Senator D. Chris Buttars Retires
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RETIREMENT
I love America. And I love the traditional values, the absolute moral truths – the foundational truths – that the founding fathers wove into the fabric of the United States Constitution. Law, founded upon moral truth, has preserved our nation; indeed it is the only thing that can continue to preserve it. That is why my campaign theme has always been “Defending Traditional Values.”
I also love Utah and the opportunity I have had to serve as a state senator. This has been an enormous responsibility and a privilege. I can honestly state that I have never compromised in the defense of traditional values, nor have I ever voted on any issue to promote a personal agenda or simply to improve my chances of re-election.
I believe freedom must always be defended on every front, as there are people and ideologies that seek to undermine, devalue, and outright destroy our Constitutional freedoms.
Novel concepts such as “moral relativism” or “social construction” promote the philosophy that everything is relative and that there is no such thing as absolute truth. This philosophy provides no foundation on which anything solid can ever be built. It is, I believe, a great danger to our Constitutional freedoms, although it presents itself as only a friendly new approach to world equality. Freedom guided by moral truth can be a wonderful servant, but a view of so-called “freedom” unconstrained by higher moral principles will only result, over time, in coercion, restrictions on conscience, and human suffering.
Unfortunately, as we all learn, there are other truths beyond the moral truths. One of them is the fact of our human frailty and mortality. I turn 69 this year, and let me tell you, getting old isn’t for wimps; it’s a tough thing. Consequently, it is time for me to retire and pass the torch to another. I only hope that the next person who fills this chair will have the fire of freedom – grounded in solid moral truth – in his or her belly.
I hereby submit my resignation letter to President Waddoups, effective upon final adjournment of this legislative session.
Senator D. Chris Buttars, District 10
We will miss you, Senator Buttars.
Thank you for your years of dedicated service to the people of Utah.
It appears the Senator believes that those he has battled lack a moral foundation. This is a dishonest argument. Senator Buttars targets have stood on firm moral principles- equality before the law, justice, love and tolerance.
I do appreciate Senator Buttars service, however. We live in a time when people sugar coat the truth. Senator Buttars offered an unvarnished opinion on homosexuals that many of his colleagues were afraid to say. At least he had the courage to be honest with us. Senator Buttars provided the public with an honest view of what a fear of homosexuals looks like. In that sense, Senator Buttars has done more to advance equality in the state of Utah than just about any public figure.
I hope that the Senators health remains strong and that he enjoys his time now that he’s resigned.
I am so glad that this voice from some mis-guided past is finally primarily silenced. I made the unfortunate mistake of actually believing there was something positive to say about the Mormon church. This man is living proof I was mislead.
In all reality – if one was to look into the voices and messages of past leaders in extreme belief systems – they mirror the Mormon views on many things. This is not just a sad statement, but a scary one.
He led the way of hatred on the backside of the Mormon church – which now lifts it’s head proudly as one of the largest “cults” in the country.
I am now going to assure those in this large cult, I will create an army to thwart the misguided and archaic beliefs of this rich cult.
Shame on each of you who assist in the crippling, and suffering of so many humans who do not see things as you do.