haven where illegals are guaranteed jobs, job security, and public welfare benefits. It's safe haven where the illegals offspring is forced upon the taxpayers to eductate and provide day care for the illegal offspring. It's a safe haven that our city and government leaders help hide these illegals from federal government agencys that try to deport them. These illegals are given the opportunity to sue anyone interfering with their illegal activities and the victimizing of the american people living in Utah. Business and government put the american workers out of jobs so they can employ these illegals and not have to pay any taxes for having them employed. The illegals in Utah do not have to pay State or Federal income taxes and their stolen identities is the problem of the victim. Harboring illegals is not illegal in Utah nor is encourageing and importing more illegals. Utah, the national Safe Haven State where no illegal needs to fear the law, state or federal.

Grandma Anne | 4:32 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

I suppose the "word" we choose reflects our attitude about life in general - whether we see the glass half full or half empty. But for me, personally, I like the word "aspire." As I view my family and others around me it seems they are always trying to improve themselves; get better educated, develop talents, improve their surroundings, be healthier, be better neighbors and so on. It seems to make us happy to be working towards some loftier goal.

Arthur | 5:29 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

LOVE

Comments continue below

Sam Hofer | 6:53 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Stifling

half full | 6:54 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Great article, especially about faith to still have big families in today's society.

Deseret | 6:54 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

What happened to INDUSTRY?

I love word games | 7:17 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Word games are fun and this is a challenge. The first word I would associate with Salt Lake City is WANNABE. Salt Lake has always wanted to be something else. It has never liked it's own identity and it tries so hard to out grow itself. Perhaps it's that wannabe spirit that makes it unique and loveable.. like a slobbering puppy.

For Utah, the word I would pick is HOPE. Everyone in the state is always hoping for something, and the word goes along with the dominate faith.

A fun game. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous | 7:50 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

I have a word for Salt Lake City to summarize it -
plastic.

DJ | 8:00 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

The very first time I came to Salt Lake, I was in awe of the beautiful mountains I saw in the valley. I think the word "Majestic" describes Salt Lake City quite well.

Ken Goddard | 8:44 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Good article. My word would be DULL.

Anonymous | 8:46 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Majestic landscape.
Deluded culture.

barbara | 8:51 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Our abodes are what we are and what we make them. Our "word" for Salt Lake says more about what we are than the city itself. If we call it dull, we are probably dull. If we label it plastic or any other diverse word, then we reflect ourselves. For example, I have never lived in an unfriendly neighborhood because I am friendly. 'Nuf said.

Ken Baguley | 8:58 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Possibility...

Matthew | 9:01 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

I dispute the premise. I don't believe even the majority of people in Rome are thinking most about sex. Likewise for the other examples. ALL modern cities are much too diverse for such a thing to be true. Even Salt Lake City with its abundance of Northern/Western European decended faces if much too diverse for one word.

(Before anyone else bothers, let me say that there are many cities that have less ethnic diversity than Salt Lake City. Despite the stereotypes)

Kirk R. | 9:24 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Bob G - Your rambling comment has absolutely nothing to do with the article.

Sneaky Jimmy | 9:27 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

One word for Salt Lake City: REPRESSED

Mike | 9:50 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

We're avoiding the obvious---Boozer. It describes what is on the mind of so many of us. Jazz fan, person who drinks to forget the fact that the Jazz are a 500 team and the person who "booz" Jerry Sloan, thinking that they could coach the team better.

FREEDOM | 10:13 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Our family has lived in many other states/cities.
(And upwards of a third of Utahns have lived elsewhere.)

So we offer this observation:
Even more than many American places, SLC is a place where anyone can put a label on it, and almost all others will listen (or turn the other cheek).
So we nominate FREEDOM.

I vote | 10:43 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Divisive - between those who love and those who hate the church.

Hypocrites | 10:48 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

one word

JUDGEMENTAL

PECULIAR | 10:50 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Peculiar

rSon | 11:00 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

I second: JUDGEMENTAL

katiejo | 11:00 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

FAMILY would be my word. I think Utah places a huge importance on family. Many other states, and countries for that matter, place emphasis on careers. Utah's is more on family.

Here, have a tissue. | 11:07 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Unfortunately, our state is overpolluted with WHINERS.

Wyoming Mom | 11:14 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

After reading a lot of the comments posted here on a daily basis, the word I would come up with for a lot of the people in Salt Lake City is HATEFUL. You know, as unhappy as the great majority of you posters are, I'm surprised that you choose to remain in a city that is so stifling, dull and disgusting to you. I'm sure that there are plenty of other locations in the USA that would be more to your liking. Why do you choose to live in a city that makes your life so miserable. We lived in southern Utah for a few years and we discovered that we just didn't like the desert---we missed our beautiful mountains, so we looked for a job where there were beautiful mountains and moved. There are some things in life that money can't buy. Life is too short to sit around hating everyone and everything---unless that is what floats your boat---and I kind of think that is the case.

Moderate Brian | 11:15 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Utah - CONSERVATIVE
SLC - PROGRESSIVE

John | 11:19 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Admit it. It is "SEX" for sure. You can't have families forever without it.

laguna | 11:20 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

boring

judgemental | 11:27 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Reminds me of the old "point a finger and someone else and look at how many fingers are pointing back at you" thing. As a former Utahn, I have to admit that there are more judgemental folks there than other places I've lived, but if you think it's only on one side of the fence, you need to open your eyes a bit wider!

Hmm | 11:36 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Isn't it being judgmental to label someone judgmental?

Reality | 11:37 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Utah-DELUSIONARY
SLC- INSUBORDINATE

re: Wyoming Mom | 11:45 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Spot on!!!

Rich | 11:47 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Park City -- "GREED"

utah is | 11:51 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

polluted! that is my word. nuclear trash, dirty air, oil and coal mines everywhere, bring em here! we'll take them!

I loved how someone said "clean" because Utahns practice clean living. Tell me, what is the point of living a clean life if you're simultaneously sitting in a pool of pollution?

And by the way, my point isn't to stop living a clean life, my point is to do something about the pollution. Please.

move on | 11:57 a.m. Dec. 31, 2007

All of you that are so unhappy with our great state, I say to you move on. I personally think it is a great place to raise my kids. I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else. If you all think it is so bad, I'm sure the grass is greener somewhere else. We don't need you. By the way, people always find what they are looking for someplace else. If you look for the good, you find the good. If you are always looking for what is wrong with someone or someplace, you find that, too. There is a good and a bad to everyplace and everyone. It all depends on what you are.

Anonymous | 12:13 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

I agree with Move On. There are 49 other states and hundreds of other countries out there. Why are you here if you hate it? Life is too short to live in a place you hate. I personally don't care why you do or don't like Utah - I just don't understand why you would live here if you hate it. (What - are you all brine shrimp harvesters?) And my word would be GRANDEUR, because that's the closest I can come to a one word description of natural beauty.

DleeD | 12:14 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Constant

JeffBlue | 12:51 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

For me it is HOME. I no longer live in UT. There are pros and cons to every place. Overall it is a great place to live--I like the geographical location, the population is not too big nor too small, good climate, reasonably safe, good job opportunities, nice view of the mountains and Great Salt Lake (view from Bountiful), a good number of national and state parks in the southern portion of the state. The biggest negative are the negative attitudes of individuals toward the state and specifically toward certain spiritual persuasions--I agree with Move On and Anonymous--if you harbor a negative attitude toward the people I suggest you move on, that would be best for you and for others. Overall the people are great as they are in every other place I have visited. Happy New year to all!

U Native | 12:52 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

I was born and raised in Utah, love it, miss it in a way....but have seen some things about it since I've been gone that aren't as good as I once thought. My words would be:
--Materialistic
--Narsasistic
--Self-Indulgent

Just to name a few.....

Liz | 1:06 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

PERFECT

It satisfies all sides.

RE: U Native | 1:12 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

If you want to go somewhere materialistic, narcissistic, and self-indulgent, come to where I live--San Francisco. Utah's word should be GIVING (think about the people you know, think about Elizabeth Smart and all the searchers, think about the service offered during the Olympics). There are a lot of lame people in Utah but many many more who are basically good--and I mean REALLY good.

Teresa | 1:34 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

How about HOME?

bigot | 1:43 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.

I have lived in several states. What is unique about Utah? "This is the place" where people are very aware of what religion you are... and it matters.

Schwa | 2:14 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

How about COLD, cause that's all I can think about right now.

Also cold | 3:02 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

I second COLD!!!

How many posters have just been told, in essence, "if you don't love it, leave it?" "We don't want you!"
or "Why don't you move?"

Voosh | 3:21 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

Utah - PEACEFUL
SLC - CONTENTIOUS

Ing | 3:37 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

It's message-board conversations like these that make me think twice about moving back to Utah. The same two self-obsessed groups of people hacking on each other for the same things over and over and over and over and over and over again at the drop of a hat.... There are a lot of things I miss about the state, but that ain't one of 'em.

Maybe, given the tone of this thread and the amount of whining in it, the person who proposed HATE as Utah's word is on the mark. Or what about RESENTMENT? Seems like a lot of Utah residents spend a lot of time resenting something about their state and the people in it.

That said, I think I agree with PROCREATE as the Utah word; not as fun or forward or dirty as SEX, but there's sure a lot of it going on.

Gretzky | 3:59 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

HOCKEY

Think about it...it fits | 4:16 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

JELLO

dan | 4:20 p.m. Dec. 31, 2007

quite simply MORMON

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