I’ve spent the last few weeks traveling Wyoming, holding listening sessions in Rock Springs, Cheyenne, Lander and Casper. What struck me in every town is how much we have in common. People care about their kids’ schools, about making sure we have good jobs that let them stay in Wyoming and about maintaining strong communities where we look out for each other.
Those are the things we should be working on together. I want to work on them with my colleagues, and I know many of my colleagues want to work on these issues too. Some of them came to the listening sessions wanting to hear what their constituents wanted to say, and I commend them for joining so we can listen together.
What we heard from those communities was not partisan. Parents ask about whether their kids will want to stay in Wyoming, and how do we keep them here. Folks wondered how we make sure we have access to health care throughout the state. Others wanted to know how we ensure our public lands stay public so their children and grandchildren can hunt, fish and hike in the same places they go. Their priorities show there is a commonality throughout all of Wyoming.
Wyoming also sticks together in adversity. Whether it’s a landslide in western Wyoming or a blizzard that knocks out power in Cheyenne, Wyomingites don’t ask who you voted for before offering to pull your car out of the snow or to check the senior down the street to make sure they have enough stocked. We understand that there are times we need to stick together to get through a tough time and support our neighbors.
However, the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death threatens to pull us further apart. The 24-hour commentary we tune into gives us what we want to hear, and conjures the villains we already expect to see. Don’t give in to it. Spend time with your neighbors, volunteer in your communities, get outside and enjoy your public lands. That is where we can find perspective and remember what matters.
The internet can fuel division and thrive on outrage. But here in Wyoming, I’ve seen firsthand that our communities want the same things. Those who want to divide us will try to use this moment to divide us even more. We don’t have to give in to that strife. We shouldn’t pit brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor. We are one country and one community.
Wyoming State Representative Mike Yin represents the residents of Jackson. In his third term, he currently sits on seven committees doing the work to serve his community and state as well as serving as the Minority Floor Leader in the House. He still works full time as a software developer writing code for mobile apps. While being raised by immigrant parents growing up in Georgia, he watched his parents contribute and serve their adopted communities and knew that he needed to serve his own community.
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